SBA Reminds Arkansas Small Businesses of May 22 Deadline for Drought Disaster Loans

Disaster news release
AR-20031-02

SBA Relief Still Available to Arkansas Small Businesses and Private Nonprofits Affected by Drought

Deadline to apply for economic injury loans approaching Published on

April 22, 2026

by Office of Disaster Recovery & Resilience WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in Arkansas of the May 22 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning Sept. 16, 2025.

The disaster declaration covers the Arkansas counties of Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Greene, Jackson, Lawrence, Mississippi, Poinsett, and Randolph as well as the Missouri counties of Butler, Dunklin, Pemiscot, and Ripley, and the Tennessee counties of Dyer, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton.

Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs — including faith-based organizations — with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small 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 which could not be paid due to the disaster.

“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.”

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 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 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.

Submit completed loan applications to the SBA no later than May 22. However, after the deadline has passed, there is a 60-day grace period in which SBA will accept applications.

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.

Related programs: Disaster

Media contacts

Corey Williams Email corey.williams@sba.gov Phone 916-735-1500