Governor Jared Polis announced Friday, October 9, 2026, that Colorado has asked the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster aid. The aid would help people and businesses recover from the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires and the flooding from their burn scars.

The aid would be open to individuals, families, homeowners, renters and businesses. The state has also appealed a federal denial of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding. That money would help communities lower the risk of damage from future disasters.

Image

In September, the Trump Administration approved the Public Assistance part of Colorado's Major Disaster Declaration request. It denied the Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program parts.

"Today, I have submitted Colorado's request for SBA assistance and have appealed the denial of hazard mitigation funding. Doing so will allow Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain communities to access more federal resources as quickly as possible. This SBA assistance will allow homeowners, families, and businesses an opportunity to start work on home repairs and replacements, personal property damaged by the disasters, and help small businesses," said Governor Polis.

Colorado will not appeal the President's denial of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance. Federal rules block the Small Business Administration from declaring its own physical disaster while such an appeal is active or pending. Federal programs must coordinate who gets which benefits. Colorado would have to settle that appeal before Small Business Administration aid could move forward.

Image

An Individual Assistance appeal could take months. There is no federal deadline for the President to decide on a state's appeal. Because of that uncertainty and recent delays in disaster aid nationwide, Colorado chose the Small Business Administration as the most reliable and fastest path to more recovery help.

"Losing a home to wildfire doesn't end when the fire does," U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper said. "Colorado families are still sorting through insurance claims, unsure how they'll pay for basic repairs. Every week they wait is another week they can't start rebuilding. Federal disaster loans are the fastest way to help families and local businesses move forward."

Small Business Administration disaster aid comes as low-interest loans that must be repaid. Aid depends on agency approval and individual eligibility. It 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.

Image

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.

"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.

Colorado's separate mitigation grant appeal seeks money for long-term work to reduce damage from future disasters. That work includes flood prevention, stormwater system upgrades and wildfire risk reduction. FEMA research has shown that federal grants for disaster risk reduction save an average of $6 for every $1 spent.

"Since the Aspen Acres Fire began on June 29, our residents have been waiting for a clear path to rebuild, and SBA assistance gives them one they can act on now. These are loans that must be repaid, so Pueblo County will keep pushing for every dollar of hazard mitigation funding and will stand with families as they decide what's right for them. I'm grateful to Governor Polis and our state leadership for choosing speed over an uncertain appeal and for covering 75 percent of our watershed protection local cost share," said Pueblo County Commissioner Miles Lucero.

"The families and communities devastated by the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain Fires have already endured tremendous loss. They should not have to navigate unnecessary delays and bureaucratic hurdles to get the help they need to rebuild. I support Governor Polis's efforts to secure additional federal assistance through the Small Business Administration and to appeal the denial of hazard mitigation funding. This recovery will take years, and we need to make sure our communities have the resources to rebuild safely and protect against future disasters. I will continue working with state and local leaders, regardless of party, to make sure Western and Southern Colorado are not left behind," said U.S. Congressman Jeff Hurd (Colorado-03).

"Some of our communities in Colorado lost everything and are still trying to rebuild after the devastating wildfires this summer. While I'm pushing for more holistic support for these families as they get back on their feet, I'm also grateful to join Governor Polis in the call to ensure our residents and small businesses have what they need to re-open their doors – especially during a year where small businesses have already been squeezed and are hurting from higher costs. These fires were just the final straw for so many business owners, and it's essential they get the support they need to move forward and rebuild," said U.S. Congresswoman Brittney Pettersen (Colorado-07).

Colorado received federal approval for Public Assistance for the fires on September 4. That aid supports eligible recovery work by affected communities. On September 18, the state learned the Individual Assistance and mitigation grant funding had been denied.

On October 2, the Governor announced the state would cover 75 percent of the local cost share for Ouray, Pueblo and Custer Counties. That money supports Emergency Watershed Protection work through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Services. The mitigation grant appeal and the request for Small Business Administration aid build on the Public Assistance already approved.

Colorado will announce more information about Small Business Administration assistance, eligibility and the application process as it becomes available.