Oil spill victims could get financial help from Small Business Administration – Orange County Register
Local victims of the oil spill off the coast of Orange County could be eligible for low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration, which on Wednesday declared the county a disaster area.
While the move falls short of the broader federal disaster designation requested by some in Orange County, it could pave the way for companies to resume any operations, or claw back revenue, stopped or lost because of the spill that first was reported Oct. 1.
No oil spill has been declared a federal disaster because, in part, federal law requires oil companies, not taxpayers, to pay for cleanup and damages.
Though the spill was off Orange County, the SBA loans will be available to people in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Applicants can apply online at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov.
Soon after the spill was confirmed, on Oct. 2, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Orange County….
