Here’s how Bradenton businesses can get in-person help and loans after Hurricane Ian
Small businesses in Manatee County impacted by Hurricane Ian will be able to receive in-person help applying for state and federal disaster loans at temporary mobile business recovery centers opening in Bradenton.
The Florida Small Business Development Center Network and the U.S. Small Business Administration are opening the recovery centers at two locations:
▪ Manatee Chamber of Commerce’s Lakewood Ranch office at 4215 Concept Court 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29.
▪ 26 West Center, State College of Florida, 5840 26th St. W., Building 8, Bradenton, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, through Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Florida SBDC at USF and SBA disaster specialists will be available to help small business owners understand available state and federal disaster loans, determine eligibility and apply.
“We are saddened to see and hear the stories of damage and loss that small businesses in our state have suffered,” Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network, said in a press release. “We want small businesses to know we’re here to help and are committed to their recovery.”
Hurricane Ian made landfall Sept. 28 in Southwest Florida near Cayo Costa as a Category 4 storm packing 150 mph winds. It was the fifth-strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.
“SBDC consultants meet business owners at the crossroads of whether they will close their business or if they are willing and able to reopen,” Carl Hadden, regional director of the Florida SBDC at USF, said in the press release.
How to get a short-term loan
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. The loan program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses which experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Ian.
The loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding, such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.
Eligible small businesses with two to 100 employees may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program.
Businesses must also be located in Florida, have been established prior to Sept. 24, 2022, be located in an eligible county, must have been economically or physically damaged by Hurricane Ian, have a credit score of 600 or above, and must have repaid all outstanding EBLs.
Low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are also available to eligible businesses following the announcement of a presidential disaster declaration beginning Sept. 23.
Businesses and private nonprofits of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
For more information on state and federal disaster loans and eligibility, visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster.
To learn more about the Florida SBDC at USF and how it can assist small businesses in their recovery efforts, visit SBDCTampaBay.com.
