FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $15 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene. Florida small business owners in need of assistance are encouraged to visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to apply for the program. Businesses in various counties, including sole proprietors, are eligible to apply: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin,Gadsden,Gilchrist Glades,Gulf,Hamilton Hardee,Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton and Washington counties.
The program provides short-term zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Helene. Interested applicants can apply now through November 24 2024 or until all available funds are expended.
Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50 000 through the program. Loans of up to $100 000 are available for agriculture and aquaculture small businesses. Loans approved through the Emergency Bridge Loan Program 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.
Loans made under this program are short-term zero-interest personal loans using State of Florida funds They are not grants and loans must be repaid by the approved applicant
FloridaCommerce administers the Emergency Bridge Loan Program alongside its fiscal administrator Florida First Capital Finance Corporation
Visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program view the lending guidelines and required documentation and complete an application by the November 24 2024 deadline Business owners who need further program information may call 833-832-4494 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.