NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — Businesses in some North Dakota counties — as well as areas in Montana and South Dakota — can now apply for low-interest federal disaster loans from the US Small Business Association (SBA). According to Francisco Sánchez, the SBA's Associate Administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resiliences, when farmers face crop losses and a disaster is declared by the Secretary of Agriculture, SBA working capital loans become a lifeline for eligible small businesses. Small nonfarm businesses, agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses, and most private nonprofits can qualify for loans of up to $2 million through the program, which are meant to offset financial obligations and pay operating expenses that could have been taken care of if the recent droughts had not occurred in certain areas. New wildfire contained a mile east of Buffalo Gap Below is a list of counties in ND and its surrounding states that can apply for disaster loans: Primary North Dakota Counties: Adams, Divide, Slope, Williams Neighboring North Dakota Counties: Billings, Bowman, Burke, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger Neighboring Montana Counties: Fallon, Richland, Roosevelt, Sheridan Neighboring South Dakota Counties: Corson, Harding, Perkins “These loans are the backbone that helps rural communities bounce back and thrive after a disaster strikes,” Sánchez said. “SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster and businesses directly impacted by the disaster." “Eligibility for these loans is based on the financial impact of the disaster only," Sánchez adds, "and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for businesses and 3.25 percent for private nonprofit organizations, a maximum term of 30 years, and are available to small businesses and most private nonprofits without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship." The deadline to apply for economic injury is June 9, 2025. Those interested in doing so can find information on the topic here, by calling SBA's Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955, or by emailing [email protected]. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability can also dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW