The Small Business Administration has extended the deadline to apply for loans to repair or replace property damaged in July flooding at the Pueblo of Zuni. Eligible residents, businesses and private nonprofits now have until Dec. 14, 2026, a week later than the original Dec. 7 deadline. The agency published the extension Thursday in the Federal Register.
The declaration covers severe storms and flooding from July 16 through July 21 in the western New Mexico pueblo. The extension applies to physical damage applications under SBA disaster number NM-20027. The same notice keeps the deadline for a separate kind of loan, for economic injury, at July 7, 2027.
Who can apply for property damage loans
Homeowners can apply for up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence, according to the SBA’s original relief announcement. Homeowners and renters can apply for up to $100,000 for damaged belongings such as furniture, appliances or vehicles. Businesses and nonprofits can apply for up to $2 million for eligible damage to buildings, equipment or inventory. The agency sets the actual amount and terms based on each applicant's finances. Some applicants may also qualify for an increase of up to 20% of verified physical damage to pay for measures such as elevating a flood-prone structure.
These are loans. SBA listed rates as low as 2.875% for homeowners and renters, 3.625% for nonprofits and 4% for businesses, with terms up to 30 years. The agency says interest and payments begin 12 months after the first disbursement.
Which deadline applies to operating expenses
An eligible business can have an economic injury claim even if its building escaped damage. That program can help cover operating expenses such as payroll or bills the business could not pay because of the disaster. The SBA also lists adjacent Cibola and McKinley counties in New Mexico and Apache County in Arizona for eligible small businesses and most private nonprofits applying for economic injury loans. That wider footprint applies to economic injury under this declaration. The Dec. 14 amendment addresses physical damage.
Where to apply
The federal notice directs applicants to the MySBA Loan Portal. The agency opened an in-person Business Recovery Center at the Zuni Tribal Building, 1203-B NM-53. The SBA disaster assistance page lists 800-659-2955 for application help. Its earlier local announcement still shows Dec. 7, while the published amendment gives the new physical damage deadline.
The Pueblo of Zuni government separately lists FEMA flood assistance at the same tribal building. Residents pursuing that assistance should use the tribal government’s FEMA information for its own application rules and deadlines.
