SBA drought disaster loans available for NH small businesses and nonprofits

November 25, 2025 — by Scanner Alerts Media

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to eligible small businesses and private nonprofits in New Hampshire impacted by drought beginning September 16, 2025. Covered NH counties are Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Grafton, Merrimack, and Strafford; Oxford and York in Maine and Essex in Vermont are also included.

EIDLs provide working capital for fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that cannot be paid due to the disaster. Loan amounts can be up to $2,000,000 with terms up to 30 years; interest rates are as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits, with payments deferred for 12 months. Interest rates are fixed for the life of the loan.

Eligibility notes: agricultural producers (farmers and ranchers) are not eligible for SBA assistance, except aquaculture; nurseries are eligible for economic injury caused by declared droughts. Applicants must show acceptable credit and ability to repay.

Deadline: Economic injury applications must be filed by May 22, 2026.

How to apply / help:

• Apply online: sba.gov/disaster

• SBA Customer Service Center: 1-800-659-2955; disastercustomerservice@sba.gov (TRS 7-1-1)

Credit: U.S. Small Business Administration.