WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today its Business Recovery Center (BRC) in Hillsborough County will operate Monday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting Saturday, Oct. 8. SBA Customer Service Representatives are at the Centers to assist Floridians with applying for disaster loan assistance for losses due to Hurricane Ian that began Sept. 23. All of SBA’s Florida Business Recovery Centers will be open on Columbus Day, Monday, Oct. 10.
The disaster declaration includes Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia counties in Florida, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Pasco, and Sumter in Florida.
All BRCs will operate as indicated below until further notice:
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SBA Business Recovery Center Collier County The Naples Players Naples, FL 34102
Hours: Monday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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SBA Mobile Business Recovery Center Collier County Museum of the Everglades Everglades City, FL 34139
Hours: Saturday – Monday, Oct. 8 to 10,
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SBA Business Recovery Center Hillsborough County Chloe Coney Urban Enterprise Center Tampa, FL 33610
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
SBA Business Recovery Center Lee County The Hub at SWFL, Inc. 25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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SBA Business Recovery Center Seminole County Sanford Information Center Sanford, FL 32771
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available as indicated above to answer questions about the disaster loan program and assist business owners in completing their applications. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask.
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 28, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.