Washington, D.C. – The cold January wind is not blowing thoughts of the searing hot August sun away from the mind of U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. He is celebrating the passage of a bill this winter that will give Wyoming people help when they feel the financial heat brought on by drought damage.
A bill, co-sponsored by Enzi and signed into law, will provide emergency assistance to small businesses harmed by the effects of a lingering drought. Unlike past legislation, which only applied to agricultural operations, this bill extends help to businesses from marinas to rafting companies that have suffered substantial economic harm due to drought.
“Drought conditions are all too common in Wyoming and small businesses suffer the brunt of the effects. I continue to support help for the ag community, but have also worked to extend that help to others who lose money because of drought,” said Enzi, a member of the Senate Small Business Committee. “Small businesses who suffer during the severest drought months of the summer may still be struggling to make payroll in December. It is important they have access to low-interest loans to help even out the bumps caused by drought.”
Non-farm businesses can apply for help through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans program after a drought designation in the business’s county has been declared. Ranchers and farmers can seek drought help from the USDA’s disaster program.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor more than 22 states including Wyoming are currently suffering from drought conditions.
The legislation was included in the Department of Defense Reauthorization bill that became public law on Jan. 6, 2006.
For questions contact the Wyoming SBA office at 1-800-659-2955 or by visiting www.sba.gov.
A bill, co-sponsored by Enzi and signed into law, will provide emergency assistance to small businesses harmed by the effects of a lingering drought. Unlike past legislation, which only applied to agricultural operations, this bill extends help to businesses from marinas to rafting companies that have suffered substantial economic harm due to drought.
“Drought conditions are all too common in Wyoming and small businesses suffer the brunt of the effects. I continue to support help for the ag community, but have also worked to extend that help to others who lose money because of drought,” said Enzi, a member of the Senate Small Business Committee. “Small businesses who suffer during the severest drought months of the summer may still be struggling to make payroll in December. It is important they have access to low-interest loans to help even out the bumps caused by drought.”
Non-farm businesses can apply for help through the Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans program after a drought designation in the business’s county has been declared. Ranchers and farmers can seek drought help from the USDA’s disaster program.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor more than 22 states including Wyoming are currently suffering from drought conditions.
The legislation was included in the Department of Defense Reauthorization bill that became public law on Jan. 6, 2006.
For questions contact the Wyoming SBA office at 1-800-659-2955 or by visiting www.sba.gov.
