March 29, 2021 3:40 a.m.

Small nonfarm businesses in 12 Oregon counties and neighboring counties in California and Washington are now eligible to apply for low interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Director Tonya Garfield of SBA’s Disaster Fields Operations Center-West said the loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by drought that began in Jackson and Wasco counties starting on March 15th.

Neighboring counties in Oregon impacted include Douglas, Clackamas, Gilliam, Hood river, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Marion, Sherman and Wheeler. Siskiyou County in California and Klickitat County in Washington are also listed.

Garfield said SBA eligibility covers both the economic impacts on businesses dependent on farmers and ranchers that have suffered agricultural production losses caused by the disaster, and businesses directly impacted by the disaster.

Those eligible can apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/

The deadline to apply is November 12th.