Small businesses and private nonprofit organizations impacted by Florida’s seasonal drought in April are being urged to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans to help deal with losses.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has set Jan. 5 as the deadline for the drought relief applications. The drought was so severe in April that there was a federal disaster declaration in more than a dozen Florida counties, including, Alachua, Brevard, Flagler, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, Sumter and Volusia.

The Florida Climate Center at Florida State University found that 17% of the state was in “extreme drought” in April. Another 30% of the state was in “severe drought” at the time.

“Many locations in the Peninsula saw one of their top 5 driest Aprils on record, including Gainesville (3rd-driest), Daytona Beach (2nd-driest), Titusville (2nd-driest), Melbourne (2nd-driest), Venice (2nd-driest), Vero Beach (4th-driest), Naples (3rd-driest), and West Palm Beach (4th-driest),” concluded the Climate Center report on April’s drought conditions.

The SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is being made available to businesses, nonprofits, small agricultural cooperatives and nurseries that can show direct financial loss caused by that event. The SBA points out that the agency is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers and ranchers, with the exception of aquaculture businesses.

“Through a declaration by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, SBA provides critical financial assistance to help communities recover,” said Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “We’re pleased to offer loans to small businesses and private nonprofits impacted by these disasters.”

The EIDLs are available for working capital needs caused by the disaster. Even if there was no physical damage, some of the loans are still accessible. The loans are designed to help small-business owners pay debts, payroll, accounts payable and other debt accrued during the disaster.

Gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has been registered to vote in two states since around 2020. While he never cast a ballot in both states in the same year, the issue raises questions about whether the Madison Republican meets eligibility requirements for Governor.

The 30-year-old has been registered to vote in Florida since 2012. He transferred his residence from Davie in Broward County to Madison County in 2023, according to the Madison County Supervisor of Elections Office.

But the D.C. Board of Elections confirms Fishback remains an active voter in Washington, where he registered in 2020.

That could complicate Fishback’s campaign for Governor, which he launched last month. Florida’s eligibility requirements for Governor require candidates to be registered to vote in Florida and to be residents of the state for at least seven years.

Of note, state law also requires a candidate for partisan office to be a registered member of the party for 365 days before an election. While Fishback is registered as a Republican in Florida, he is registered without party affiliation in Washington.

Fishback dismissed concerns about his eligibility to run for the GOP nomination for Governor.

“I’m a fourth generation Floridian and have lived here my entire life, and meet all of the constitutional requirements to serve as Governor if the voters entrust me with this awesome responsibility,” he said in a text to Florida Politics.

But despite being a Florida native, Fishback’s residency could be called into question. Fishback owns a property in Washington on 42nd Street, and records show he claimed a homestead exemption on it.

That’s notably a different address than the Davis Place residence where he is registered to vote. That property is owned by Aydee Fishback, according to Washington records, and Florida records show Jay Fishback as a primary owner of the Washington property.

James Fishback is the primary owner of a Pinkney Street home in Madison on property he purchased in 2022, according to Madison County property records. No homestead exemption is held on that property.

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Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics contributed to this report.