Many small business owners are saying: ‘I just need to survive this month’ to defeat COVID-19

San Diego County small businesses can apply for disaster assistance loans to help them survive this critical time.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest disaster loans for working capital to small businesses in San Diego and 34 other California counties that are economically impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Small businesses, private nonprofit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially effected, as a direct result of COVID-19 since Jan. 31 may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

"These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing," Carranza said.