In collaboration with the U.S. SBA, the Florida SBDC Network has worked to establish temporary Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in communities across the state for businesses adversely impacted by Hurricane Irma. BRCs offer expertise from both the SBA and Florida SBDC to assist small businesses who sustained physical and/or economic injury as a result of the storm.
The Florida SBDC MACs, which will serve as mobile BRCs in Monroe County, will provide an on-the-scene workspace for affected businesses to meet with Florida SBDC and SBA disaster specialists to prepare state and federal loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges.
"Small businesses are critical to our state's economy," said Michael Myhre, CEO and Network State Director of the Florida SBDC. "We want business owners to know that we're here to help walk them through the recovery process to ensure they get back in business as quickly as possible."
Florida SBDC and SBA disaster specialists will be available via the MACs from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. EST Tuesday, October 3rd through Friday, October 6th at the following locations:
Greater Marathon Chamber of Commerce
12222 Overseas Highway
Marathon, Florida 33050
Key Largo Chamber of Commerce
106000 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, Florida 33037
The locations of the MACs will be assessed weekly to determine the need to stay longer or relocate to another area in the Keys. For a complete list of BRC and MAC locations, please click here.
As a principal responder in the state's Emergency Support Function for Business and Industry, the Florida SBDC Network is a key economic development organization that helps small businesses prepare, respond, and recover from disasters.
Small businesses that sustained physical and/or economic injury from Hurricane Irma are encouraged to contact their local Florida SBDC for help understanding state and federal disaster loans available, completing applications, and answering any related questions they may have about disaster loans and the recovery process. For questions about disaster resources available and how the Florida SBDC can help, please contact the Florida SBDC nearest you. The Florida SBDC Network has also established a business disaster hotline for questions at (850) 898-3489 or Disaster@FloridaSBDC.org.
