For the second time this year, the U.S. Small Business Administration plans to open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers for people affected by severe storms that ravaged large swaths of Northern Illinois late last month.
The centers are set to open in Chicago Thursday and in suburban Hazel Crest Friday. The Chicago location will be open until Sept. 3, and the suburban location until Sept. 4.
They will have representatives to answer questions about the loan program, explain the application process and help to make applications for residents who saw damage from the July 27 storms. Walk-ins will be accepted, and appointments can be made online.
Homeowners and renters can apply for as much as $100,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property like appliances and furniture. Applications are also open for up to $500,000 in low-interest loans to repair or replace real estate damaged or destroyed during the storms.
Businesses and nonprofits can apply to borrow up to $2 million for damages.
The deadline to apply for physical property damage is Oct. 19, though economic injury applications aren’t due until May 18, 2027.
The nearest office and its hours can be found on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website.
The Chicago Public Library’s Pullman branch will serve as the Chicago location. It will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The suburban site will be at the Village of Hazel Crest’s building, 3601 W. 183rd St. It will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The federal agency opened outreach centers last month following a series of three storms June 10, June 11 and June 17, which also prompted Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker to issue a disaster proclamation.
Pritzker signed another disaster proclamation Tuesday for the July 27 storms.
Earlier Wednesday afternoon, the Cook County Board of Review also urged residents to document any damage to their homes that occurred during severe weather this year, as they could potentially be eligible for reductions on their tax bills if the damage meets the county’s qualifications.