Hurricane Season 2022

Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey: Businesses that are damaged after a state-designated emergency can fill our 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.

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program: The purpose of the Emergency Bridge Loan Program is to provide a source of expedient cash flow to Florida small businesses impacted by a disaster.These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: Disaster Unemployment Assistance is a benefit program funded by the U.S. Department of Labor that assists individuals who become unemployed as a result of a disaster.  Eligible applicants may apply on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) website.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Recovery Guide: A collection of resources designed to reopen your business and assist with long-term recovery, including immediate needs, financial assistance, IT disaster recovery, mental health, and community recovery.

IEDC Restore Your Economy: RestoreYourEconomy is your resource for up-to-date information related to economic recovery from natural disasters and COVID-19. It is managed by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) with generous support from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and IEDC’s Economic Development Research Partners program.

Rebuild Florida Office of Long-Term Resiliency: Rebuild Florida was created by DEO to help Florida’s long-term recovery efforts from recent hurricanes. DEO oversees Community Development Block Grant- Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for hurricanes Hermine, Matthew, Irma, and Michael as well as CDBG-Mitigation funding. The state of Florida is committed to helping homeowners, small businesses and communities recover from recent storms and become more resilient to future disasters.

Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund: The Rebuild Florida Business Loan Fund, a resiliency loan fund provided through a partnership with the U.S. Economic Development Administration, is assisting businesses that experienced physical damage or economic injury from Hurricane Irma. It provides longer-term loans with higher funding levels at market interest rates. Up to $500,000 in financing can be provided to an eligible business for the following purposes: inventory purchases, construction or renovation, working capital needs, capital start-up loans, machinery and equipment purchases, equipment financing, and more.