Business Recovery
FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey. Business owners are encouraged to self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Helene and Milton at FloridaDisaster.biz
Recovery Updates
Sarasota County
City of North Port
City of Sarasota
City of Venice
Town of Longboat Key
Mobile Assistance Center Open
The Florida SBDC at USF is on-site at the Mobile Assistance Center to assist businesses affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Stop by and let professionally certified consultants guide you through these critical recovery programs:
- SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
- SBA Physical Disaster Loan
- Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
Centre Shops of Longboat Key, 5370 Gulf of Mexico Dr., Longboat Key, FL 34228
Friday, October 25 to Thursday, October 31
10am – 3pm
Short-Term, No Interest Bridge Loans
If you are working toward securing longer term recovery funding, you can apply for funding to help cover your business in the interim. These short-term, zero interest loans are meant to help “bridge the gap” from the time Hurricane Helene and Milton impacted our area to when a business can receive longer term recovery funding such as through insurance claims or other federal loans.
To apply for a Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, visit FloridaJobs.org/EBL For more information: Call 1-833-832-4494 or email EmergencyBridgeLoan@Commerce.fl.gov.
Physical Disaster Loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Available
Business Physical Disaster Loans are loans are designed to help businesses repair or replace disaster-damaged property, such as real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery, and equipment. Both small and large businesses are eligible for these loans, as well as private non-profit organizations like charities, churches, and private universities.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans provide working capital to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses, and most private non-profit organizations of any size. EIDLs aim to support these entities in meeting their financial obligations that have been disrupted due to the disaster, helping them navigate the recovery period smoothly.
Unemployment Insurance
For individuals who may be now out of work due to Hurricane impacts on their employer, there is unemployment insurance (also known as reemployment assistance) available. This provides temporary income to those qualified individuals who are out of work through no fault of their own.
FloridaCommerce also provides help with other job-related opportunities through its Reemployment Assistance Resource Center.
Other Important Updates
Hiring Assistance
Seeking to fill open positions quickly? Goodwill Manasota can assist. Are you an employer in search of qualified, dedicated candidates to quickly join your team? Goodwill Manasota offers comprehensive services tailored to meet your hiring needs.
IRS provides Hurricane Milton Relief
IR-2024-264, Oct. 11, 2024
Due to Hurricane Milton, the Internal Revenue Service announced relief for individuals and businesses in 51 counties in Florida.
As a result, affected taxpayers in all of Florida now have until May 1, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, including 2024 individual and business returns normally due during March and April 2025 and 2023 individual and corporate returns with valid extensions and quarterly estimated tax payments.
Food and Beverage Worker Rapid Support
A large portion of our local restaurant industry was impacted by flooding with an unknown timeline for re-opening. This has impacted our communities’ food and beverage industry staff, some work paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet. Gulf Coast Community Foundation has partnered with Southern Smoke Foundation to deploy support from the Rapid Response Fund to provide bridge funding to those affected.