http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/05-02-2008/0004805366&EDATE=I am assuming this is just showing how it helps some Mass. businesses. Would this law work for any area stricken with drought?
Massachusetts Small Businesses Hurt by Drought to Get Help from Kerry Law
WASHINGTON, May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Massachusetts small
businesses facing economic hardship caused by drought and extreme heat last
summer and fall are now eligible for federal aid under a law authored by
Senator John Kerry. Federal economic injury disaster loans are now
available to small businesses in Barnstable, Bristol, Middlesex, Norfolk,
Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties that have been adversely impacted
by drought and heat conditions from July 15 - December 31, 2007.
"When drought strikes, it's not just our farmers who struggle. Many
other Bay State businesses are harmed too, so they need a financial shot in
the arm," said Kerry, Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship.
In January 2006, the President signed into law Kerry's Small Business
Drought Relief Act that was attached to the Defense Authorization bill. The
law provides small businesses in states with drought declarations with
access to low-interest loans for business-related purposes, including
paying bills and making payroll until business returns to normal. Kerry
fought for three years to close the loophole that enabled the Small
Business Administration (SBA) to deny non-farm or agriculture dependent
small businesses access to economic injury disaster loans when the
Secretary of Agriculture issued a drought declaration.