News
CAPTIVA ISLAND, Fla. – Captiva Cruises, a family owned and operated cruise excursion service, has reopened on Captiva Island with limited operations after temporary closure due to Hurricane Ian. Captiva Cruises is operating out of McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva Island, serving only residents, passholders and paid guests of ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa until…
WASHINGTON — More than $4.4 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments have been provided to the state of Florida and to households affected by Hurricane Ian to help survivors jumpstart their recovery. FEMA has provided $847 million to households affected by Hurricane Ian and $496 million to the state for emergency response to Hurricane…
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Florida Small Business Development Center Network (SBDC) today announced a new pilot program geared toward helping businesses qualify for SBA disaster loans. The pilot program will re-examine the applications of businesses that did not meet approval qualifications and were declined for an SBA disaster loan.…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis were joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Director Kevin Guthrie to announce that up to $25 million in state funding to purchase building materials and up to $35.2 million in generous donations to the Florida Disaster Fund will be used to allow verified nonprofit…
WASHINGTON– Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s 33 million small businesses, announced the Agency will waive the interest rate for the first year on new disaster loans and extend the initial payment deferment period automatically to 12 months. “We…
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Busey Bank has donated the temporary use of its office space to The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce while the organization works to rebuild after Hurricane Ian. The Chamber has operated from its office on Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers since 2004. The space received extensive water damage due…
Emillions Art announced a communitywide initiative “Mosaic of Memories: The Naples Pier Project,” an art-driven fundraiser to help restore the community and celebrate the strength and resilience of Naples in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. The project will benefit first responders locally and rebuilding of the pier. The Naples-based art gallery and consultancy is partnering…
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will extend its deadline to Jan. 12 to give Florida businesses and residents more time to apply for federal disaster loans for physical damages that occurred from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4 due to Hurricane Ian. The disaster declaration includes the Florida counties of…
Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, is opening at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 1799 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte. In celebration of the grand opening, Chicken Salad Chick is giving away free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests. Led by new franchise…
Post-hurricane business reopenings continue to inspire ribbon-cutting celebrations for the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. On Thursday, Dec. 15, The Shack of Sanibel at 1219 Periwinkle Way and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s main office at 2406 Periwinkle Way brought the community out to honor the occasions. “Ice cream and money!” said John Lai,…