Ohio victims of Hurricane Sandy eligible for lower interest rates

COLUMBUS — Residents across Ohio impacted by damaging winds and severe weather caused by Hurricane Sandy could be eligible for emergency assistance in the form of reduced interest rates on loans under Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel’s Renew Ohio & Rebuild Ohio Programs.

Small businesses and homeowners who apply for bank loans for construction, restoration or cash flow for damage and hardship resulting from severe weather may be eligible to receive interest rate reductions through the treasurer’s office.

Program

Mandel has made $25 million available through the Ohio Treasury’s Renew Ohio & Rebuild Ohio emergency financing programs to assist Ohioans whose small businesses, farms and homes are damaged by severe weather. The money in this linked deposit program is available and targets small business owners, farmers and homeowners affected by severe weather who might be eligible to receive interest rate reductions on loans in order to rebuild and recover from damage or loss.

Businesses

Renew Ohio will assist small business owners and those in the agricultural community who have suffered severe damage or loss as a result of severe weather. Businesses and farmers can apply to obtain up to a three percent interest rate reduction on new loans for construction or to improve cash flow. The interest rate reduction may be applied on up to $400,000 of the loan for up to four years.

Homeowners

Rebuild Ohio will assist homeowners with an interest rate reduction on loans to finance the restoration of their homes. Homeowners who have suffered severe damage or loss as a result of severe weather will be eligible for a three percent interest rate reduction on up to $400,000 of the loan for a five or seven-year period.

The Renew Ohio and Rebuild Ohio programs are able to be used in addition to other state and federal disaster assistance programs that might be available to victims.

Information

For more information on how to apply for the Renew Ohio or Rebuild Ohio programs contact the Ohio Treasury’s Department of Economic Development by calling 614-466-6546 or toll-free 800-228-1102, option 3; or visit the Renew Ohio & Rebuild Ohio web page at www.OhioTreasurer.gov/RenewRebuild.