SBA DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM

Business, COVID-19

Due to the rapidly changing information related to the CARES Act we have updated the information below and included more links directly to the U.S. Treasury and SBA websites.

Please continue to check these resources as they are changing not by the day but by the hour.

We are continually updating ourselves and encourage you to call us with your questions as you navigate the various loan programs.

Below is a general overview of the program but you MUST refer to the websites above for specific details, the below cannot be relied upon for anything but general information.

Last updated 4/4/20  9:00 a.m.

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Overview

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides immediate relief to small businesses with SBA 7(a), 504, and microloans.  For existing borrowers, SBA will cover all loan payments on these SBA loans, including principal, interest, and fees, for six months.  This relief will also be available to new borrowers who take out loans within six months of the enactment of the CARES Act.

Eligibility

You are eligible if:

  • You have an SBA 7(a), 504, or microloan loan (Paycheck Protection loans and SBA disaster loans are not eligible—but payments are already deferred under those loans);
  • You apply for and receive an SBA 7(a), 504, or microloan within six months of enactment of the CARES Act.
  • To check if you are eligible for an SBA 7(a), 504, or microloan, please visit the Small Business Administration website.

More about SBA loans

  • An SBA 7(a) loan is a loan of up to $5 million for borrowers who lack credit elsewhere and need access to versatile financing, providing short-term or long-term working capital and to purchase an existing business, refinance current business debt, or purchase furniture, fixtures, and supplies.
  • A 504 loan is a loan up to $5.5 million for small businesses that provides long-term, fixed-rate financing used to acquire fixed assets for expansion or modernization.  You must apply through a Certified Development Company, which is a nonprofit corporation that promotes economic development.
  • A microloan loan is a loan up to $50,000 to help small businesses and certain not-for-profit childcare centers to start up and expand.  The average microloan is about $13,000.  These loans are delivered through mission-based lenders that also provide business counseling.
  • You can use SBA’s free lender match tool to find a lender near you.

How do I get debt relief?

Debt relief is automatic, but you should check in with your lender.  Under the new law, the SBA is directed to make payments within 30 days of the date on which the first payment is due.

More Information

For more information about SBA loan programs, please visit the Small Business Administration.