Here is a message from the Florida SBDC, which stands ready to help small businesses across the state impacted by Hurricane Ian. The Florida SBDC network has more than 40 centers around the state, including Florida SBDC at FIU covering Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, whose disaster assistance specialists will be helping businesses in hard-hit areas of our state.
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 state and federal disaster loans and with other post-disaster challenges.
“Our thoughts are with the families and individuals 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. At the state and federal level, a number of disaster loan programs have been made available to help.
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 at Business Recovery Centers to provide information about resources available and assist businesses in completing state and federal 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 deployed its Mobile Assistance Centers (MAC) — 38-foot RVs equipped with laptops, printers, Internet capabilities, and more—into affected communities early next week 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 early next week once initial recovery efforts have been made.
What disaster loan programs are available for my small business?
At the federal level, impacted businesses may apply for low-interest loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration. There are two types of loans available: the business physical disaster loan and the economic injury disaster loan. Business physical loans are for eligible businesses to help replace or restore damaged property. The economic injury loan can help you meet necessary financial obligations that your business otherwise could have met had the disaster not occurred. To learn more, please click here.
For businesses that may not qualify for one of the above-mentioned programs, several other federal and state loan and loan support programs are available that may improve their ability to obtain loan approval and access credit. For more information on these programs, please click here.
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 questions about disaster assistance available and how the Florida SBDC Network can help you, please contact your local Florida SBDC office, call (850) 898-3479, or email info@FloridaSBDC.org.