Disaster relief loans offered to local small businesses, nonprofits

COLUMBUS/SEYMOUR/NORTH VERNON, Ind. - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofits (PNP) in Bartholomew, Jackson, and Jennings Counties, which sustained economic losses due to significant rainfall occurring from April 1 to Dec. 31, 2025.

The SBA disaster declaration also covers the counties of Decatur, Jefferson, Ripley, and Scott in southern Indiana.   

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs 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.     

EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or PNP 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 PNPs, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue. 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.    

The deadline to return economic injury applications is Oct. 13.