SBA opens disaster loan program for Crow Tribe of Montana storm losses

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SBA loans for Crow Tribe storm losses

Highlights

The SBA declared the Crow Tribe of Montana eligible for physical damage and EIDL loans, with adjacent counties limited to EIDL support.
Businesses can apply for up to $2 million in loans, homeowners $500,000, and renters or homeowners $100,000 for disaster-related repairs or replacements.
EIDL interest rates start at 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.875% for individuals, with 30-year terms and 12-month deferral on payments.

Loan eligibility and borrowing limits

As announced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the disaster declaration for the Crow Tribe of Montana makes applicants eligible for both physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, while adjacent counties qualify only for EIDL support.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations can apply for business physical disaster loans of up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory and other business assets. Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair or replace their primary residence, while homeowners and renters can seek up to $100,000 for personal property including clothing, furniture, cars and appliances.

Applicants may also qualify for a loan increase of up to 20% of verified physical damage for mitigation work. Eligible improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to reduce future disaster risk.

Repayment terms and recovery support

SBA says its EIDL program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofits, including faith-based organizations, that face financial losses directly tied to the disaster. The agency does not provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.

EIDL funds can be used for working capital needs even when an applicant has no physical property damage. The loans may cover fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid because of the disaster.

Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, says the presidential declaration allows the agency to provide financial assistance to help affected communities recover. Interest rates can be as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for private nonprofits, and 2.875% for homeowners and renters, with terms of up to 30 years.

Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months after the first loan disbursement. SBA says it will provide one-on-one help to applicants once Federal-State Disaster Recovery Centers open in the affected area, and online applications are available at sba.gov/disaster.

Our earlier article on Ontario’s AA long-term and R-1 (high) short-term credit rating affirmation explained why the province retained stable ratings even as its 2026 budget pointed to a slower fiscal recovery. We noted that resilient growth and strong market access supported the rating profile, but persistent deficits, rising interest costs, and elevated debt metrics continued to limit flexibility and delay a return to balance.

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