Governor Janet T. Mills (D) Making  Introductory Remarks at ‘s Recent Press Conference on the Tragic Mass Shooting in Lewiston.

Governor Janet T. Mills (D), the first woman governor of Maine, announced today that her Administration has requested that the US Small Business Administration (SBA) make emergency financial assistance available to Maine businesses direclty impacted by last week’s tragedy in Lewiston.

The Mills Administration has requested that the SBA issue an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration for businesses in communities that closed in accordance with shelter-in-place orders last week as law enforcement conducted a search for the Lewiston shooting suspect.

If approved, the Declaration would make available low-interest loans to eligible businesses in Androscoggin and Sagadahoc counties.  The application was prepared and submitted in partnership with the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the city of Lewiston.

If Maine’s application is approved, eligible small businesses and private nonprofit organizations could apply for Loans of up to $2 milllion with interest rates not to exceed 4%, with terms of up to 30 years.  Eligibility, loan amounts and terms will be determined by the SBA.

Stay tuned!