CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (May 12, 2025) – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Florida who sustained economic losses caused by the drought beginning February 11, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Glades, Hendry, Martin, and Palm Beach, and the adjacent counties of Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Highlands, Lee, Okeechobee, and St. Lucie in Florida.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofits with financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
Disaster loans are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or private nonprofit did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is Dec. 8, 2025.
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