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A ALPINE COUNTY UNIFIED COMMAND DATE: September 1, 2021 RE: Economic Injury Disaster Declaration & Tamarack Fire Assistance Fund Applications FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DECLARES AN ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER DECLARATION FOR THE TAMARACK FIRE. SBA LOANS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THE FIRE. THE TAMARACK FIRE ASSISTANCE FUND HAS OPENED UP THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE GOFUNDME ESTABLISHED FOR THE TAMARACK FIRE VICTIMS. APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS ARE AVAILABLE. Economic Injury Disaster Declaration Information The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to non-farm businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits in the counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and Tuolumne in California; and Douglas County in Nevada economically impacted by the Tamarack Fire that began on July 4, 2021. Types of loans available are: Businesses and private nonprofits: Economic Injury: only for small businesses and most private non-profit organizations suffering adverse financial impacts of the disaster (with or without property loss), up to $2,000,000 for working capital to help pay obligations until normal operations resume. For additional assistance, SBA has established a Virtual Business Recovery Center that is open Mondays – Fridays, 8 am to 8 pm ET. You can contact an SBA customer service representative via email at [EMAIL REDACTED] or by phone at [PHONE REDACTED]. SBA will answer specific questions about how a disaster loan may help each survivor recover from the disaster damage and will provide one-on-one assistance in completing applications for these loans. You can apply online at Tamarack Fire Assistance Fund Information The Alpine County Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that applications are now available for the Tamarack Fire Assistance Fund. Residents and businesses within Alpine County that suffered financial hardship resulting from the Tamarack Fire are eligible to apply. The fund began with a GoFundMe campaign launched on July 18, 2021, to assist residents and businesses hit hardest by the Tamarack Fire. Nearly 300 donors have contributed, raising nearly $80,000 to date. ---PAGE BREAK--- “The Tamarack Fire hit Alpine County at a particularly vulnerable time,” says Alpine County Chamber of Commerce Director, Becky DeForest. “In addition to the families who lost everything overnight, during the aftermath and cleanup our local businesses have lost the majority of seasonal revenues that they rely on to carry them through the winter.” Applications for assistance are now available online. Visit www.alpinecounty.com/give to access the links to the applications. Prospective applicants who cannot access the online forms can call (530) 694-2475 or stop by the Chamber of Commerce in Markleeville to obtain a paper copy. Media Inquiries Regarding Alpine County Evacuations & Re-Entry JT Chevallier Public Information Officer Alpine County [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- August 30, 2021 For more information: For Immediate Release: Becky DeForest [EMAIL REDACTED] (530) 694-2475 Applications Available for Tamarack Fire Assistance The Alpine County Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that applications are now available for the Tamarack Fire Assistance Fund. Residents and businesses within Alpine County that suffered financial hardship resulting from the Tamarack Fire are eligible to apply. The fund began with a GoFundMe campaign launched on July 18, 2021, to assist residents and businesses hit hardest by the Tamarack Fire. Nearly 300 donors have contributed, raising nearly $80,000 to date. “The Tamarack Fire hit Alpine County at a particularly vulnerable time,” says Alpine County Chamber of Commerce Director, Becky DeForest. “In addition to the families who lost everything overnight, during the aftermath and cleanup our local businesses have lost the majority of seasonal revenues that they rely on to carry them through the winter.” Applications for assistance are now available online. Visit www.alpinecounty.com/give to access the links to the applications. Prospective applicants who cannot access the online forms can call (530) 694-2475 or stop by the Chamber of Commerce in Markleeville to obtain a paper copy. There is no application deadline, however assistance is contingent upon the availability of funds. A multi-agency fund oversight committee will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. To donate via GoFundMe visit Checks can be made out to the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Tamarack Fire Fund, PO Box 265, Markleeville, CA 96120. The Alpine County Chamber of Commerce promotes business prosperity, tourism, and a healthy community by providing information, services, and advocacy for its members. Since 2010 the organization has contributed over $843,000 to nonprofits and programs that support the health and resilience of Alpine County. For more information visit www.alpinecounty.com. ---PAGE BREAK--- CA 17118 (Virtual BRC) DISASTER ASSISTANCE The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest disaster loans to non-farm businesses of all sizes and private nonprofits in the counties of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono and Tuolumne in California; and Douglas County in Nevada economically impacted by the Tamarack Fire that began on July 4, 2021. Types of loans available are: Businesses and private nonprofits: Economic Injury: only for small businesses and most private non-profit organizations suffering adverse financial impacts of the disaster (with or without property loss), up to $2,000,000 for working capital to help pay obligations until normal operations resume. For additional assistance, SBA has established a Virtual Business Recovery Center that is open Mondays – Fridays, 8 am to 8 pm ET. You can contact an SBA customer service representative via email at [EMAIL REDACTED] or by phone at [PHONE REDACTED]. SBA will answer specific questions about how a disaster loan may help each survivor recover from the disaster damage and will provide one-on-one assistance in completing applications for these loans. You can apply online at ---PAGE BREAK--- DISASTER ASSISTANCE An applicant may use one of the below methods to deliver documents to SBA. Please include your full name and application number on all correspondence submitted to SBA. ONLINE • Sending documents online is the best way to transmit your information to SBA. The website where you can attach documents and apply online is EMAIL • Email your completed document(s) as attachments to [EMAIL REDACTED]. Any information sent to SBA via email is sent via an unsecured link. Email attachments cannot be larger than 5 MB due to size limitations. FAX • Fax your documents to [PHONE REDACTED]. MAIL • Mail your completed documents to: U.S. Small Business Administration Processing & Disbursement Center Attn. ELA Mail Department PO Box 156119 Fort Worth, TX 76155 You can contact an SBA representative at [PHONE REDACTED]. ---PAGE BREAK--- Date: 08/26/2021 U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FACT SHEET – ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS CALIFORNIA Declaration #17118 (Disaster: CA-00343) Incident: TAMARACK FIRE occurring: July 4, 2021 & continuing in Alpine County, California; the contiguous California counties of: Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono & Tuolumne; and the contiguous Nevada county of: Douglas Application Filing Deadline: May 26, 2022 Disaster Loan Assistance Available: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. Credit Requirements: • Credit History – Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA. • Repayment – Applicants must show the ability to repay the loan. • Collateral – Collateral is required for all EIDL loans over $25,000. SBA takes real estate as collateral when it is available. SBA will not decline a loan for lack of collateral, but SBA will require the borrower to pledge collateral that is available. Interest Rates: The interest rate is determined by formulas set by law and is fixed for the life of the loan. The maximum interest rate for this disaster is 4 percent. Loan Terms: The law authorizes loan terms up to a maximum of 30 years. SBA will determine an appropriate installment payment based on the financial condition of each borrower, which in turn will determine the loan term. Loan Amount Limit: The law limits EIDLs to $2,000,000 for alleviating economic injury caused by the disaster. The actual amount of each loan is limited to the economic injury determined by SBA, less business interruption insurance and other recoveries up to the administrative lending limit. SBA also considers potential contributions that are available from the business and/or its owner(s) or affiliates. If a business is a major source of employment, SBA has the authority to waive the $2,000,000 statutory limit. Loan Eligibility Restrictions: Noncompliance – Applicants who have not complied with the terms of previous SBA loans may not be eligible. This includes borrowers who did not maintain required flood insurance and/or hazard insurance on previous SBA loans. Note: Loan applicants should check with agencies / organizations administering any grant or other assistance program under this declaration to determine how an approval of SBA disaster loan might affect their eligibility. Refinancing: Economic injury disaster loans cannot be used to refinance long term debts. Insurance Requirements: To protect each borrower and the Agency, SBA may require you to obtain and maintain appropriate insurance. By law, borrowers whose damaged or collateral property is located in a special flood hazard area must purchase and maintain flood insurance. SBA requires that flood insurance coverage be the lesser of 1) the total of the disaster loan, 2) the insurable value of the property, or 3) the maximum insurance available. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [EMAIL REDACTED] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.