Hwy 133 Closure – Small Business Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Uncategorized /

Via Delta County Government – May 26, 2023

Delta and Gunnison County Emergency Management in partnership with the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) encourage businesses with financial losses caused by the CO Highway 133 closure which began on May 2, 2023 to complete the Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet for Business from the Small Business Administration (SBA).

DHSEM is gathering information from businesses in Delta, Gunnison, Pitkin and Garfield Counties which have been impacted by the highway closure and may be interested in applying for low-interest economic disaster recovery loans from the Small Business Administration. Time is of the essence for this disaster loan program – State Emergency Management has 120-days from May 2nd to receive information from impacted businesses, submit forms to the Small Business Administration for review and determine if the threshold has been met for Governor Polis to request a Small Business Disaster Declaration to enable businesses to apply for low-interest loans.

The first step in this process is for businesses with economic losses from the highway closure to complete the estimated economic impact worksheet. Businesses should understand that by filling out the worksheet and submitting to DHSEM, it is NOT a guarantee for funding assistance and this is a LOAN program, not a grant. If a SBA Disaster Declaration is issued, there are additional steps required to be approved for the low-interest loan.

Note: Agriculture producers, businesses and local wineries are not eligible for SBA Economic Impact Disaster Loans and must apply through the US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency for agricultural disaster relief support.

Important Information about the Small Business Association Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet:

  • Filling out the form is NOT a guarantee of funding assistance.
  • Filling out the form is NOT a completion of an application for a Small Business Association Disaster Loan.
  • This is the first step in working towards an Small Business Association EIDL - there will be more steps before you apply for the actual loan.
  • The purpose of the worksheet is to gather information on the number of businesses impacted and experiencing economic losses from this incident.
  • If your business has not had losses or you are not interested in a low-interest SBA loan DO NOT submit this worksheet to DHSEM. If you are having losses and are interested in having a low interest loan to help your business recover, please submit this form ASAP.
  • This process is time-sensitive. The State has 120 days from May 2nd (August 30) to collect information from businesses, verify information, submit it to the Small Business Administration and have them declare a small business disaster declaration.
  • Agriculture businesses/producers are NOT eligible for SBA EIDL loans. Instead there are resources through the USDA Farm Services Agency.

Steps to Completing the Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet:

  • Download the Estimated Disaster Economic Injury Worksheet for Business here.
  • Fill out the Worksheet.
  • Save the completed worksheet and email to CO Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management - West Service Area Field Manager Bobbie Lucero at Bobbie.lucero@state.co.us
  • DHSEM staff will contact you with any questions about the worksheet or for any revisions necessary.
  • Once at least five (5) businesses in Delta, Gunnison, Pitkin or Garfield Counties report losses and interest in SBA loans, the Governor/State will work to request a SBA Disaster Declaration.
  • Once an SBA Disaster Declaration is issued, businesses with losses will be allowed to apply for a SBA EIDL Loan through the SBA.

Hwy 133 Closure – Small Business Economic Injury Disaster Loan Read More »