ATLANTA -- Georgia businesses are beginning to feel the pinch caused by the drought and stiffer water usage regulations. Some businesses, such as The Urban Gardener, are adjusting --- they re scaling back and are beginning to emphasize landscaping that will save water. The nursery will begin focusing on container gardens and xeriscaping – landscaping with plants that require little or no watering.

But others may look into what the U.S. Small Business Administration is offering. Wednesday, the administration announced that drought-affected businesses in every county in Georgia are eligible for disaster relief loans up to $1.5 million.

Kathy Cook, a government relations specialist for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance in Atlanta, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution the loans are payable over 30 years at 4 percent interest. But, Cook said, few companies have taken advantage of them because people don’t understand that disaster help is available for a drought.

Cook told the AJC that 13 firms had applied for assistance. The loans take 21 days to process and applicants must meet credit standards and show an ability to repay.

For information about the program, business owners can contact the SBA’s disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov. The filing deadline is March 27.