Sen. Sinema To SBA: Reopen Small Business Loan Application Portal Now

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is calling on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to immediately make available the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application portal.

On Friday, Sinema sent a letter after Congress voted to appropriate additional funds for the program.

On April 16, the EIDL portal unexpectedly closed to new applicants due to a lack of funds. The EIDL, however, received an additional appropriation of $60 billion for both loans and emergency grants on April 24, Sinema said. Yet, the SBA has not, to date, reopened the application portal.

Thus, she urged the SBA to do its job and immediately re-open the EIDL application portal so businesses across Arizona can access needed resources now.

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Arizona Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva echoed Sinema’s sentiments, saying EIDL loans are critical to helping small businesses. He joined Sinema in sending an additional letter urging the SBA to allow business owners to check the status of their loans.

Sinema, who helped secure the $60 billion additional grants for small businesses, hosts weekly calls with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce where she answers questions about COVID-19 relief, as well as on both PPP and EIDL loan applications.

Many small business owners who have suffered financially as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic were hoping to reopen by May 1.

Last week, some business owners told The Copper Courier they would have to defy Gov. Doug Ducey’s extended stay-at-home order because they have not received any stimulus relief.

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