State designated as Florida’s principal provider of small business assistance, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network stands ready to help small businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian apply for disaster loans and with other post-disaster challenges.
“Our thoughts are with the small business owners and families who have been affected by Hurricane Ian. At the Florida SBDC, we want our small business owners to know how important they are to our state and that we stand ready to assist them get back on their feet. We are committed to helping small businesses suffering from Hurricane Ian rebuild and recover,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network.
How can the Florida SBDC help my small business recover?
Countless small businesses have suffered unimaginable damage and/or economic injury as a result of Hurricane Ian. As part of its service offering, Florida SBDC disaster specialists are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting to help affected businesses prepare disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges. Disaster specialists will work alongside SBA representatives to provide information about resources available and assist businesses in completing disaster loan applications.
Best of all: our assistance is offered at no-cost thanks to funding made possible by our stakeholders.
As part of the Florida SBDC’s service offering, the network plans to deploy its Mobile Assistance Centers (MAC) — 38-foot RVs equipped with laptops, printers, Internet capabilities, and more—into affected communities for impacted businesses to receive on-site assistance.
In times of disaster, the Florida SBDC Network, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, establishes Business Recovery Centers in communities most adversely impacted for affected businesses to receive on-site assistance with preparing disaster loan applications and other post-disaster challenges. Recovery locations will be listed as soon as possible.
What disaster loan programs are available for my small business?
- Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans – Working capital loans intended to “bridge the gap” between the time of a major catastrophe and when a business has secured long-term recovery resources, e.g. receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.
- U.S. SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
- U.S. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
Where can I go to learn more?
Please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster for more information on available assistance and how we can help.
Who should I contact for help?
We are saddened to see and hear the stories of damage and loss that small businesses across the state of Florida have suffered.
The Florida SBDC Network stands ready to help your small business recover. For information about disaster assistance available and how the Florida SBDC Network can help you, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster.
