Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 4:58AM |  11°
MENU
Advertisement
A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
1
MORE

Fayette County small businesses eligible for federal help following Baltimore bridge collapse

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Fayette County small businesses eligible for federal help following Baltimore bridge collapse

The Small Business Administration is offering low-interest, long-term loans

WASHINGTON — Small businesses in Fayette County affected by the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore are eligible to apply for U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest loans.

Fayette is one of nine Pennsylvania counties where small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses, and private nonprofit organizations now are eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which carry interest rates of  4% (3.25% for private nonprofit organizations) and have terms of as long as 30 years. Businesses can borrow up to $2 million to pay operating expenses if their revenues dropped due to the disaster.

Businesses in Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and the counties in Delaware, Virginia; and West Virginia adjacent to Maryland also are eligible for the federal help.

Advertisement

“The bridge collapse will impact small businesses who depend on the transportation and movement of goods from the Baltimore Harbor and along the Francis Scott Key Bridge for their economic livelihood,” said Francisco Sanchez Jr., associate administrator for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience.

Flowers stand Sunday at a lookout point for the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. A temporary shipping channel opened Monday in the Port of Baltimore to clear a path for responders trying to salvage the bridge as well as the ship that struck it.
Lea Skene and Tassanee Vejpongsa
Channel opens for vessels clearing wreckage at the Baltimore bridge collapse site

The Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday after being hit by a cargo ship, cutting off access to the Port of Baltimore and severing Interstate 695. Six maintenance workers were on the span when it was hit and presumed dead.

Businesses may apply online at www.sba.gov/disaster or call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. A recovery center will open Monday in Dundalk, Md., to help business owners complete their loan applications.

The deadline to apply for the low-interest loans is Dec. 30.

Advertisement

Correction: An earlier version misstated the number of Pennsylvania counties eligible for the SBA loan.

First Published: March 31, 2024, 12:59 p.m.
Updated: April 1, 2024, 3:06 p.m.

RELATED
High winds roil the water near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Andrea Sachs and Hannah Sampson
Bridges are their nightmare. The Baltimore collapse made it a reality.
Tugboats float next to the container ship Dali lodged against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md.
Joshua Goodman and Richard Lardner
Could tugboats have helped avert the bridge collapse tragedy in Baltimore?
In this aerial image released by the Maryland National Guard, the cargo ship Dali is stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Baltimore.
Lea Skene And Brian Witte
Investigation of Baltimore bridge collapse picks up speed as divers recover 2 bodies from water
Parts of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remain after a container ship collided with one of the bridge’s supports early Tuesday.
John Hayes and Anya Litvak
Pittsburgh’s bridges are less susceptible to the type of damage that occurred in Baltimore
A view of the Singapore-flagged container vessel Dali and the collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Lea Skene
Baltimore bridge collapses after powerless cargo ship rams into support column; 6 presumed dead
A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds.
Lea Skene and Brian Witte
Cranes arriving to start removing wreckage from deadly Baltimore bridge collapse
SHOW COMMENTS (9)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Traffic passes by U.S. Steel in Braddock on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. An activist investor has accused U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt of potential insider trading as the group pressures investors to support its own plan for the iconic Pittsburgh steelmaker, which includes a new board and abandoning a planned merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel.
1
business
Ancora launches ‘Make U.S. Steel Great Again’ campaign, accuses CEO of insider trading
President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)
2
news
McCormick on board with Trump, DOGE shakeup while Fetterman blasts 'chaos, confusion'
Pitt’s Jalend Lowe (15) shoots a 3-pointer against Syracuse at the NCAA men’s basketball game on Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025 at Petersen Event Center in Pittsburgh, Pa.
3
sports
Instant analysis: Opportunistic Pitt defense flips another first half deficit into win over Syracuse
Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith watch a receivers and defensive backs drill at Steelers Minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday, June 13, 2024.
4
sports
Gerry Dulac: Next season’s major decisions loom this week for Mike Tomlin, Steelers staff
Gov. Josh Shapiro is joined in the broadcast booth by Curtis Aiken before the start of Pitt-Syracuse on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.
5
sports
Governor Josh Shapiro aims to make Pennsylvania 'compete' in NIL, bring 'stability' to transfer portal
A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story