Tell Congress to Help Fire and EMS Departments Access Disaster Assistance

July 21, 2020

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program provides disaster loan assistance to private, nonprofit organizations and businesses that have experienced a reduction in revenue due to COVID-19 and social distancing. In order to apply for assistance through EIDL, however, applicants cannot derive more than one-third of gross annual revenue from legal gambling activities. Many fire and EMS departments that raise money through legal gambling activities like bingo or raffles are therefore unable to apply for aid through EIDL.

Use the NVFC’s Legislative Action Center to tell Congress and the SBA to waive the limitation on nonprofit organizations accessing EIDL assistance if they raise funds through legal gambling activities.