A number of programs have been activated to assist businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian. For the benefit of impacted businesses in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, see below a list of available resources. Also included in the list are additional grant/loan programs. Please note that these may not be specific to Hurricane Ian but may be of interest to your business as you recover from the hurricane.
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance:
- The SBA announced eligibility for several Florida counties for the disaster declaration for Hurricane Ian. These counties include Miami-Dade County and Monroe County.
- Businesses located in Miami-Dade and Monroe are eligible for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
- EIDL loans are available up to $2 million for alleviating economic injury caused by the disaster.
- The interest rates are determined by formulas set by law and is fixed for the life of the loan. The rate for for-profit businesses is 3.040 percent for Hurricane Ian for businesses with no credit elsewhere.
- The SBA customizes loan amounts and terms up to a maximum of 30 years for each applicant.
- The filing deadline for Economic Injury is June 29, 2023.
- Businesses may find additional information and submit their application online at: https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/.
- Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
Business Damage Assessment Survey:
- The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) in response to Hurricane Ian. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite Hurricane Ian recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of affected businesses.
- If you are in Miami-Dade or Monroe Counties and experienced business impacts from Hurricane Ian, please fill out the survey here: https://floridadisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program:
- These loans are short-term, zero interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time that a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding such as SBA Disaster Loans, insurance claims, or other commercially available loans.
- Loans are available up to $50,000 per eligible applicant. The loans made under the program are short-term, personal loans using State of Florida funds. Therefore, they are not grants and must be repaid. Repayment may come from longer term assistance you receive such as SBA Disaster Loans.
- For Hurricane Ian, the State of Florida has made $50 million available with businesses in the most impact counties of Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Sarasota escalated and prioritized as they are received.
- To complete an application and view more program details, visit: www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL. The deadline to complete an application is December 2, 2022.
- Business owners who need additional program information can call (833) 832-4494 or email EmergencyBridgeLoan@deo.myflorida.com
Additional Business Loans/Grants:
- Businesses in Miami-Dade County are eligible for the RISE Miami-Dade Small Business Loan Program. To qualify, the business must: 1) Operate in Miami-Dade County; 2) Be in operation for at least two years; 3) Have gross sales of less than $5 million; and 4) Have 50 or fewer employees or independent contractors. More information is available here: https://risemiamidade.com/
- The Southern Opportunity and Reslience (SOAR) Fund provides flexible, affordable capital and free business support services to small businesses across the south and southeast to help them navigate and rebuild from COVID-19. Florida is one of the eligible states for the program. More information is available here: https://www.connect2capital.com/p/soar-fund/
- The Comcast Rise program is offering $10,000 Investment Grants and Marketing/Technology Services to minority-owned businesses. The application deadline is approaching on October 16, 2022. To apply and view more information, click here: https://www.comcastrise.com/apply/
Miami-Dade Business Navigator Resources:
- Our team of experienced business consultants are available to offer confidential, no-cost advising to business owners impacted by Hurricane Ian.
- More information on our program and the services we can offer can be viewed here: miamibusinessnavigator.com/
Hurricane Ian Disaster Contracting:
- Is your business looking to assist with hurricane recovery by becoming a disaster contractor? If so, you can review a great article on the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (APTAC) website. The article provides an overview of steps needed to participate in hurricane response work via Federal, State and Local contracting. More information is here: https://www.aptac-us.org/hurricane-disaster-contracting-steps-to-take-now/
- For Federal opportunities, you will first need to register in SAM (System for Award Management) and sign up for the Disaster Response Registry. More information is available here: https://www.acquisition.gov/content/disaster-response-registry
- Not ready to go after a prime contract on your own with FEMA? That’s okay! You can also subcontract with a larger company who wants to work with small, minority, veteran or women-owned businesses. A good list of U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA prime contractors is available here: https://www.dhs.gov/prime-contractors Be sure to reference the “In Search Of” sections under each prime contractor to review if there is a good match between your company and what the prime is looking for.
Other Business Resources:
- Floridadisaster.org/info – This is the website for the State of Florida and the Division of Emergency Management. Here you can view press releases, review activated programs and receive other Ian-related disaster information. The website is here: https://www.floridadisaster.org/info
- Disasterassistance.gov – This is the general disaster assistance website for the Federal Government. You can view your eligibility based upon location and determine available programs. The website is here: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
- CareerSource South Florida – CareerSource South Florida administers programs to assist businesses with training needs and employees with re-employment. Contact CareerSource South Florida to learn more about its One-Stop services that may help you. The website is here: http://www.careersourcesfl.com/
- Labor Miami – The Labor Miami portal is a “one-stop”, free online tool that helps job seekers, students and businesses identify and easily access workforce and business resources within Miami-Dade County. The website is available here: https://www.labormiami.org/small-businesses