By Tiffany Williams –
Small businesses and nonprofit organizations across Southeastern Massachusetts that suffered economic losses during the historic February 2026 blizzard are now eligible for federal disaster assistance following approval of a request submitted by Governor Maura Healey.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved a disaster declaration making low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to eligible businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes and Plymouth counties. The declaration also extends eligibility to neighboring Nantucket, Norfolk and Suffolk counties.
The loans are designed to help businesses and nonprofit organizations recover from financial losses caused by the storm and may be used for working capital and operating expenses that could not be met because of the blizzard’s economic impacts. Eligible applicants may borrow up to $2 million.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities, and many are still feeling the effects of the Blizzard of 2026,” said Governor Maura Healey. “These loans will help businesses recover from lost revenue, keep their doors open and continue serving their communities, and we encourage eligible businesses to apply.”
State officials said the February storm created significant disruptions across the region, forcing many businesses to temporarily close and impacting economic activity for days.
“The February blizzard forced many businesses to close for days and disrupted economic activity across Southeastern Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This assistance will help businesses and nonprofit organizations recover from those losses and move forward stronger.”
The blizzard struck Massachusetts on Feb. 22 and 23, bringing heavy snowfall, powerful winds and widespread power outages. State officials said nearly 300,000 residents lost electricity while hazardous travel conditions persisted for several days.
Many businesses were unable to operate because employees and customers could not safely travel during and immediately after the storm.
Public safety officials emphasized that recovery efforts continue long after emergency response operations conclude.
“Public safety is a team effort, and recovery is just as important as response,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Gina Kwon. “Following February’s historic blizzard, MEMA worked alongside local, state, federal and private-sector partners to assess impacts and connect communities with available resources. These SBA loans will help businesses and nonprofit organizations recover from the storm, strengthen local economies, and support a safer, more resilient Commonwealth.”
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency officials said recovery teams spent months working with local, state and federal partners to document impacts and identify available assistance programs.
“We’re very grateful to the SBA and Healey-Driscoll administration for working to make these loans available to businesses and private nonprofits that were hit hard by February’s record-breaking blizzard,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Brantley. “After the storm, our recovery team worked closely with local, state and federal partners to assess impacts and explore every available form of assistance for affected communities. These loans provide an important resource to help businesses recover, rebuild and move forward from the challenges caused by this historic storm.”
The SBA also approved a separate disaster declaration for Rhode Island related to the February blizzard. That action expands eligibility for some Massachusetts businesses and nonprofit organizations located in Bristol, Norfolk and Worcester counties.
Eligible applicants may submit applications online, by phone or through Business Recovery Centers that are being established throughout the affected region.
The deadline to submit Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications is March 12, 2027.
The SBA, working alongside MEMA and local governments, will operate Business Recovery Centers where applicants can receive assistance completing applications and obtaining information about available programs.
Recovery centers are scheduled to operate at the Edgartown Public Library, Oak Bluffs Library, Taunton Public Safety Building, Harwich Police Department Emergency Operations Center and Plymouth Emergency Management offices through various dates between June 18 and July 1.
Officials are encouraging businesses and nonprofit organizations that experienced economic losses because of the blizzard to explore available assistance and begin the application process as soon as possible.
State and federal officials say the loans are intended to provide a critical financial bridge for organizations still recovering from one of the most significant winter storms to impact Massachusetts in recent years.