Disaster Declaration Resources From Colorado Fires

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans for eligible private nonprofit organizations impacted by the wildfires, flooding, and mudslides that occurred in Colorado between June 27 and July 29, 2026.

Pueblo County is one of four Colorado counties included in the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Public Assistance. Eligible private nonprofit and faith-based organizations may apply for SBA disaster assistance to help repair or replace disaster-damaged property, equipment, inventory, and other assets, as well as to address working capital needs and operational expenses resulting from the disaster.

SBA disaster loans may provide up to $2 million in assistance, with interest rates as low as 3.625% for eligible private nonprofit organizations and loan terms of up to 30 years. Eligible organizations may also qualify for mitigation funding of up to 20% of verified physical losses to help make improvements that reduce the risk of future disaster damage.

Organizations providing essential services of a governmental nature may have additional options for FEMA assistance. Under a Public Assistance-only declaration, certain private nonprofits providing non-critical governmental-type services must first apply for SBA assistance before seeking FEMA grant assistance for permanent repairs or replacement.

Eligible counties: Custer, Dolores, Ouray, and Pueblo

Application deadlines:

• Physical Disaster Loans: November 1, 2026
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans: June 1, 2027

Private nonprofits seeking assistance can apply through the SBA's disaster assistance portal. Organizations with questions may also contact the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

-Declaration for the Presidential Public Assistance Declaration in Colorado

-Disaster Assistance for  Private Nonprofits

-Private Non Profit Organizations SBA and FEMA Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet

 

While we only have a declaration for Public Assistance currently, the State is still pursuing an Individual Assistance declaration, for which we don’t know a potential timeline or if they will be successful. If they do not receive an Individual Assistance declaration, they may still be able to receive SBA assistance through an SBA Agency declaration, but we will have to continue to wait and see.

In the meantime, the Public Assistance declaration does allow us to offer SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans specifically to private non-profit facilities which provide “non-critical
services of a governmental nature.”

FEMA defines non-critical services as:

Museums 

Custodial care facilities

Zoos 

Alcohol & Drug rehabilitation

Libraries 

Battered Spouse Programs

Community centers 

Low-income housing

Homeless shelters 

Food programs for the needy

Shelter workshops 

Daycare centers for special needs

Senior Citizen Centers

We’ll be sure to keep you updated as soon as we learn anything new/additional. Please let me know if I can offer any other assistance.