We are currently working closely with the SBA and state to open Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in counties impacted by Hurricane Ian. At a BRC, SBA and SBDC disaster specialists will be available to answer questions about available disaster loans and help small business owners with their disaster applications. As these locations become available, we will share them below.
Please note, due to the widespread impacts of Hurricane Ian, we are receiving an extraordinarily high volume of inquiries and doing our best to provide the highest level of personalized service to every request received. If you get voicemail, please leave a message and be patient with us as we work through our backlog and respond to your request for assistance.
We appreciate your understanding and will do everything we can to assist your business during these unprecedented times.
Visit a Business Recovery Center (BRC) and speak with a business disaster specialist today:
- Bonita Springs: SWFL, Inc | 25071 Chamber of Commerce Dr, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
- Sun-Sat: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Cape Coral: Kiwanis Club | 360 Santa Barbara Blvd S., Cape Coral, FL 33991
- Mon-Thurs 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Naples: The Naples Players | 701 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
- Mon: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm | Tue-Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Naples: The Naples Players | 701 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
- Mon: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm | Tue-Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Port Charlotte: Promenades Mall | 3280 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
- Mon-Thurs 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
How can the Florida SBDC help my small business recover?
Countless small businesses have suffered unimaginable damage and/or economic injury as a result of Hurricane Ian. As part of its service offering, Florida SBDC disaster specialists are available to provide confidentially, no-cost consulting to help affected businesses prepare disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges. Disaster specialists will work alongside SBA representatives to provide information about resources available and assist businesses in completing disaster loan applications.
Best of all: our assistance is offered at no-cost thanks to funding made possible by our stakeholders.
As part of the Florida SBDC’s service offering, the network plans to deploy its Mobile Assistance Centers (MAC) — 38-foot RVs equipped with laptops, printers, Internet capabilities, and more—into affected communities for impacted businesses to receive on-site assistance.
In times of disaster, the Florida SBDC Network, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, establishes Business Recovery Centers in communities most adversely impacted for affected businesses to receive on-site assistance with preparing disaster loan applications and other post-disaster challenges. Recovery locations will be listed as soon as possible.
What disaster loan programs are available for my small business?
- Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans – Working capital loans intended to “bridge the gap” between the time of a major catastrophe and when a business has secured long-term recovery resources, e.g. receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.
- U.S. SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
- U.S. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
Where can I go to learn more?
Please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster for more information on available assistance and how we can help.
