Congressman Gonzalez Announces Availability of Small Business Disaster Assistance Loans to Mitigate Impact of Coronavirus

March 13, 2020
Press Release

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced the availability of Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance from the Small Business Administration (SBA). SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer up to $2 million in assistance and can provide vital economic relief to small businesses impacted by the temporary loss of revenue due to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

"Small businesses, the backbone of our country's economy, that are experiencing financial loss due to COVID-19 should apply for this assistance as soon as possible," said Congressman Gonzalez. "My office is here to assist any who may wish to apply for these loans."

Process for Accessing SBA's Coronavirus Disaster Relief Lending

  • The U.S. Small Business Administration 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). Upon a request received from a state's or territory's Governor, SBA will issue under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration.
  • Any such Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance will coordinate with the state's or territory's Governor to submit the request for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance.
  • Once a declaration is made for designated areas within a state, the information on the application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance will be made available to all affected communities.
  • These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses without credit available elsewhere; businesses with credit available elsewhere are not eligible. The interest rate for non-profits is 2.75%.
  • SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are determined on a case-by-case basis, based upon each borrower's ability to repay.
  • SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans are just one piece of the expanded focus of the federal government's coordinated response, and the SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible.

For additional information, please contact the SBA disaster assistance customer service center. Call 1-800-659-2955 (TTY: 1-800-877-8339) or e-mail disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

For assistance in applying for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, more information is available here.

Issues:Economy