WESTPORT — Local residents and businesses are eligible to apply for low-interest loans and other forms of assistance to help cover damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida in September.

The federal assistance programs became available after President Biden recently granted a request by Gov. Ned Lamont to declare a “major disaster” was caused by the storm in parts of the state, including Fairfield County.

The declaration authorizes federal disaster assistance for certain expenses not covered by insurance policies, according to an announcement from Westport’s Office of Emergency Management.

The Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters affected by “declared disasters,” such as Ida.

The SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help recover from economic hardship caused by the storm.

Individuals seeking to apply for assistance should click here.

To apply for Small Business Administration loans, click here.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Dec. 29. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Aug. 1, 2022.

An online information session covering details about eligibility, maximum loan amounts and the process to apply will take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10. To register for the free webinar, click here.

For the Westport area, the SBA opened a Business Recovery Center at the Darien Library, 1441 Post Road in Darien. The office is staffed from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information about the SBA Disaster Assistance programs, click here.