Disaster Declaration OH-20017
Did the August Storms Hurt Your Business? SBA Loans May Help
A storm can hurt a business even when its building stays dry and its roof stays in place. Customers may stay home. Deliveries may be delayed. Work may be canceled. The bills, however, keep coming.
Clinton County small businesses facing financial hardship from the 10-22 August 2026, disaster may qualify for help from the U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA.
The deadline to apply is July 2, 2027.
Why is Clinton County included?
Disaster Declaration OH-20017 covers severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, flooding, and landslides during 10-22 August 2026.
Clinton County is included as a “contiguous county.” That simply means it borders a county named in the main disaster area.
For Clinton County, this declaration provides access to Economic Injury Disaster Loans, often called EIDLs. The county’s coverage is for financial hardship only. It does not provide physical damage loans for local homes or businesses under this declaration.
What does “economic injury” mean?
In plain language, it means the disaster left a business unable to pay its normal, necessary bills.
For example, storm-related road closures might have kept customers from reaching a store. Delayed supplies might have stopped a business from completing jobs. If those problems left the business unable to cover regular expenses, SBA can review its situation.
A drop in sales alone does not mean a business qualifies. The business must show how this disaster caused the financial hardship.
Physical damage is not required.
What can the loan help pay?
These loans provide “working capital”—money needed to keep a business running during recovery. Approved uses may include:
Existing fixed debt payments.
Payroll.
Rent.
Supplier bills.
Utilities.
The loan does not replace lost profits. EIDL funds also cannot be used to repair or replace storm-damaged property, including damaged inventory.
If spoiled stock, damaged goods, or delivery problems affected your business, keep those records. They may help explain the resulting financial hardship. Ask SBA which related operating expenses may qualify.
Who may qualify?
Eligible applicants may include small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations, including churches and charities. Certain small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture businesses may also qualify.
Most farming and ranching operations are not eligible for this SBA program.
SBA must determine that the applicant cannot fund its recovery through its own resources or borrowing from other sources. Applicants must also meet SBA’s credit standards and show they can repay the loan.
What are the loan terms?
These are loans that must be repaid. They are not grants.
Under this declaration, fixed interest rates are 4% for eligible businesses and small agricultural cooperatives and 3.625% for eligible private nonprofits.
Loans may be available for up to $2 million, with repayment terms of up to 30 years. SBA sets the amount and repayment schedule based on the applicant’s financial need and ability to repay. Insurance payments and other recoveries affect the amount available. Property may need to be pledged as security for the loan.
Payments are not due, and interest does not begin to build, until 12 months after the first loan funds are received.
Review your records now
The July 2, 2027, deadline gives business owners time to review their books and discuss possible impacts with their accountant or bookkeeper. There is no need to wait until the deadline approaches.
Helpful records may include:
Bank statements and unpaid bills.
Insurance claims and payments.
Inventory records showing stock losses or supply problems.
Notes about closures, canceled orders, outages, or delivery delays.
Sales records from before, during, and after the disaster, including the same period in earlier years.
Tax returns and financial statements.
Focus on the connection between the August 10–22 disaster and your business’s financial problems. Keep records of related effects that continued after the storms ended, too.
How to apply or ask questions
Apply through the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov. Refer to Disaster Declaration OH-20017.
For help, contact SBA’s Customer Service Center:
Phone: 1-800-659-2955
People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
SBA makes the final decision on eligibility, loan amounts, and terms. If the August disaster left your business struggling to pay its regular bills, contact SBA to learn whether this loan could help.
Plan. Prepare. Protect.
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