ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) encourages small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in North Carolina to apply for low interest federal disaster loans to offset economic losses caused by tropical storm Helene beginning Sept. 25-Dec. 28, 2024.
The disaster declaration covers Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Graham, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett , Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Polk, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanley, Stokes, Surry, Swain, The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, Transylvania, Union, Wake, Warren, Watauga, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin and Yancey counties and which are eligible for EIDLs from the SBA, Rabun, Towns and Union in Georgia; Cherokee, Chesterfield, Greenville, Lancaster, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and York in South Carolina, Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier, and Unicoi in Tennessee, as well as Carroll, Grayson and Patrick in Virginia.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
Under this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs 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 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 of 4% for small businesses and 3.25% for private nonprofit organizations, and 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, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to a disaster.
SBA will partner with local stakeholders to conduct webinars and workshops targeted at small businesses and non-profit organizations in disaster-declared counties. Information on future events will be shared with the media.
For more information and 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 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.
The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025.
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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 or 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.