Heavy rains that caused flooding throughout Northeast Georgia in September may be a distant memory for some, but for others the effects have been lingering.

While the rains helped push Lake Lanier closer to full pool, it also lead to the closing of multiple streets and left many residents in Chestnut Mountain and the Chicopee community without electricity.

In order to assist affected businesses, the U.S. Small Business Administration is extending loan opportunities for those that “suffered substantial economic injury, regardless of physical damage and are located in a declared disaster area.”

Although the incident happened months ago, the deadline for applications is just drawing near, June 24.

According to the administration, Banks and Jackson counties are among those in the “primary economic injury disaster” areas. While Hall, Lumpkin, Barrow, Dawson, Habersham and Forsyth counties are among the “contiguous” disaster areas.

With a good deal of the flood damage in metro Atlanta area, many local entities offered a helping hand to nearby communities. Hall County Fire Department sent crews to Gwinnett County to assist with emergencies there, while a number of Hall County schools collected supplies to send to students in flood-damaged schools in metro districts.

While the disaster loan can’t be used for bonuses or working capital that was needed prior to the flooding, it can be used to cover “necessary financial obligations that can not be met as a direct result of the disaster.”

The maximum amount that an applicant can receive is $2 million, with a 4 percent interest rate.

In addition to being located in a declared disaster area, applicants must also prove their ability to repay the loan. The flood damage must have also occurred between Sept. 18 and Oct. 8.

Since the disaster relief loans are only for those small-business owners that can’t provide for their own recovery, applicants must have also exhausted private credit sources before applying with the administration.