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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Businesses affected by the water main breaks in Atlanta in late May and early June are now qualified for loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Breaks on main water lines in Vine City and Midtown closed some businesses, like Steamhouse Lounge, for a week.

“I have servers trying to pick up extra shifts just to make it up. You know, $800 to $1,000, for that week that they missed,” said Mitch Frohman, Steamhouse’s manager.

The break permanently closed other businesses, like Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks in downtown Atlanta.

“I just woke up one morning and got a call this location was underwater, and when I got down here, I knew in my heart and my gut it was a wrap because it was really bad,” said Derrick Hayes, the owner of Big Dave’s.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) is trying to offer relief with low-interest economic injury disaster loans. The agency will also open a business recovery center to help business owners with the application process.

RELATED: Disaster assistance for businesses affected by metro Atlanta water main breaks available

“I think they’re doing what they can do. I think we’re always going to look at, ‘They could do more,’ but as a whole, I’m not here to point fingers,” said Hayes.

Several people told Atlanta News First they wish there were grants or loans specifically for employees of impacted businesses instead of just for business owners.

“Hoping that this grant, that they’ll think, maybe think to help out the staff plus the business, not just the business take care of the employees,” said Frohman.

“A lot of these people work paycheck to paycheck,” said Hayes.

Businesses in Atlanta and 11 counties that were affected by the water main breaks from May 31 to June 6 are eligible to receive the loans. Those counties are:

Fulton

Carroll

Cherokee

Clayton

Cobb

Coweta

DeKalb

Douglas

Fayette

Forsyth

Gwinnett

The business recovery center is at 14 Marietta St. NW, Suite #G110. It opens on Monday, July 22, at 11 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.

After that, the hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center permanently closes on Aug. 5 at 4 p.m.

If your business was impacted by the water main breaks, you can apply for an SBA loan here. The deadline to apply is April 10, 2025.

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