NORTHERN MICHIGAN., (WPBN/WGTU)— More than $4.2 million in federal disaster loans have been approved by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to aid Northern Michigan communities affected by the late March ice storm.
The funding is intended to support businesses, nonprofits, homeowners, and renters in their recovery efforts.
To date, the SBA has provided over $3 million to residents and $1.2 million to businesses impacted by the storms.
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan program remains available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations that have experienced financial losses directly related to the ice storm.
“Surpassing $4.2 million in disaster loans reflects more than just numbers — it represents small businesses reopening, families returning home and communities rebuilding more effectively,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “These loans provide vital support for recovery, and we encourage anyone still in need to apply before the deadline.”
These loans are available for working capital needs, even if the business did not suffer any physical damage.
This includes covering fixed debts, payroll, and other bills that went unpaid due to the disaster.
To apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information visit sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Aug. 8, 2025.
The deadline to return economic injury applications is March 9, 2026.
