Small businesses in Chicago and Cook County that took hits from three rounds of severe storms last month can now walk into a federal help center and start applying for up to $2 million in low-interest disaster loans. The Disaster Loan Outreach Centers opened July 15 and will run through July 30, staffed by U.S. Small Business Administration representatives ready to walk applicants through the process.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with the SBA and local municipalities, is promoting multiple centers to assist residents and businesses impacted by the severe storms on June 10, 11 and 17, 2026. The National Weather Service has already confirmed 173 tornadoes in Illinois this year, the most recorded in a single year.
The Federal Register published the SBA’s administrative disaster declaration on July 15, setting a physical loan application deadline of September 8, 2026 and an economic injury deadline of April 12, 2027. Missing those dates generally means losing eligibility under this declaration.
Who qualifies and how much is available
The disaster declarations cover the primary counties of Cook and LaSalle for the June 10 and 11 storms, and Coles and Effingham for the June 17 storms. Businesses in contiguous counties are also eligible, including DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will, and others in Illinois, along with Lake County in Indiana.
Businesses and nonprofits can borrow up to $2 million for physical damages. These loans cover real estate, equipment, inventory, and other business assets not paid by insurance. Homeowners can apply for up to $500,000 for real estate repairs, and homeowners or renters can get up to $100,000 for personal property.
How to apply
One Chicago-area location is the Thurgood Marshall Branch of the Chicago Public Library at 7506 S. Racine Ave. Walk-ins are welcome at all sites, and business owners in any declared or bordering county can visit any center regardless of where they live.
Applicants can also apply online at sba.gov/disaster, or call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955. Gathering key documents ahead of time, including tax returns, financial statements, insurance paperwork, and evidence of losses, will speed up the process.
One important detail for business owners weighing whether to apply. These loans cover only storm-related damages not covered by insurance, so filing your insurance claim first is a practical prerequisite. The state’s full list of center locations and hours is available online, and the Federal Register notice confirms the declaration’s terms.
The outreach centers close July 30, but online and phone applications will remain open until the September 8 deadline for physical damage and April 12, 2027 for economic injury claims. For businesses still cleaning up from June, the clock is ticking.
