The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low-interest federal loans for working capital to small businesses economically impacted by the Moraga sinkhole that began March 13, 2016. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster following a request received on July 8, from Gov. Edmond Brown Jr.’s designated representative, Mark S. Ghilarducci, director of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Solano counties.

“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist California’s small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help small businesses recover from the financial impacts of this disaster,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

“Small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” said SBA’s San Francisco District Director Mark Quinn. “These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.”

Eligibility is based on the financial impact of the disaster only and not on any actual property damage. These loans have an interest rate of 4 percent for small businesses and 2.625 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years, and are restricted to small businesses without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online using SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

The Contra Costa Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is offering free, personalized counseling to help affected businesses in their recovery. Businesses may contact the SBDC by telephone at (925) 602-6806 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. For more disaster assistance information or to download applications, visit https://www.sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return economic injury applications is April 13, 2017.