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
Emergency 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 Sarasota 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
Location: The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, 1945 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, FL 34236
Dates: Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19
Hours: 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
IRS provides Hurricane Milton Relief
IR-2024-264, Oct. 11, 2024
WASHINGTON — Due to Hurricane Milton, the Internal Revenue Service today announced relief for individuals and businesses in 51 counties in Florida.
Individuals and businesses in six counties that previously did not qualify for relief under either Hurricane Debby or Hurricane Helene will receive disaster tax relief beginning Oct. 5, 2024, and concluding on May 1, 2025. They are Broward, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and St. Lucie.
In addition, individuals and businesses in 20 counties previously receiving relief under Debby, but not Helene will receive disaster tax relief under Hurricane Milton, from Aug. 1, 2024, thru May 1, 2025. They are Baker, Brevard, Clay, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lake, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties.
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.