Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon today requested that the U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA, make low-interest disaster loans available to Missouri residents and businesses affected by severe storms and tornadoes on Dec. 30 and 31.

SBA disaster loans are issued to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, non-profit organizations to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed.

“Many Missourians are still feeling the financial impact of the New Year’s Eve storms and tornadoes, and we want to ensure they have the resources to rebuild,” Nixon stated in a news release. “We’re asking the SBA to make these loans available to help residents and businesses keep moving forward.”

Earlier today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, notified Nixon that the Jan. 14 request for a major disaster declaration had been denied. The denial will not impact the governor’s request for low-interest disaster loans from the SBA.