As U.S. businesses continue to recover from COVID-19’s economic devastation, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is expanding loan opportunities. The agency announced that beginning the week of April 6th, nonprofits and small businesses will be able to borrow up to $500,000 for up to 24 months. This expansion of the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program more than triples the existing limit of six months and a maximum loan amount of $150,000. In a news release announcing the change, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman said, “More than 3.7 million businesses employing more than 20 million people have found financial relief through SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which provide low-interest emergency working capital to help save their businesses. However, the pandemic has lasted longer than expected, and they need larger loans.” Businesses that had already applied for a COVID-19 EIDL loan need not worry about reapplying, as all applications in process will automatically be considered for the increased amounts. Similarly, instructions will be published to allow those who have already been approved for a loan to apply for the expanded amounts. A loan increase can be requested via SBA.gov, and an email will go out to all previously approved borrowers containing the same information. The COVID-19 EIDL program has been extremely successful, with over $200 billion in loans already approved by the SBA. Small businesses, including independent contractors and sole proprietors, have been provided 30-year maturity loans at a 3.75% interest rate, while not-for-profits will pay 2.75% in interest. In more good news for borrowers, on March 12th the SBA announced that borrowers for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 EIDL loans, would be provided extended deferment periods. Interest will still accrue on all outstanding loan balances, so though payments are not required until 2022, borrowers do have an incentive to begin paying their balance off sooner. If you have any questions about the EIDL loan limit expansion and how it could affect your business, please contact our office.