Small businesses and private nonprofits across northern Wisconsin may be eligible for federal help with losses tied to ongoing drought, according to an Oct. 14 report.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans for losses linked to drought conditions that began Aug. 25, 2026. Applicants do not need to show physical property damage.
In the northwest, eligible counties listed include Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn, along with Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix, among others in northern Wisconsin.
Eligible applicants include small businesses, private nonprofits, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and small aquaculture businesses. Loans can reach $2 million, with rates up to 4 percent for businesses and 3.625 percent for nonprofits, terms up to 30 years, and no interest or payments in the first 12 months.
Applicants must show their difficulty is a direct result of the drought, and the SBA also reviews credit history and ability to repay. The application deadline is May 17, 2027, through the SBA disaster assistance site.
