ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding small businesses, small
agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit
organizations that Jan. 25, 2024 is the filing deadline for federal working capital loans in Alabama
due to freezing temperatures that began March 18-20, 2023.
The declaration covers Baldwin, Blount, Chilton, Clarke, Cullman, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Henry,
Houston, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Russell, Tallapoosa and Washington and the contiguous
counties of Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clay, Conecuh,
Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Dallas, De Kalb, Geneva, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone,
Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marshall, Monroe, Perry, Pike, Randolph, Saint Clair, Shelby,
Walker, Wilcox and Winston in Alabama; Escambia, Jackson, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa in Florida;
Chattahoochee, Clay, Early, Muscogee, Seminole and Stewart in Georgia and George, Greene, Jackson
and Wayne in Mississippi.
Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible
farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this
disaster. Apart from aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural
producers, farmers, and ranchers.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 4% for small businesses and 2.375% for
private nonprofit organizations, with terms up to 30 years. The SBA determines eligibility based on the
size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by
the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. These working capital loans may be
used to pay fixed debts, payroll, account payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the
disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at
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.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Jan.25, 2024.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the
only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the
SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to
start, grow, expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an
extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn
more, visit www.sba.gov.
