The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) in Pharr, Texas, to help businesses, nonprofit organizations, and residents affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred from March 26 to March 28.
Starting Monday, August 4, SBA customer service representatives will be available at the Pharr Development and Research Center to answer questions and assist with disaster loan applications. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments can also be scheduled in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The center will operate Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other locations continue to serve those impacted by the disaster:
- In Cameron County, the Business Recovery Center at the Harlingen Chamber of Commerce is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- In Hidalgo County, another Business Recovery Center operates at the Valley Metro Transit Center Boardroom in Weslaco on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- In Starr County, a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Starr County Courthouse Annex in Rio Grande City is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration, stated: “When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers perform an important role by assisting small businesses and their communities. At these centers, our SBA specialists help business owners and residents apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to support their recovery.”
Businesses and nonprofits can apply for physical disaster loans up to $2 million for repairs or replacement of real estate, machinery, equipment, inventory, or other assets damaged or destroyed by the storms. Homeowners may borrow up to $500,000 for primary residence repairs or replacement; renters and homeowners may also apply for up to $100,000 for personal property losses such as furniture or vehicles.
Applicants may qualify for an increase in their loan amount—up to 20% of verified physical damage—for mitigation measures like insulation improvements or storm window installation.
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available for small businesses—including agricultural cooperatives and nurseries—and private nonprofits experiencing financial losses due to this disaster. These loans can be used for working capital needs even if no physical damage occurred; however, agricultural producers other than small aquaculture enterprises are not eligible.
Interest rates on these loans start as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.75% for homeowners and renters with terms up to thirty years. Payments are deferred for twelve months after disbursement.
Applications can be submitted online via https://www.sba.gov/disaster. Assistance is also available by phone at (800) 659-2955 or email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov; telecommunications relay services are accessible by dialing 7-1-1.
While the official deadline for returning applications related to physical property damage has passed (July 22), there is currently a sixty-day grace period ending September 20 during which late applications will still be accepted. The deadline for economic injury applications is February 23, 2026.
The SBA continues its mission of supporting small business owners through recovery efforts following declared disasters across the country via its field offices and partnerships with various organizations (https://www.sba.gov).