Glen E. Ellman
By the time the last flames were extinguished at Fort Worth’s Cooper Apartment Complex on June 23, the damage had already rippled far beyond the scorched walls. Due to the fire, over 800 residents were displaced, forced from their homes. Damage to the complex is extensive, including fire, smoke, and water damage, although officials have yet to release a full inventory of affected units. Investigators have found no signs of criminal activity, leaving the cause of the blaze undetermined.
Now, that road has a little more support, according to the City's website. On July 16, the U.S. Small Business Administration issued a federal disaster declaration in response to a formal request from Governor Greg Abbott, opening the door to low-interest loans for Texans affected by the blaze. The declaration covers seven North Texas counties: Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, and Wise.
Small businesses and private nonprofits are eligible for physical disaster loans of up to $2 million to replace damaged real estate, equipment, inventory, and other assets. Even those who didn’t suffer physical damage can apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help cover working capital needs — like payroll, rent, and accounts payable — if the fire disrupted operations.
Homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to repair or replace their primary residence. Renters and homeowners alike may apply for up to $100,000 to replace personal belongings such as furniture, clothing, cars, or appliances. Applicants may also qualify for a loan increase of up to 20 percent of their verified losses to fund improvements that reduce the risk of future damage, such as attic insulation, storm windows, or reinforced doors.
Interest rates are designed to ease the burden, with rates as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.813% for homeowners and renters. No payments are required during the first year, and loan terms can be as long as 30 years, depending on your financial needs.
The SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Center opened on Monday, July 21, and is now fully operational. Located inside One Safe Place’s Community Recovery Center at 1100 Hemphill Street in Fort Worth, the center is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, and appointments are available for those who prefer to schedule ahead.
The deadline to apply for physical damage loans is September 15, 2025. For Economic Injury Disaster Loans, the deadline is April 17, 2026.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. For questions, call the SBA Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email [email protected]. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 to access telecommunications relay services.
“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA.
