period of military conflict
(3) (A) In this paragraph— (i) the term “essential employee” means an individual who is employed by a small business concern and whose managerial or technical expertise is critical to the successful day-to-day operations of that small business concern; (ii) the term “period of military conflict” has the meaning given the term in subsection (n)(1); and (iii) the term “substantial economic injury” means an economic harm to a business concern that results in the inability of the business concern— (I) to meet its obligations as they mature; (II) to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses; or (III) to market, produce, or provide a product or service ordinarily marketed, produced, or provided by the business concern. (B) The Administration may make such disaster loans (either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis) to assist a small business concern that has suffered or that is likely to suffer substantial economic injury as the result of an essential employee of such small business concern being ordered to active military duty during a period of military conflict. (C) A small business concern described in subparagraph (B) shall be eligible to apply for assistance under this paragraph during the period beginning on the date on which the essential employee is ordered to active duty and ending on the date that is 1 year after the date on which such essential employee is discharged or released from active duty. The Administrator may, when appropriate (as determined by the Administrator), extend the ending date specified in the preceding sentence by not more than 1 year. (D) Any loan or guarantee extended pursuant to this paragraph shall be made at the same interest rate as economic injury loans under paragraph (2). (E) No loan may be made under this paragraph, either directly or in cooperation with banks or other lending institutions through agreements to participate on an immediate or deferred basis, if the total amount outstanding and committed to the borrower under this subsection would exceed $1,500,000, unless such applicant constitutes, or have become due to changed economic circumstances, a major source of employment in its surrounding area, as determined by the Administration, in which case the Administration, in its discretion, may waive the $1,500,000 limitation. (F) For purposes of assistance under this paragraph, no declaration of a disaster area shall be required. (G) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator may make a loan under this paragraph of not more than $50,000 without collateral. (ii) The Administrator may defer payment of principal and interest on a loan described in clause (i) during the longer of— (I) the 1-year period beginning on the date of the initial disbursement of the loan; and (II) the period during which the relevant essential employee is on active duty. (H) The Administrator shall give priority to any application for a loan under this paragraph and shall process and make a determination regarding such applications prior to processing or making a determination on other loan applications under this subsection, on a rolling basis.