NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Small, nonfarm businesses in 13 California counties and four neighboring counties in Oregon are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

“These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by the drought that occurred June 18 to Aug. 12, 2013, in the following primary counties,” announced Alfred E. Judd, Director of SBA’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West.

Primary California counties include Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity; neighboring California counties are Glenn, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Sonoma and Tehama; and neighboring Oregon counties are Curry, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath.

The deadline to apply for these loans is April 14, 2014.

“SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster,” Judd said.

Small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

“Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for businesses and 2.875 percent for private, nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private, nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship,” Judd said.

By law, SBA makes EIDLs available when the U. S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster. Secretary Tom Vilsack declared this disaster on Aug. 14, 2013.

Businesses primarily engaged in farming or ranching are not eligible for SBA disaster assistance. Agricultural enterprises should contact the Farm Services Agency (FSA) about the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) assistance made available by the Secretary’s declaration. However, in drought disasters nurseries are eligible for SBA disaster assistance.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure Web site at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela .

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955 or e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call 800-877-8339.

For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster .