ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration to declare parts of northeastern Minnesota a disaster area because of storms and flooding in June.

Dayton sent a letter to the SBA on Tuesday requesting a declaration for Carlton, Pine and St. Louis counties and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

While President Barack Obama declared a major disaster for the area in July, Dayton notes that his request for federal individual assistance was denied by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA upheld that denial last week.

Dayton says at least 25 homes or businesses sustained uninsured losses of 40 percent or more. He’s asking that SBA disaster loans also be offered to eligible individuals and businesses in adjacent counties.

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