10/12/2026
On Friday, October 9, Governor Jared Polis announced that Colorado has requested U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance to help individuals, families, homeowners, renters, and businesses recover from the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires and burn scar flooding. The State also has appealed the federal denial of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding to help affected communities reduce the risk of future disaster damage. In September, the Trump Administration approved the Public Assistance (PA) portion of Colorado’s Major Disaster Declaration (MDD) request and denied the Individual Assistance and HMGP funding portions.
To pursue SBA assistance without further delay, Colorado will not appeal the President’s denial of FEMA Individual Assistance (IA). Federal procedure prevents the SBA from declaring an independent physical disaster while a FEMA Individual Assistance appeal is active or pending because federal programs must coordinate benefit determinations, requiring Colorado to resolve that process before SBA assistance could move forward. An IA appeal could take months, with no federal deadline for the President to decide on a state’s MDD appeal request. Given that uncertainty and recent delays in disaster assistance nationwide, Colorado is pursuing SBA assistance as the most reliable and immediate path to additional recovery resources for affected families and businesses.
“The Small Business Administration provides a wide variety of tools for homeowners, non-profits, and businesses impacted by this disaster. This decision will allow them to get on the ground quickly to start meeting with community members in order to provide financial assistance for the rebuilding and recovery process,” said Trevor Denney, Director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management.
SBA disaster assistance provides low-interest loans that must be repaid. Subject to SBA approval and individual eligibility, available assistance can include:
- Home repairs and replacement: Up to $500,000 for homeowners to repair or replace a damaged primary residence.
- Personal property: Up to $100,000 for homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged belongings, including furniture, appliances, and vehicles.
- Business and nonprofit recovery: Up to $2 million for eligible businesses and private nonprofits to repair or replace damaged property, equipment, and inventory. Qualified rental properties may also be eligible.
- Small business operating expenses: Economic Injury Disaster Loans can provide working capital to help eligible small businesses meet expenses during recovery, even without physical property damage.
Colorado’s separate HMGP appeal seeks funding for long-term efforts to reduce damage from future disasters, including flood prevention, stormwater system upgrades, and wildfire risk reduction. These investments protect communities and reduce future recovery costs. FEMA research has shown that federal grants for disaster risk reduction save an average of $6 for every $1 spent.
Read the full news release distributed on October 9 at
DENVER — Today, Governor Jared Polis announced that Colorado has requested U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance to help individuals, families, homeowners, renters, and businesses recover from the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires and burn scar flooding. The State has also...
