Was your small business impacted by Hurricane Helene? Recovery resources are now available to help you get back on your feet. 

State Assistance

FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) Program. This loan program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses who experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Helene.

Businesses in the following 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.

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. Visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, and to apply. The deadline to apply is November 24, 2024. 

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has established the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program to make low-interest or interest-free loans to agricultural and aquaculture producers. Those eligible may apply for loans of up to $500,000 to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property, including fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings, or to remove vegetative debris.

Visit https://disasterloan.fdacs.gov/ to learn more about the program, view the lending guidelines and required documentation, and to complete an application.

Federal Assistance 

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available to those in eligible counties for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. 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. Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at https://lending.sba.gov.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is November 27, 2024.

The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2025. 

Physical and Economic Injury disaster loans available in these Florida counties:

Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, and Wakulla;

Economic injury loans only available in these Florida counties:

Alachua, Collier, DeSoto, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Leon, Liberty, Marion, Polk, Sumter, and Suwannee

Business Damage Assessment Survey

If your business experienced any physical damage or loss in revenue from the storm, we strongly encourage you to complete the state’s Business Damage Assessment Survey. To take the assessment, please click here.

Please be aware that the survey is not an application for disaster assistance. Rather, the results of the survey help state and federal officials determine the need for assistance and help expedite disaster recovery resources.

On behalf of the Florida SBDC Network, our thoughts are with you, your family, and your community. We will do everything we can to help your small business rebuild, reopen and recover from Hurricane Helene.

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

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!