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Program Description

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers affordable financial help to businesses and private non-profit organizations in declared disaster areas. We provide help in the form of low-interest, long-term loans for losses not fully covered by insurance or other means.

SBA's disaster loans are the main federal assistance offered to repair and rebuild non-farm, private sector disaster losses. This is our only direct loan program and it is not limited to small businesses.

Businesses of all sizes as well as private non-profit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace the following:

  • Damaged or destroyed real estate
  • Machinery and equipment
  • Inventory and other business assets

In some cases, SBA may be able to refinance all or part of a prior mortgage or lien. We may also be able to increase the loan up to 20% of the confirmed physical losses.

You could use the loan increase to make improvements that reduce the risk of damage by future disasters. This could include improvements like retaining walls, seawalls, sump pumps, safe rooms, and storm shelters.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Any of the following may qualify for EIDL:

  • Small businesses
  • Small agricultural cooperatives
  • Small businesses engaged in aquaculture
  • Most private non-profit organizations of all sizes

We offer EIDL help whether the business had any physical property damage or not.

The program limit for business loans is $2 million. This applies to all combined funding paid to a business and its affiliates for each disaster.

Other terms and conditions may apply.

General Program Requirements

To qualify, your business or private non-profit organization must have physical damage or economic harm and be located in a declared county.

Application Process

If you're a homeowner or renter and want to apply for SBA assistance, you must first apply with FEMA. You may apply to FEMA on DisasterAssistance.gov.

If you want to apply by phone, please call the FEMA Disaster Assistance Helpline:

  • 1-800-621-3362 (711 available)
  • If you use a video relay service, captioned phone, or other communication service, give FEMA the number for that service.

To apply with SBA, you may apply online at any time using the MySBA Loan Portal.

You can also apply directly to SBA from your DisasterAssistance.gov account:

  1. Create or log in to your account.
  2. On the “Status” tab, find the section for “Other Government Agencies.”
  3. On the line for SBA, under the “Application Status” column, click Apply.

If you have already applied with FEMA, FEMA can transfer your information to SBA.

To get personal, one-on-one help from SBA, you may also apply in person at one of the centers below:

To find a center near you, or for help to apply by mail, contact our Customer Service Center; see contact section below.

If you prefer to mail your application to SBA, please use the following address:

Processing and Disbursement Center
14925 Kingsport Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76155

Last Updated: 11/30/2023