Small Business Administration

Last Call for SBA Disaster Loans: Final Deadline for Hurricanes Helene and Milton Relief

The SBA is reminding eligible businesses, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters in Florida affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, to apply for physical damage disaster loans by the Jan. 7 deadline.

Eligible disaster survivors are encouraged to apply for a disaster loan prior to the resolution of their private insurance company claim. Even If a survivor has not received an estimate of damage determination, SBA can provide a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss, up to its loan limits. The survivor will simply need to agree to use the insurance settlement amount to reduce or repay the loan.

Eligible Businesses and private nonprofit organizations 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. Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to assist homeowners in repairing or replacing real estate damaged by the hurricane. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace personal property destroyed by the Hurricane. Click here to read the full article. Apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.

Florida Blue Foundation

Florida Blue Foundation is providing donations to various organizations leading efforts to assist those impacted by the hurricanes. If your organization needs recovery assistance, here are some resources:

• Florida Disaster Division of Emergency Management
• Florida Nonprofit Alliance Disaster Resource Page
• Link to Governor DeSantis’s Executive Order
• Volunteer Florida (includes information about cleanups, legal aid, homeowners assistance, and individual services referrals)
• Volunteer Connect (list your volunteer needs)
• Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources: A Guide for Rural Communities (FEMA)
• Tools to Recover (FEMA)
• Florida Chamber Safety Council Hurricane Resources
• County Emergency Management website list

Hurricane Milton Recovery Resources

The Florida SBDC Network and our state and federal partners remain committed to helping you access the disaster capital and resources your business needs to recover and reopen.

As during any disaster, we are here to help your business recover. Our team of disaster specialists are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting and direction to help you assess and prepare disaster loan applications and assist with other post-disaster challenges.

Available Assistance

– Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan
– SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan – apply by July 11, 2025.

For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/Milton

Hurricane Helene Recovery Resources

The Florida SBDC Network and our state and federal partners remain committed to helping you access the disaster capital and resources your business needs to recover and reopen.

As during any disaster, we are here to help your business recover. Our team of disaster specialists are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting and direction to help you assess and prepare disaster loan applications and assist with other post-disaster challenges.

Available Assistance

– Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan
– SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan – apply by June 30, 2025

For more information, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/Helene

Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)

Type: Request for Proposals
Solicitation ID: 160095
P-25-011 Oracle EBS Upgrade
Closing Date: January 06, 2025, 02:00 PM (Eastern)

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will require a consultant to provide services for RFP No. P-25-011 ORACLE EBS UPGRADE. All interested may contact the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Procurement Department, 100 LaVilla Center Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32204 or email procurement@jtafla.com. To obtain a copy of the Solicitation visit https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/jtafla.

Deadline for questions regarding the plans and/or specifications is 12:00 P.M., December 10, 2024. Questions must be submitted in writing on the JTA OpenGov Procurement Portal. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages expressions of interest for the described services from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. Proposals must be uploaded to the JTA OpenGov Procurement Portal no later than 2:00 P.M. (ET), January 6, 2025.

Small Business Enterprise Program

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is proud to announce the launch of its Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to support and empower small businesses by way of growth, innovation, and sustainability.

Exciting Opportunities for Small Business Entrepreneurs

The SBE Program offers a dynamic platform for small business entrepreneurs to thrive. Participants will gain access to:

• Sustainability: Create and sustain opportunities for small businesses to participate in project opportunities at the JTA.
• Inclusivity: The SBE Program is race and gender neutral and seeks to increase small business participation through structuring opportunities to facilitate competition by small business concerns and taking reasonable steps to eliminate obstacles to their participation.
• Equal Opportunity: Firms wishing to participate as an SBE must meet the same criteria of the DBE Program but are not required to be socially disadvantaged.

A Commitment to Community and Innovation

We are thrilled to launch the SBE Program, which underscores our commitment to nurturing small business talent and driving economic development.

About Jacksonville Transportation Authority

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Jacksonville by providing safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services. Our mission extends beyond transportation, as we strive to support small businesses and foster economic growth through innovative programs and initiatives.

For more information about the SBE Program, please visit the landing page at https://www.jtafla.com/work-with-jta/sbe/.  To apply for the SBE Certification, please go tohttps://jtafla.dbesystem.com. 

Should you have any questions or concerns about the SBE Program or the certification process, please feel free to contact us at DBE1@jtafla.com.

T.H.R.I.V.E.
Thrive, Hope, Rise, Innovate, Venture, Elevate
Emerging Leaders Reimagined
Join the entrepreneurs shaping the future in Gainesville, Florida this summer!

T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined program assists small business owners in growing their business, creating jobs, and strengthening their communities. This innovative program is an intense 6-month course that includes in-person, self-paced, instruction, mentoring, and class room time. Providing small businesses the opportunity to work with experienced professionals at no financial cost.

This training is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined advanced training series is open to small business owners and executives that:

• Have annual revenues of at least $250,000
• Have been in business for at least three years
• Have at least two employees, other than self

Learn more!

Check out these SBA resources:

Free business counseling
SBA-guaranteed business loans
Home & business disaster loans
Federal government contracting

Watch SCORE’s Previous Webinars. Click here to browse SCORE’s pre-recorded webinars.

USHCC encourages you to sign up for FREE courses from the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. Learn more here.

SBDC Online Training Events: click here to check out their on-demand training videos and upcoming workshops.

Career Coach – Florida State College at Jacksonville – take a Career Assessment to learn about yourself and Career Coach will give you career suggestions based on your interests.

The Florida SBDC at UNF provides business owners with confidential consulting and training in all aspects of business startup, management and growth…from business plans and marketing strategy to financial analysis and lending options, we have a consultant ready to help make your business dreams come to life. Appointments are open during non-business hours – so you can meet with us in the early morning or after work or even over the weekend, we’re here to help you with your business needs!

Your entrepreneurship journey with the Florida SBDC at UNF starts by simply clicking the link below and getting registered in our system. As soon as you register, we will get you connected to one of our consultants. One-on-one consulting is provided at no-cost and is currently held virtually.

Click here to make an appointment! Or, contact them directly to learn more at 800-450-4624 or email smallbiz@unf.edu

SCORE Jacksonville

SCORE is a national service organization that supports small businesses nationwide. SCORE has a network of over 11,000 volunteers operating in 340+ local chapters around the country. The organization is supported by the US Small Business Administration (SBA). Locally in Jacksonville, our counselors’ skills include: accounting, consulting, distribution, financial planning, franchising, human resources, marketing, operations, publishing, retail sales, strategic planning, sales, consumer products, Internet, technology and nonprofit management, and doing business with the government. SCORE provides support to business owners in several ways, including FREE confidential mentoring for startups and existing businesses, Workshops to help entrepreneurs start and run a successful business, advice on how to get a business loan, and assistance with putting together a successful business plan.

Small Business Development Center

The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida (Florida SBDC at UNF) provides management assistance and training to any prospective or existing small-business owner in North Florida (Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and Union counties). The Florida SBDC Network is state designated as Florida’s Principal Provider of Business Assistance [ § 288.001, Fla. Stat.] and recognized as Florida’s “premier source” for business assistance. With this assistance, clients can become more successful and, in turn, contribute positively to the area’s economic growth and stability. More than 35 SBDC offices operate in Florida from Key West to Pensacola under the guidance of seven state universities, including the University of North Florida, and state colleges.

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration North Florida District provides help with SBA services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting certifications, and disaster recovery. We can also connect you to our partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed. This office serves 43 counties in northern Florida. We have offices in Jacksonville and Orlando.

Visit our calendar of events to see upcoming webinars and workshops from these organizations!