Office of Governor Brad Henry
State of Oklahoma
State Capitol – Oklahoma City OK 73105
405-521-2342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 8, 2010

(Oklahoma City) – Gov. Brad Henry today asked the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to deliver an Economic Injury Declaration for five southwest Oklahoma counties where businesses continue to suffer from the effects of the January ice storm. If approved, the SBA declaration would provide low interest disaster loans to business owners in Comanche, Greer, Jackson, Jefferson and Stephens counties.

The January 28 ice storm left nearly 200,000 homes and businesses without power, some for more than a week. The power outages, coupled with treacherous travel conditions in many areas forced businesses to close. Since then, businesses have reported lost revenue and faced difficulty in meeting payroll and other financial obligations.

With an SBA declaration, business owners in the contiguous counties of Beckham, Caddo, Carter, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Harmon, Kiowa and Tillman would also receive the assistance.

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