The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit (PNP) organizations in California that sustained economic losses caused by the storms that occurred Dec. 16-26, 2025, including those in Carpinteria.
The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Christina Curry, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s authorized representative CalOES interim director on Feb. 4, 2026.
The disaster declaration covers the California counties of Santa Barbara, Alpine, Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Madera, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Tuolumne and Ventura, as well Douglas, Esmeralda, Lyon and Mineral counties in Nevada.
Under the declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs, including faith-based organizations with financial losses directly related to this disaster.
The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises, officials said.
EIDLs are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available, even if the business did not suffer any physical damage.
They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for PNPs with terms up to 30 years.
Interest does not accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement.
The SBA sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center, 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on disaster assistance.
Individuals who need hearing assistance, or have a speech disability can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Deadline to return economic injury applications to the SBA is Nov. 6, 2026.