Representatives of the Small Business Administration are currently in Altus to offer assistance to those small businesses that lost income during the January ice storm.

Communication Specialist Roger Busch and other representatives will be at the Altus Chamber of Commerce as part of the Economic Injury declaration from 8 a.m. to noon on through Wednesday, April 21, as well as April 26, 27, and 28.

The declaration makes available low interest disaster loans for business owners in Jackson, Comanche, Greer, Jefferson and Stephens counties. SBA assistance is also available for business owners in the contiguous counties of Beckham, Caddo, Carter, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Harmon, Kiowa and Tillman, under the declaration.

Since the Jan. 28 ice storm, businesses have continued to struggle with the impacts of the storm that left nearly 200,000 without power and treacherous travel conditions.The loans are available to assist business owners in meeting payroll and other financial obligations.

Lloyd Colston, Altus Emergency Management director, joined Jerry Gibson in encouraging business owners to contact the SBA. "This help does not come after every disaster," Colston said.

SBA representatives will also be in Mangum at the Greer County Health Department, 2100 N. Louis Tittle, Thursday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, visit The Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov, The Altus Chamber of Commerce at www.altuschamber.com or Altus Emegency Management at altusem.us .