The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Disaster Assistance Program is one of the federal government’s primary sources of financial assistance to help individuals and households recover and rebuild from a major disaster. In many cases, homeowners and renters find that they need assistance from both programs to support their recovery.
SBA offers long-term, low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.
Types of SBA Disaster Recovery Programs
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters in a declared major disaster area. You don’t need to own a business to apply for SBA assistance.
Who can apply for an SBA disaster loan?
- Businesses of all sizes
- Homeowners
- Renters
- Private nonprofit organizations
You must be located in a declared disaster area and meet other eligibility criteria depending on the type of loan.
How to use an SBA disaster loan
- Losses not covered by insurance or funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for both personal and business
- Business operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred
Types of disaster loans
- Physical damage loans: Loans to cover repairs and replacement of physical assets damaged in a declared disaster.
- Mitigation assistance: Expanded funding to make improvements to eliminate future damage.
- Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Funding to cover small business operating expenses after a declared disaster.
- Military reservist loan: SBA provides loans to help eligible small businesses with operating expenses to make up for employees on active duty leave.
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and most private nonprofit organizations in declared disaster areas may qualify for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) if they have suffered substantial economic injury. These loans provide up to $2 million for working capital and normal expenses like health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments, regardless of property damage.
Eligibility
- Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its financial obligations and pay its regular and necessary operating expenses
- Loss of expected profits or a decline in sales is not considered substantial economic injury
- EIDL provides the necessary working capital to help small businesses impacted by a disaster survive until normal operations resume
- EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere
- Businesses must meet the following criteria to qualify for economic injury:
- The business was directly impacted by the disaster
- The business cannot cover expenses due to the disaster and/or debt payments
- The business was physically located in the declared disaster area
SBA can provide loans to help cover the costs and expenses that your business would have been able to handle if the disaster did not happen. The EIDL amount will depend on how much financial impact you have experienced and your company’s financial needs, even if you didn’t suffer any property damage.
A separate SBA Disaster Assistance program known as business physical disaster loans covers property damage. A business may qualify for both an EIDL and a physical disaster loan. The maximum combined loan amount is $2 million.
Use of proceeds
- Working capital and normal expenses such as the continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments
- EIDL funds cannot be used for expanding facilities, buying fixed assets, repairing physical damages, refinancing debt, paying out dividends or bonuses, or paying back loans to stockholders or principals
Contact
- Visit: SBA.gov/disaster
- Call: (800) 659-2955*
- Email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
*Telecommunications relay services are available by dialing 7-1-1.
Active SBA Disaster Assistance Programs in Idaho
SBA Physical Disaster Declarations
The SBA issued a disaster declaration for the State of Idaho on Nov. 22, 2024. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Idaho businesses and residents affected by the Gwen Fire that occurred July 24-Aug. 9.
Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters whose property was damaged or destroyed by this disaster. Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow funds to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available to the following areas:
- State of Idaho:
- Clearwater
- Idaho
- Latah
- Lewis
- Nez Perce
- State of Oregon:
- Wallowa
- State of Washington:
- Asotin
- Whitman
Economic Injury Application Deadline: Aug. 22, 2025.
Related files and information:
SBA Rural Disaster Declarations
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Idaho on Oct. 8, 2024. The EIDL will provide aid to businesses impacted by the wildfires, including the Bench Lake and Wapiti Fires that began July 11.
The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Blaine, Boise, Butte, Custer, Elmore, Lemhi and Valley counties in Idaho.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: July 7, 2025
Virtual Business Recovery Center
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
(916) 735-1501
Related files and information:
SBA Drought Declarations
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Idaho on Dec. 10, 2024. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small nonfarm businesses in seven Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Custer County that began Oct. 8, 2024.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Custer
- Blaine
- Boise
- Butte
- Elmore
- Lemhi
- Valley
Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: Aug 11, 2025
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
Questions?
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
(800) 659-2955
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Related files and information:
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Nevada on April 15, 2025. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit in three Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Nevada that began Feb. 11, 2025.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Cassia
- Owyhee
- Twin Falls
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: Dec. 9, 2025
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
Questions?
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
(800) 659-2955
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Montana on July 16, 2025. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit in four Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Montana that began May 1, 2025.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Clark
- Fremont
- Idaho
- Lemhi
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: March 9, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
Questions?
disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
(800) 659-2955
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Wyoming on July 16, 2025. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit in three Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Wyoming that began May 1, 2025.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Bonneville
- Fremont
- Teton
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: March 9, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Idaho on July 29, 2025. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit in 15 Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Idaho that began July 1, 2025.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Clearwater
- Idaho
- Lemhi
- Lewis
- Shoshone
- Adams
- Benewah
- Bonner
- Butte
- Clark
- Custer
- Kootenai
- Latah
- Nez Perce
- Valley
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: March 16, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Idaho on July 29, 2025. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit in eight Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Idaho that began July 8, 2025.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Benewah
- Latah
- Nez Perce
- Clearwater
- Idaho
- Kootenai
- Lewis
- Shoshone
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: March 16, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
The SBA issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Washington on July 30, 2025. Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofit in three Idaho counties are now eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans. These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought in Washington that began July 8, 2025.
The following areas have been determined to be adversely affected by the disaster:
- State of Idaho:
- Benewah
- Latah
- Nez Perce
Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for EIDL of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: March 16, 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
Applicants may apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at SBA.gov/disaster.
IOEM Recovery Section Contact
Recovery Section Chief
Jarod Dick
(208) 258-6515
jdick@imd.idaho.gov