SBA outlines disaster‑loan help for Sedro‑Woolley residents after winter storms

The Sedro‑Woolley City Council heard from Carl Kron of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience about loan programs available to people affected by the December 2025 severe winter storms and statewide flooding.

Kron said the SBA offers three main loan programs for declared disasters: business physical damage loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for businesses and nonprofits, and home disaster loans for homeowners and renters. He described maximums the SBA lists for many cases — up to $2,000,000 for business/physical and EIDL loans and up to $500,000 for homeowners — and said renters may be eligible for up to $100,000 to replace personal property, including vehicles.

“We are here because of the declaration involving the 2025 severe winter storms of December and the severe flooding,” Kron said, urging anyone affected to apply so they can be assigned a loan officer and get individualized assistance.

Kron also described mitigation funding available to reduce future risk. The program can provide up to an additional 20% of verified disaster damage costs for eligible improvements — for example, about $40,000 on $200,000 of verified damage — that reduce vulnerability to flood, wildfire, wind or earthquake. He cited a study described in the fact sheet suggesting each dollar invested in mitigation can yield multiple dollars in avoided losses.

Council members asked about rates and terms. Kron said homeowners and renters could see rates as low as 2.875%, businesses about 4%, and nonprofits 3.625%; approved borrowers typically face 12 months of no payments and an initial interest‑only period. He emphasized that applicants should discuss insurance and credit requirements with a loan officer and that outreach centers can provide work stations to complete online applications for residents without internet access.

Kron said the SBA has established outreach centers in the primary declared counties and contiguous counties, and that staff have prepared digital and printed fact sheets in English, Spanish and other languages. He asked the council to help publicize the centers and local events to increase access for residents.

Next steps: Kron said outreach centers will remain open based on demand and that applicants can apply online even after centers close; the council and staff agreed to coordinate local outreach.