Federal assistance is available to small businesses and private nonprofits in 34 Mississippi counties impacted by a drought that hit the region in 2025.
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Mississippi that sustained economic losses caused by the drought beginning Aug. 26, 2025. According to the federal government’s National Integrated Drought Information System, the drought developed in the Midwest and Southeast U.S. in the fall.
The disaster declaration covers the counties of Alcorn, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Clay, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Itawamba, Kemper, Lafayette, Leflore, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Sunflower, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Webster, Winston, and Yalobusha.
Under the declaration, the federal government’s economic injury disaster loan program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and nonprofits with financial losses directly related to the disaster. The government agency is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”
Economic injury disaster loans are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or nonprofit did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills not paid due to the disaster.
Applications must be submitted by Aug. 31. Those looking for financial relief can do so by going here, calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or emailing [email protected].
