Solar companies as well as private non-profits working in the solar industry needing working capital as a result of COVID-19 may be able to receive low-interest “Economic Injury Disaster Loans” from the Small Business Administration (SBA) if they are based in the following counties (current as of March 16; this may change): Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Imperial, Kern, Lake, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Mono, Napa, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tuolumne, Ventura, and Yolo
Loans may be up to $2 million dollars with interest rates of 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for private non-profit organizations and can be spread up to a maximum of 30 years. Loans can be used to cover basic operating expenses such as payroll, accounts payable and other bills that cannot be paid due to COVID-19’s impact. Eligibility by the SBA will be determined by the economic hardship suffered by COVID-19. Companies may apply here and can call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information.