Release Date: March 10, 2026 

Release Number: FL- 20032-01 Follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn & Instagram

SBA Offers Disaster Relief to Florida Small Businesses

and Private Nonprofits Affected by Frost and Freeze

Low interest disaster loans now available

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of 

low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) 

organizations in Florida who sustained economic losses caused by frost and freeze occurring

Jan. 23 – Feb. 5.

The disaster declaration covers the Florida counties of Alachua, Bradford, Broward, Charlotte, 

Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Flagler, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, 

Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, 

Madison, Marion, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, Putnam, St. Johns, St. 

Lucie, Suwannee, Taylor, Volusia and Wakulla as well as the Georgia counties of Brooks, 

Grady, Lowndes and Thomas.

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to 

eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial 

losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to 

agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for 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.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is Nov. 4.