U.S. Small Business Administration to Offer Economic Injury Disaster Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

What businesses are eligible to apply?

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (or working capital loans) are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private non-profit organizations

This includes:

• Businesses directly affected by the disaster
• Businesses that offer services directly related to the businesses in the declaration
• Other businesses indirectly related the industry that are likely to be harmed by losses in their community

What is the criteria for a loan approval?

• Credit History – Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA.
• Repayment –SBA must determine that the applicant business has the ability to repay the SBA loan.
• Eligibility – The applicant business must be physically located in a declared county and suffered working capital losses due to the declared disaster, not due to a downturn in the economy or other reasons.

How much can I borrow?

• Eligible entities may qualify for loans up to $2 million.
• The interest rates for this disaster are 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years.
• Eligibility for these working capital loans are based on the size (must be a small business) and type of business and its financial resources.

How can I use the loan funds?

These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits or for expansion.

Basic Filing Requirements

• Completed SBA loan application (SBA Form 5).
• Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 4506T) for the applicant, principals and affiliates.
• Complete copies of the most recent Federal Income Tax Return.
• Schedule of Liabilities (SBA Form 2202).
• Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413). Other Information may also be requested.

Other information that may be requested:

• Complete copy, including all schedules, of the most recent Federal income tax return for principals, general partners or managing member, and affiliates (see filing requirements for more information).
• If the most recent Federal income tax return has not been filed, a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year .
• A current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement .
• Additional Filing Requirements (SBA Form 1368) providing monthly sales figures. (This is especially important for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.)

How To Apply

• Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.
• Paper loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
• Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

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