News
The disaster declaration covers several counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including Columbiana County and Mahoning County in Ohio and Lawrence County in Pennsylvania.
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced in a news release on Saturday that low-interest federal disaster loans are available to small businesses and private nonprofits that may have been affected by the drought that began on September 16, 2025.
The disaster declaration covers several counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, including Columbiana County and Mahoning County in Ohio and Lawrence County in Pennsylvania.
In these counties, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to the following:
The program is available to those organizations and businesses that have experienced financial losses related to the drought.
However, the SBA clarifies that it cannot provide the disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
The loans from the EIDL program may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Loan amounts can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses or a rate of 3.625% for private nonprofits, with terms up to 30 years.
Additionally, the loans are available even if the small business or private nonprofit experienced no physical damage.
“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.
Stallings continued,” We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”
Those interested may apply for the program online at the SBA disaster assistance website.
The deadline to apply is May 22, 2026.