Special to the News
The U.S. Small Business Administration is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit organizations impacted by drought beginning Sept. 23, 2025, to apply for low-interest federal economic injury disaster loans before the deadline.
Eligible Counties
Alabama: Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Butler, Chambers, Chilton, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Dale, Escambia, Fayette, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Macon, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Wilcox
Florida: Holmes, Jackson and Walton
Georgia: Clay, Early, Harris, Muscogee, Seminole, and Troup Mississippi: Lowndes, and Noxubee
Who Can Apply
- Private nonprofits and faith-based organizations
- Small agricultural cooperatives and nurseries
- Small aquaculture enterprises
Loan Assistance Available
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Working capital assistance for operational expenses caused by the disaster.
Key Loan Details
- Up to $2 million in loan funding
- Interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofit organizations
- Loan terms of up to 30 years
- No interest or required payments during the first 12 months following disbursement
Apply online: sba.gov/disaster
Application Deadline: Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Aug. 31
Applicants may call the SBA Customer Service Center with questions regarding their application at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
