Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program 

Southwest Florida businesses that were damaged by Hurricane Ian – either physically or financially – are eligible for short-term working capital loans intended to “bridge the gap” until they can secure longer term recovery funding, including federal or commercial loans, insurance claims and other resources. 

Loan Terms:

• Amount: up to $50,000 

• Interest rate: 0% 

Lending Guidelines:

• Employees: 2 to 100 

• Credit score: 600+ 

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday in Fort Myers that $50 million is available for the Bridge Loan Program. Loans are on a first-come, first-served basis, but businesses in Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Sarasota counties will be prioritized. For more information, please call 833-832-4494 or email EmergencyBridgeLoan@deo.myflorida.com.

Visit https://deosera.force.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s/ to apply online.

U.S. Small Business Administration Loans

The Small Business Administration offers several types of loans to assist businesses impacted by federally declared disasters. 

Economic Injury Disaster Loans:

• Eligibility: small businesses, agricultural cooperatives or nonprofits that are unable to obtain credit elsewhere 

• Purpose: provide working capital to help small recipients until normal operations resume after a disaster 

• Amount: up to $2 million 

• Terms: no more than 30 years, no more than 4% interest 

Physical Disaster Loans:

• Eligibility: businesses of any size 
• Purpose: repair or replace real estate, equipment, fixtures, inventory and leasehold improvements
• Amount: uninsured losses up to $2 million 
• Terms: no more than 30 years, no more than 4% interest

Visit http://disasterloan.sba.gov/ to apply online.