Federal disaster loans are available to small businesses that had damage from the February blizzard.

The Small Business Administration announced the program Tuesday. The loans are available to businesses that had losses in Otsego and Schoharie counties.

Loans are for a maximum of $1.5 million and can be paid back over 30 years. The interest rate is 4 percent.

Other eligible counties are Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Saratoga and Schenectady.

Farmers are not eligible. The federal Farm Service Agency announced a separate loan program last week for farmers in Otsego County.

"SBA’s disaster declaration was issued as a result of a similar action taken by the Secretary of Agriculture to help farmers recover from damages and losses to crops," Frank Skaggs, director of the agency’s field operations center in the East, said in a prepared statement.

Applications for the loans are due Feb. 15. They can be downloaded at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance and should be mailed back to the Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

Captain to discuss identity theft

A captain from Troop C of the state police at Sidney will be speaking about identity theft at a seminar next month.

The Otsego County Chamber is sponsoring the seminar, according to a news release. It will be held at 7:45 a.m. Aug. 21.

Capt. Scott Brown will be discussing identity theft; Brown also is a consultant for Tech Valley Security. The chamber also will launch a benefit through Identity Theft Shield at the seminar, the release said.

The seminar costs $10 and includes breakfast. People should register by calling 432-4500, ext. 201, or by sending an e-mail to pam@otsegocountychamber.com.

Insurance agent moves office

Donald Marsh’s Norwich office has moved, according to a news release from the agency.

The office moved from 43 North Broad St. to 42 South Broad St. It is now next to Service Pharmacy.

The agency announced the move earlier this month. The phone number for the Norwich office is the same; 336-2500.

The Oneonta office still is at 75 Chestnut St.

Marsh is a Nationwide insurance agent.

"We’re excited to make this move to �The Manley House,’" Marsh said in a prepared statement. "We’re pleased to be able to locate our office in a neighborhood that is much more convenient for our clients."

Otsego IDA meeting in Oneonta

The Otsego County Industrial Development Agency is having a meeting next week.

According to a notice, the meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. Aug. 2. It had been rescheduled from July 12.

The event will be at the county Economic Development Office at 242 Main St. in Oneonta. It is an open meeting.

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To suggest a business story, announce a new business or changes to an existing one, e-mail aashbridge@thedailystar.com or call Amy L. Ashbridge at 432-1000, ext. 213 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 213.