SBA and Florida SBDC Network Collaborate to Help Florida Businesses Recover
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Florida SBDC Network are working together to assist Florida businesses to recover from the impact of Hurricane Ian. The SBA and the Florida SBDCs are co-located and strategically placing Business Recovery Centers (BRC) in the affected communities to meet business owners where they are. So far, we have jointly opened eight (8) BRCs with the newest one opening on Oct. 31 at the Town of Lake Placid Government Center, 1069 US 27 North, Lake Placid in Highlands County.
“Our Business Recovery Centers are one of the most powerful resources at SBA’s disposal to support business owners in the midst of a disaster,” said Francisco Sanchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Assistance. “Business owners can meet in-person with our specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of our programs designed to help them navigate their recovery.”
“We are committed to working alongside our partners at the SBA to help small businesses recover from Hurricane Ian,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network. “We encourage businesses impacted by the storm to visit us at one of our recovery centers for in-person assistance in understanding and applying for available disaster assistance.”
The disaster declaration includes Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia counties in Florida, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Alachua, Bradford, Broward, Clay, Duval, Hernando, Indian River, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Saint Lucie, and Sumter.
SBA and Florida SBDCs are operating the following Business Recovery Centers:
SBA Business Recovery Center
Collier County
The Naples Players
701 5th Avenue South
Naples, FL 34102
Hours: Monday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SBA Business Recovery Center
Lee County
The Hub at SWFL, Inc.
25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SBA Business Recovery Center
Lee County
Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral
360 Santa Barbara Blvd. S.
Cape Coral FL 33991
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
SBA Mobile Business Recovery Center
Lee County
Phillips Park
5675 Sesame Drive
Bokeelia, FL 33922
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Permanently Closes: Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 28, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023.