Business Disaster Recovery and Assistance Programs Available for Local Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Gov. Ron DeSantis declares a State of Emergency in response to Coronavirus

Below are organizations and programs that provide businesses disaster assistance for Broward based businesses. 

State of Florida Business Disaster Recovery Assistance

FloridaDisaster.biz is a partnership between the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM). DEO is the lead agency for the State Emergency Response Team Emergency Support Function (ESF) 18. ESF-18 is tasked with coordinating local, state and federal agency actions that provide immediate and short-term assistance to business and industry as well as economic stabilization. Additionally, ESF-18 works with business and industry to identify available resources to meet the needs of the state and its citizens before, during and after a disaster.

During an activation of the State Emergency Operations Center, the Florida Private Sector Hotline will be activated. Florida Private Sector Hotline: 850-815-4925 Email:  ESF18@em.myflorida.com

Business Damage Assessment Survey

Businesses that are damaged after a state-designated emergency can fill out the Damage Assessment Survey to provide information about the damage and connect with available resources. The information provided in this survey will be shared among various state and local agencies to expedite implementation of appropriate disaster relief programs for businesses. Please make sure to participate in this important Business Damage Assessment Survey located here.

Visit the website: www.floridadisaster.biz for more information on resources available to small businesses.

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) Program

Following activation by the Governor, the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program provides short-term, interest-free loans to businesses impacted by a disaster. Administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) in partnership with the Florida SBDC Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC), the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan helps businesses bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and when a business secures other financial resources, including payment of insurance claims or longer-term Small Business Administration loans. Learn more at www.floridadisasterloan.org.

Loan Details 

  • Amount: Up to $50,000 per eligible small business. Loans of up to $100,000 may be made in special cases as warranted by the need of the business.
  • Term: Loans may be for periods of up to one year.
  • Interest: Loans will be interest free for the term of the loan.
  • Payments: Loans must be repaid in full by the maturity date of the established term. 

U.S. Small Business Administration – Disaster Loans

The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets. 

Business Physical Disaster Loans
For any business or organization located in a declared disaster area and that incurred damage during the disaster may apply for a loan to help replace or restore damaged property.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans
If you are in a declared disaster area and have suffered economic injury regardless of physical damage, you may qualify for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan.
Military Reservists Economic Injury Loans
For an essential employee who is a military reservist called to active duty, SBA provides loans to help eligible small businesses with operating expenses. 

Home and Personal Property Loans
If you are in a declared disaster area and are the victim of a disaster, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the SBA, even if you don’t own a business.

CareerSource Broward

Disaster Dislocated Worker Program

National Dislocated Worker Grants are awarded for temporary employment to workers affected by major dislocations, including natural disasters. Disaster relief employment can be in the form of temporary jobs to address structural and humanitarian needs of residents of an area that has suffered a federally declared emergency or major disaster. 

Disaster relief employment is restricted to projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims and projects that involve demolition, cleaning, repair, renovation and reconstruction of damaged structures and facilities. 

Individuals who qualify for disaster relief employment are people who are temporarily or permanently laid off as a consequence of the disaster, dislocated workers and individuals who are long-term unemployed. 

For information regarding National Dislocated Worker Grants, visit your local CareerSource Center at www.careersourceflorida.com/your-local-team.

Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

General Disaster Unemployment Assistance Information 

The purpose of Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is to provide benefits and reemployment services to individuals whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a result of a major disaster. 

When activated, workers can apply if they worked, were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment and are not able to work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster. 

For information on DUA and instructions on how to apply online, visit DEO’s Disaster Unemployment website.

Small Business Development Center at Florida Atlantic University

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides counseling and assistance to help businesses recover from a temporary closure or incurred damage due to a natural disaster. The SBDC is located at 111 E. Las Olas Boulevard Higher Education Complex, Room 1010, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. You may visit SBDC or call 954-762-5235

Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA

FEMA only offers personal disaster recovery assistance. There are no services or assistance offered to businesses. FEMA can be reached at 1-800-621-3362. FEMA encourage claimants to have ready their social security number (including spouse, if applicable), private insurance information (if available), address of damaged property, directions to damaged property, and daytime telephone number before making contact. For the speech or hearing impaired call 1-800-462-7585. For more information please visit www.fema.gov.

For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Florida, please visit the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the state’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling (866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours per day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

Picture of Author: Amanda Jones
Author: Amanda Jones

Amanda Jones specializes in content marketing. She holds a Master's degree in Marketing Management from the University of Florida and a Content Manager Professional Certificate from the University of Miami.

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