U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today spearheaded a bipartisan letter to U.S. Small Businesses Administration (SBA) Administrator Linda McMahon urging support for Governor Rick Snyder’s disaster declaration request. If approved, the SBA disaster assistance program would make low-interest loans available to residents and businesses affected by recent, historic flooding. 

In addition to Upton, the letter was signed by U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell; Tim Walberg; Paul Mitchell; Bill Huizenga; Dave Trott; John Moolenaar; Dan Kildee; Jack Bergman; Mike Bishop; and Brenda Lawrence.  

You can read the letter online here or below:

We are writing in support of Governor Rick Snyder’s request on March 13, 2018 for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to conduct damage assessments for eight Lower Peninsula counties in the State of Michigan as a result of severe flooding damage. This would be a critical next step for a physical and economic disaster declaration.

 In mid-February, heavy rainfall and snow melt caused historic flooding and widespread damage. In addition to Arenac, Barry, Berrien, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Kent, Newaygo, and St. Joseph Counties, the request also includes contiguous counties of Allegan, Bay, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Eaton, Gladwin, Ionia, Iosco, Jackson, Lake, Livingston, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Ottawa, Shiawassee, Van Buren, and Washtenaw.

 This request comes after Governor Snyder declared a state of disaster for 17 counties and two cities on March 12, 2018.  This action made available all state resources in cooperation with local response and recovery efforts in the disaster area.  Specifically, the declaration authorizes local governments to have access to state emergency resources, including grants of up to $100,000 for reimbursement of local response costs.  In addition, it allows the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division, to coordinate damage recovery efforts and work with local emergency management agencies in the areas affected by the flooding.

 The Governor is requesting the SBA disaster assistance program make low-interest loans available to eligible residents and businesses that extend beyond the capacity of the state and local governments. These loans are essential to give the Michiganders affected by significant flood damage the opportunity to recover and replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory, and business assets that were damaged or destroyed.

 We urge you to conduct damage assessments, and to provide the resources necessary so the residents and business owners of these communities can begin to rebuild from these historic floods. Thank you for your consideration of our request.