As Michigan continues to face record high winter temperatures, Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged Michigan small businesses impacted by lack of snow to apply for federal funding from the Small Business Administration (SBA). Amid the warmest winter on record, with days in February and March topping 60 degrees, low-interest federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available because of ongoing federal drought declarations affecting 42 Michigan counties.
“I know how hard this winter has been on families and communities who rely on winter tourism revenue and all the associated business that comes with it—hotels, restaurants, and shops.” Whitmer said. “Fortunately, businesses in these 42 counties in the UP and the Northern Lower Peninsula can apply for support right now. A drought is a drought—whether we’re talking about rain or snow. Businesses impacted by low snow in these 42 counties can apply for support right now, and I’ll continue to push our federal government for more solutions. We’ll get through this warm winter together.”
Record-Breaking Winter
- The UP200 was cancelled for the second year in a row because of warm weather.
- 16% of the Great Lakes froze over this winter, compared to 53% normally.
- Marquette has seen 72.6 inches of snow this season, compared to 127 inches on average.
- The CopperDog 150 in the Keweenaw Peninsula was cancelled due to weather.
- The Tahquamenon Country Sled Dog Race in Newberry was cancelled due to weather.
- Detroit reached 73 degrees on February 27, the hottest February day in recorded history—dating back to 1874.
- Snowfall in Grand Rapids is more than three feet—36 inches—below the seasonal average.
Drought Designation
42 Michigan counties are covered by a disaster designation for drought from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Through SBA declarations related to those designations, businesses in these counties may be eligible for emergency loans that offset their business losses if the loss is related to the drought.
There are the 42 counties covered by four different SBA drought declarations. Where two declarations cover one county, businesses can apply under either declaration. Applicable SBA declarations and relevant deadlines are as follows:
- Alcona – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Alger – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Alpena – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Antrim – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Arenac – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Bay – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Benzie – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Charlevoix – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Cheboygan – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Clare – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Crawford – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Delta – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Dickinson – Drought Declaration #20209, Deadline 11/27/24
- Emmet – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Gladwin – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Gogebic – Drought Declaration #18175, Deadline 5/13/2024
- Grand Traverse – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Gratiot – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Iosco – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Iron – Drought Declaration #18175, Deadline 5/13/2024
- Isabella – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Kalkaska – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Leelanau – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Luce – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Mackinac – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Manistee – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Marquette – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Mecosta – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Menominee – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Midland – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Missaukee – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Montmorency – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Ogemaw – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Ontonagon – Drought Declaration #18175, Deadline 5/13/2024
- Osceola – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Oscoda – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Otsego – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Presque Isle – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024 OR Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Schoolcraft – Drought Declaration #20175, Deadline 9/26/2024
- Roscommon – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Saginaw – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
- Wexford – Drought Declaration #20133, Deadline 8/12/2024
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans are designed to help businesses through disaster situations that have impacted their economic well-being. Loans are up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Businesses pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of 4% for the rest of the loan period. Businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county.
Submit applications and find additional disaster assistance information at https://lending.sba.gov. Call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech-related disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Applicants may also contact the Michigan Small Business Development Center at 1-833-522-0025 or email sbdcmichigan@gvsu.edu.
