From the VDACS:

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Oct. 25 that the U.S. federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations from the Small Business Administration (SBA). The loans are available because the Secretary of the USDA designated several localities in Virginia disaster areas as a result of drought, excessive heat and high winds beginning January 1, 2012.

This SBA’s disaster declaration includes the following counties: Albemarle, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Caroline, Campbell, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Franklin, Gloucester, Goochland, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Louisa, Lunenburg, Madison, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Nelson, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland and York; and contiguous independent cities of Bedford, Colonial Heights, Danville, Fredericksburg, Hopewell, Lynchburg, Petersburg and Richmond.

When the Secretary of Agriculture issues a disaster declaration to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops, the Small Business Administration issues a declaration to eligible entities affected by the same disaster. Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. With the exception of aquaculture enterprises, agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers are not eligible to apply to SBA.

–Elaine Lindolm, VDACS