Arizona disaster loan applications remain open for Gila County flood losses

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Gila County disaster loan applications

Highlights

Small businesses and private nonprofits in Gila County affected by Sept. 25–27, 2023 floods may apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans until the application deadline.
The SBA's EIDL program offers up to $2 million per applicant, with business interest rates as low as 4% and repayment terms up to 30 years.
Eligible entities include those in Coconino, Gila, Graham, Maricopa, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai counties and regional tribal nations, with loans to support working capital and operating expenses.

Loan program scope and application deadline

As reported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the relief window remains open for economic injury disaster loans tied to financial losses from the Sept. 25 to 27, 2025 flooding event in Gila County. The declaration covers Arizona counties including Coconino, Gila, Graham, Maricopa, Navajo, Pinal and Yavapai, along with tribal nations located within those counties.

Under the declaration, the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based groups, that are impacted by disaster-related financial losses. The agency does not provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, except for small aquaculture enterprises.

EIDL funding is designed to support working capital needs caused by the disaster, even when a business has not suffered physical damage. Loan proceeds may be used for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could not be paid because of the disruption.

Financing terms and regional recovery implications

The loan amount can reach up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits, and terms of up to 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months after the first loan disbursement, with final loan size and terms based on each applicant's financial condition.

Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, says the loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster and support local economic recovery. Businesses and organizations can apply online through the SBA disaster assistance portal, or contact the agency's customer service center by phone or email for more information.

Our earlier coverage of a House Financial Services Committee hearing examined concerns over how HUD administers long-term disaster aid through the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Lawmakers argued that the program’s case-by-case rulemaking and slow spending pace can delay recovery funds, complicate local use, and make oversight harder—fueling debate over whether Congress should redesign the federal framework for disaster relief.

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