Colorado small businesses are now eligible to apply for a low-interest rate Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Details on eligibility, how to apply and recommendations are included below.
The SBDC is here to help. Contact us for an appointment or call the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955.
ELIGIBLE ENTITIES:
- Applicants must meet the SBA requirements of a small business (500 employees or fewer)
- Businesses directly affected by COVID-19
- Businesses that offer services directly related to the businesses in the declaration
- Other businesses indirectly related the industry that are likely to be harmed by losses in their community (Example: Manufacturer of widgets may be eligible as well as the wholesaler and retailer of the product)
INELIGIBLE ENTITIES:
- Agricultural Enterprises: If the primary activity of the business (including its affiliates) is as defined in Section 18(b)(1) of the Small Business Act, neither the business nor its affiliates are eligible for EIDL assistance.
- Religious Organizations
- Charitable Organizations
- Gambling Concerns (Ex: Concerns that derive more that 1/3 of their annual gross revenue from legal gambling activities)
- Casinos & Racetracks (Ex: Businesses whose purpose for being is gambling (e.g., casinos, racetracks, poker parlors, etc.) are not eligible for EIDL assistance regardless of 1/3 criteria above
- Cannabis Industry
LOAN APPROVAL CRITERIA:
- Credit History: Applicants must have a credit history acceptable to SBA
- Repayment: SBA must determine that the applicant’s business has the ability to repay the SBA loan
- Eligibility: The applicant business must be physically located in a declared county and suffered working capital losses due to the declared disaster, not due to a downturn in the economy or other reasons
HOW MUCH YOU CAN BORROW:
- Eligible entities may qualify for loans up to $2 million
- The interest rates for this disaster are 3.75 percent for small businesses and 2.75 percent for nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years
- Eligibility for these working capital loans are based on the size (must be a small business) and type of business and its financial resources
HOW THE FUNDS CAN BE USED:
These working capital loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred. The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits or for expansion. Funds cannot be used to pay down long-term debt.
WHAT IS NEEDED TO APPLY:
- Completed SBA loan application (SBA Form 5)
- Tax Information Authorization (IRS Form 4506T) for the applicant, principals, and affiliates
- Complete copies of the most recent Federal Income Tax Return
- Schedule of Liabilities (SBA Form 2202)
- Personal Financial Statement (SBA Form 413)
- Income, balance sheet, and cash flow documents
OTHER INFORMATION THAT MAY BE REQUESTED:
- Complete copy, including all schedules, of the most recent Federal income tax return for principals, general partners or managing members, and affiliates (see filing requirements for more information)
- If the most recent Federal income tax return has not been filed, a year-end profit-and-loss statement and balance sheet for that tax year
- A current year-to-date profit-and-loss statement
- Additional Filing Requirements (SBA Form 1368) providing monthly sales figures. (This is especially important for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.)
HOW SOON WILL BUSINESSES RECEIVE MONEY?
- Small businesses that submit complete loan packages could receive a yes/no decision and may receive a loan disbursement (the money) within several weeks, although it may take longer depending on demand
- Incomplete information and verification of collateral will delay the approval process
HOW TO APPLY:
- Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela
- Paper loan applications can be downloaded from www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
- Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Include the specific disaster in your application – specifically reference “COVID-19” or Coronavirus
- Apply online vs by mail
- Write your password down; neither the system nor any personnel are able to retrieve it
- Save your work at every prompt
- Do not rush through the application. Check and recheck the filing requirements to ensure that all the needed information is submitted. The biggest reason for delays in processing is due to missing information.
- Make sure to complete all filing requirements before submitting the application and forms
- Be sure to use the same contact information (business name and the name of all owners) that you use on your federal tax returns. Double-check that they match.
- If your tax returns reference other businesses that you own, you must also submit those tax returns in order to avoid processing delays.
- If more funds are needed, applicants can submit supporting documents and a request for an increase. If fewer funds are needed, applicants can request a reduction in the loan amount.
- If the loan request is denied, the applicant will be given up to six months in which to provide new information and submit a written request for reconsideration