Posted on April 21, 2025

Business Recovery Centers available to assist interested business owners

Richmond, VA – Businesses impacted by the January 2025 severe winter storms that resulted in power and water outages and boil water advisories can now apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to support their recovery.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which are made available by the U.S. Small Business Administration, are working capital loans to help small businesses and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet those ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. An SBA Fact Sheet provides additional details on interest rates and loan requirements.

These loans are being offered separately from the Small Business Recovery Grant Fund, which is funded by the City of Richmond Economic Development Authority (EDA), Dominion Energy, and Altria to alleviate the financial strain for City businesses impacted by January's water crisis.

In addition to the City of Richmond, the SBA disaster declaration covers businesses located in Goochland, Hanover, and Henrico, as well as Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Fluvanna, King William, Louisa, New Kent, Powhatan, and Spotsylvania counties.

Learn more and apply

Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal or at one of two designated SBA Business Recovery Centers. In addition, SBA will host a virtual information session for interested business owners on Thursday, April 24 from 12:00PM to 1:00PM EDT. Details for both the information session and the Business Recovery Centers can be found below.

For further assistance. please contact the SBA's Customer Service Center by email or by phone at 1-800-659-2955. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, can dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

Virtual Information Session

Business owners who are interested in learning more about the SBA loan program and how to apply can register here to attend a virtual information session. Event details are as follows:

Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Time: 12:00 – 1:00PM EDT
Location: Virtual

Business Recovery Centers

From Tuesday, April 22 through Tuesday, May 6 the SBA will have two temporary Business Recovery Centers located at the Main Branch Library in the City of Richmond (101 E Franklin St.) and at the North Park Library in Henrico County (8508 Franconia Rd.). Businesses can visit either location to receive hands-on loan application support from an SBA employee. Please see the below chart for specific hours of operation.

SBA Business Recovery Center Hours (April 22 – May 6, 2025)