The Governor's request for funding has been sent to the SBA. To clarify the language in the letter, the entire state of Colorado will be eligible for SBA disaster funding. See below for the explanation.
Please share the following with all parties unintentionally confused by the Governor's letter that accompanied the OEM application:
All 64 Colorado counties have been advanced for inclusion in the SBA’s EIDL loan program. The counties highlighted within the Governor’s letter were identified solely because they touch all 64 counties in the state – a procedural requirement of the SBA process to illustrate contiguous county impact. State officials worked with county representatives to quickly secure the required examples of immediate harm that allowed the Governor to advance the entirety of the state for SBA approval. The Governor’s letter enabled a process that will benefit all 64 Colorado counties.
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Conor Cahill | Conor.Cahill@state.co.us | 303-866-6324
Gov. Polis Pushes for Federal Funding for Small Businesses
DENVER - Governor Jared Polis sent a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for federal funding in order to provide relief for Colorado’s small businesses dealing with the impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The Governor and the Polis administration are proactively working with Colorado’s federal delegation to ensure Colorado has the resources available to address this pandemic.
“Colorado’s small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities and are woven into the fabric of our way of life. As a person who came to government from the private sector, I understand the challenges and hurdles entrepreneurs and small business owners face. We will get through this together and I urge the federal government to quickly approve our loan application so we can provide relief to the state’s small business community during this global pandemic,” said Governor Polis.
In addition to Colorado’s application for SBA loans, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade has engaged its local, state and federal partners to identify other financial and technical assistance programs available to aid Colorado’s economic recovery. More information regarding economic and technical assistance can be found here.
“I respectfully request that the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) implement a Small Business Administrative declaration to provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Alamosa, Baca, Denver, Eagle, El Paso, Gunnison, Jefferson, Larimer, La Plata, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Routt, San Miguel Counties as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition, the Southern Ute Tribal Nation and Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Nation have similarly been impacted and on their behalf, I respectfully request assistance for our Tribal partners,” the letter reads.
Read Governor Polis’ letter to the Trump administration here. The Governor spoke with Colorado’s federal delegation today about the efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, help those who have lost or are losing their jobs and small businesses.
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