Moore among drought disaster relief counties

This map shows the over 60 Tennessee counties, including Moore County, that can now apply for drought disaster relief dollars. | Graphic Provided

LOCAL AG NEWS | According to a press release from the U.S. Small Business Administration office, Moore County is among 29 Tennessee counties who are now eligible to apply for Disaster Assistance in the form of an Economic Injury’s Disaster Loan (EIDL) based on drought conditions in the area beginning on October 31, 2023.

The 29 primary affected included Moore as well as Anderson, Bedford, Blount, Cannon, Coffee, Cumberland, Dekalb, Fayette, Giles, Hardeman, Haywood, Hickman, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, Madison, Marshall, Maury, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Roane, Rutherford, Shelby, Tipton, White, and Williamson counties.

According to the Tennessee Valley Authority rain gauge located at Tims Ford Dam, our area received less than an inch of rain on October and just 2.47 total inches of rain in November.

Those drought conditions affect not only local farmers but also small businesses, businesses engaged in aquaculture, and non-profit organizations.

In addition to the primary counties, 34 contiguous counties may also apply for disaster relief including Bledsoe, Bradley, Campbell, Carroll, Cheatham, Chester, Crockett, Davidson, Dickson, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Grainger, Grundy, Henderson, Humphreys, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Mcminn, Mcnairy, Meigs, Perry, Putnam, Rhea, Scott, Sevier, Smith, Union, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, and Wilson.

Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at sba.gov/disaster and should apply under SBA declaration TN-20004.

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

The application deadline will be on July 8, 2024. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally-owned and locally-operated community newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We cover local news and events as well as the tourism and whiskey industries in southern, middle Tennessee. Click here to subscribe.}