SBA Drought Relief Loans for Oregon Small Businesses and Nonprofits

SBA Newsroom

Published April 3rd, 2026

Detected April 3rd, 2026

Summary

The SBA is reminding eligible small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Oregon of the May 4 deadline to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) following a drought declaration. Loans of up to $2 million are available at interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for nonprofits to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning July 8, 2025. The disaster declaration covers 19 Oregon counties plus additional counties in Idaho and Washington.

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What changed

The SBA has issued Disaster Declaration OR-20017-02 for drought-affected areas, making Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofits including faith-based organizations. The loan program provides up to $2 million at 4% interest for businesses and 3.625% for nonprofits, with terms up to 30 years and no payments due until 12 months after the first disbursement. Eligible counties include Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Deschutes, Grant, and 13 other Oregon counties, plus Adams and Washington counties in Idaho and Clark and Skamania counties in Washington.

Affected small businesses and nonprofits must submit completed loan applications by May 4 to SBA's Customer Service Center. Applications may be submitted online at sba.gov/disaster, by phone at (800) 659-2955, or via email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. A 60-day grace period applies after the deadline. Note that SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

What to do next

Submit Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications to SBA by May 4 deadline to be eligible for drought relief funding
Gather financial documentation including tax returns, balance sheets, and profit/loss statements for the loan application
Apply online at sba.gov/disaster, call (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Source document (simplified)

Disaster news release
OR-20017-02

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

Deadline to apply for economic injury loans approaching Published on

April 3, 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 Oregon of the May 4 deadline to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by drought beginning July 8, 2025.

The disaster declaration covers the Oregon counties of Baker, Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Deschutes, Grant, Hood River, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill as well as the Idaho counties of Adams and Washington, and the Washington counties of Clark and Skamania.

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 impacted by 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 not 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 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 4. 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