Governor Helps Secure Federal Assistance in Drought-Stricken Areas

August 7, 2023

Governor Helps Secure Federal Assistance in Drought-Stricken Areas

On July 25, Gov. Greg Gianforte requested federal assistance in helping Montana cope with an unprecedented drought, a request U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack quickly granted. “By law, SBA makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans available when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture designates an agricultural disaster,” according to a news release issued by the Small Business Administration. “The Secretary declared this disaster on July 31.” The 10 Montana counties affected are Flathead, Glacier, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Missoula, Pondera, Powell, Sanders and Teton; “Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred,” according to the SBA. “NFIB thanks the governor for his swift and decisive action on this,” said Ronda Wiggers, NFIB’s Montana state director. “Once again, he has shown the health and welfare of Montana’s Main Streets are always at the forefront of his thoughts.” According to the SBA, “Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email 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 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. The deadline to apply for economic injury is April 1, 2024.”