The City of East Ridge, in coordination with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), announced today that a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) will open at East Ridge City Hall, 1517 Tombras Avenue, on Saturday, September 6.

The center will serve as a local resource for homeowners, renters, businesses, and nonprofits impacted by August 12, 2025 severe storms and flooding in Hamilton County and surrounding areas. SBA customer service representatives will be on site to answer questions, explain the application process, and help individuals complete disaster loan applications.

• Opening Day: Saturday, September 6, 2025
• Hours of Operation:
  • Saturday, Sept. 6: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30p.m.
  • Saturdays (through Sept. 19): 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Closed Sundays
• Final Day of Operation: Friday, September 19, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

• Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to repair or replace real estate and up to $100,000 for personal property.
• Businesses and private nonprofits may apply for loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate, equipment, inventory, and more.
• Small businesses and nonprofits may also apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to cover working capital needs even if no physical damage occurred

“We are honored to host the SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center at East Ridge City Hall,” said Mayor Brian Williams. “By providing a local site for this important resource, we are ensuring that residents, businesses, and nonprofits have convenient access to the support they need as they recover and rebuild from the recent storms and flooding. In addition, our city continues to research additional disaster funding options to further assist our community.”

Applicants are encouraged to apply online at sba.gov/disaster or by calling SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955. The deadline for physical damage applications is November 3, 2025, and the deadline for economic injury applications is June 2, 2026