ROGERS CITY — The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced the opening of Disaster Loan Outreach Centers in Presque Isle, Charlevoix, Emmett, and Otsego counties in northern Michigan, in response to the monumental ice storm in late March.

Beginning today, SBA customer service representatives will be on hand at the Disaster Loan Outreach Centers to answer questions about the SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help individuals complete their application. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment in advance at appointments.sba.gov.

The Presque Isle County Disaster Loan Outreach Center will open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, with operating hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, with the final day of operation Saturday, June 21, closing at 2 p.m. that day. The office will also be closed on Thursday to observe Juneteenth.

“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”

Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan, a press release from the SBA explains. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, the SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 8, 2025. The

deadline to return economic injury applications is Mar. 9, 2026.