Tornado victims in and around Fairdale may be able to get low-interest federally backed loans to rebuild and recover losses if a request by Gov. Bruce Rauner is approved.
Rauner's office announced Saturday that he will request that the U.S. Small Business Administration issue a physical disaster declaration for DeKalb County to help people and businesses in Fairdale and surrounding areas recover from the April 9 tornado.
“We continue to seek ways to assist people who lost their homes and businesses in the tornado,” Rauner said. “I’m proud of how many people have donated their time or money to help with the recovery. If approved, these loans could be an important tool to help many tornado survivors rebuild their lives.”
Officials from the SBA and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, along with local officials, found 31 homes and seven businesses sustained major damages and had significant uninsured losses.
If Rauner's request is approved, anyone affected by the April 9 tornadoes in DeKalb County and contiguous counties would be eligible to apply for a low-interest, long-term loan through the SBA.