Governor Whitmer Announces Additional Counties Impacted by Cold Weather Eligible for U.S. Small Business Administration Relief Following USDA Disaster Designation

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer today applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration for making Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to eligible small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and nonprofits impacted by frost and freeze that occurred May 6-13, 2020. SBA extended the loans following the Secretarial Disaster Declaration obtained by Governor Whitmer from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue in September.    

The loans are available in the following counties: Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Wexford.  

“I am pleased that the Small Business Administration is providing relief to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the cold weather following the disaster designation I secured from USDA earlier this year,” said Governor Whitmer. “This year has been challenging for our small businesses and I’m glad the SBA has recognized the need for this support. I am always grateful for this assistance and eager to continue working with the federal government to provide relief to Michigan families, small businesses, and communities.”  

Last June, Governor Whitmer requested a USDA Secretarial Disaster Designation to provide relief to Michigan fruit growers and farmers who incurred damage and losses to their crops caused by a hard freeze in the spring. USDA ultimately designated more than 15 Michigan counties as primary disaster areas beginning in September 2020.  

Under this declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster.  

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov. Applicants should apply under SBA declaration #16797. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information.   

Applications are due to SBA no later than August 2, 2021.