Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman announced today that the federal government is making low-interest loans available to small, nonfarm businesses in 21 New Mexico counties that were affected by drought and high winds that occurred April 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009.

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today said business owners in Catron, Curry, Quay, Sierra, Socorro, Torrance, Bernalillo, Cibola, De Baca, Dona Ana, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Roosevelt, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Union and Valencia counties can now apply for loans.

"I'm very glad these low-interest loans are being made available to New Mexico businesses that suffered last year due to severe weather," Bingaman said.