The U.S. Small Business Administration is making low-interest federal disaster loans available to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in New Jersey that sustained economic losses caused by the drought. 

The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and  Gloucester, and the adjacent counties of Burlington, Camden, Ocean and Salem. 

Under the declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries and nonprofits with financial  losses directly related to the drought. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises. 

The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills not paid due to the disaster. The amount can be up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses  and 3.625% for nonprofits, with terms up to 30 years.

Applicants may visit sba.gov/disaster, call SBA’s Customer Service Center  at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information. The deadline for applications is Dec. 8.