Disaster loans available to small Florida businesses affected by drought

Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Florida small businesses — including agricultural cooperatives and nurseries — and private nonprofits affected by drought conditions.

The loans, available through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, are available for working capital needs caused by the drought beginning Dec. 1, 2025, even if the organization not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills.

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 of 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 Small Business Administration (SBA) sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Applications are available online 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.

The application deadline is Dec. 10.

The disaster declaration covers the following Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.

Also included are the Alabama counties of Covington, Escambia, Geneva, and Houston, as well as Georgia counties of Brooks, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Decatur, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Seminole, Thomas, and Ware.

SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”