New Enhancements to SBA COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program
This week, the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration announced major enhancements to the COVID EIDL program to better support small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Key changes include the following:
- Increasing the COVID EIDL Cap. The SBA will lift the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying debt.
- Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period. The SBA will ensure small business owners will not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they can get through the pandemic without having to worry about making ends meet.
- Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window. To ensure Main Street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
- Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds. COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
- Simplification of affiliation requirements. To ease the COVID EIDL application process for small businesses, the SBA has established more simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.
More than $150 billion in COVID EIDL funding is still available through the end of the year.
Plus, eligible businesses in low-income areas can apply for up to $15,000 in grant funding through the COVID EIDL Targeted Advance and Supplemental Advance programs. Interested businesses can apply for all three programs at once through one streamlined application.
Visit www.sba.gov/eidl for more information about all COVID EIDL programs. Or register for an upcoming informational webinar hosted by the SBA Seattle District which will be held in the morning of September 17 and afternoon of September 21.