NORWAY – Registered nurse Linda Poto has been hired as a prenatal and parent educator and case manager for The Child Health Center’s Parent Place program.

Poto will be working out at the Norway office, and her services will include home and office visits. She will also collaborate with Oxford Hills Adult Education to provide a half credit parenting course to those who qualify.

She has 17 years of experience in community health nursing where she focused on parent and child heath as well as pediatrics. She is a graduate of Laboure School of Nursing in Massachusetts and received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Westbrook College.

She earned a masters degree in Family and Community Health at the University of Southern Maine and is a certified parent educator in Parents as Teachers.

The Child Health Center is a nonprofit organization located in Norway, with branches in Auburn and Rumford. The Child Health Center is working to improve the health and well-being of children and their families. For information phone 743-7035.

Applications for SBA loans taken

AUGUSTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds small, non-farm and agriculture-dependent businesses in Maine that the filing deadline for economic injury disaster loans is Nov. 12.

“A disaster declaration was issued as a result of a similar action taken by the secretary of agriculture to help farmers in the state recover from losses caused by drought conditions that occurred from Jan. 1, 2002 and continuing,” said SBA Disaster Area Director William E. Leggiero Jr.

Under this declaration, SBA’s loan program is available to small agriculture-dependent businesses and small agricultural cooperatives that suffered economic injury as a direct result of the weather’s effect on agricultural producers.

For example, businesses that sell goods and services directly to agricultural producers may be unable to pay bills and/or meet expenses because of the reduced purchasing power of the farmers and ranchers.

Eligible small businesses may qualify for loans up to $1.5 million. These loans are available at a 4 percent interest rate with terms up to 30 years. SBA determines eligibility for the program based on the size and type of business and its financial resources.

“SBA does not provide loans to farmers, and cannot provide loans to nonagricultural dependent businesses.

Small businesses may contact their local SBA District office for information and other possible assistance. Farmers and ranchers should contact the Farm Services Agency, for information regarding loan programs,” Leggiero added.

The declaration designates the entire state as the primary disaster area.

Interested small business owners should contact the SBA Disaster Area 1 Office at (800) 659-2955 or (800) 877-8339 for the hearing-impaired to obtain an application or for more information.

Completed disaster loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than Nov. 12.