Sba Loan Deadline Pushes $3.4 Billion Toward Los Angeles Survivors
Los Angeles County wildfire survivors have until June 30 to finish their sba loan steps and unlock approved federal disaster funds. The U.S. Small Business Administration said approved borrowers who have not yet accepted or drawn down the money should act before then.
Nearly 13,000 applications totaling more than $3.4 billion have been approved for residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by the January 2025 wildfires. About $1 billion has been disbursed so far, leaving a large share of aid still sitting at the approval stage.
MySBA Loan Portal steps
Borrowers can complete the process through the MySBA Loan Portal by scheduling an appointment with the agency or by visiting a local recovery center. The SBA has kept recovery centers open across Los Angeles County and offered in-person help to residents and business owners seeking aid.
The agency’s push lands inside a recovery period already shaped by permitting delays and multiple extensions of disaster-relief deadlines. For approved borrowers, the practical issue is simple: once the deadline passes, undisbursed loan assistance generally moves into case-by-case review instead of automatic access.
January 7 wildfire recovery
On Jan. 7, 2025, wildfires and windstorms devastated communities including Pacific Palisades and Altadena, prompting the SBA to make low-interest disaster loans available. The loans were meant to cover residents, businesses and nonprofit organizations hit by the damage, with eligible borrowers also able to seek additional funding of up to 20% of verified physical disaster damage for mitigation improvements.
That extra funding gives some borrowers a second layer of aid, but only if they complete the acceptance process in time. The June 30 cutoff now separates loans already approved from money that may require a separate case-by-case decision after the deadline.
For households and business owners still waiting, the next move is direct: finish the acceptance process through the portal, work with the agency, or go to a recovery center before June 30. After that date, the pool of available assistance narrows sharply for anyone who has not completed the final steps.
