SBA Disaster Loans Still Available for Idaho Businesses Impacted by Gwen Fire

BOISE, ID – Small businesses and private nonprofits in Idaho impacted by the Gwen Fire may still apply for low-interest federal disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The fire, which burned from July 24 to August 9, 2024, affected several counties in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.

In Idaho, the loans are available to entities in Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis, and Nez Perce counties. Eligible counties in neighboring states include Wallowa (Oregon), and Asotin and Whitman (Washington).

The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are designed to help organizations meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. This includes payroll, rent, and utility payments, even for those that did not sustain physical damage.

The application deadline is August 22, 2025.

Applications can be submitted online at sba.gov/disaster. For more information, contact the SBA Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov (TTY users may dial 7-1-1).

Additional information is available at ioem.idaho.gov.