ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that survivors of Hurricane Helene and Milton now have more time to apply for SBA’s low-interest physical disaster loans. Businesses and residents who have damage from the storm now have until Jan. 7, to apply and see how SBA can help. Additionally, SBA will temporarily close its Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) and the Business Resource & Assessment Center (BRAC) in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. The centers will resume normal operations as indicated below.
SBA’s BRCs are a cornerstone of our support for business owners,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. “At these centers, business owners can meet face-to-face with specialists to apply for disaster loans and access a wide range of resources to guide them through their recovery.”
Customer Service Representatives at the BRCs and BRAC will assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents for existing applications, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Disaster Recovery Center in advance at appointment.sba.gov. The centers will operate as indicated below.
Business Resource & Assessment Center (BRAC)
Hillsborough County
Entrepreneurs Collaborative Center
2101 E Palm Ave
Tampa, FL 33605
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Holiday hours: Wednesday, Nov. 27, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holiday Closure: Thursday, Nov. 28 – Saturday, Nov. 30 in observance of Thanksgiving
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Manatee County
Rocky Bluff Library
6750 US-301
Ellenton, FL 34222
Hours: Monday - Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Holiday Closure: Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of Thanksgiving
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Pinellas County
SPC Epicenter at St. Petersburg College
13805 58th Street N,
Suite 1-200
Clearwater, FL 33760
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Holiday Closure: Thursday, Nov. 28 – Friday, Nov. 29 in observance of Thanksgiving
On October 15, 2024, it was announced that funds for the Disaster Loan Program have been fully expended. While no new loans can be issued until Congress appropriates additional funding, we remain committed to supporting disaster survivors. Applications will continue to be accepted and processed to ensure individuals and businesses are prepared to receive assistance once funding becomes available.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their loan applications promptly for review in anticipation of future funding.
With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage for both incidents is Jan. 7, 2025.The deadline to return economic injury applications for Hurricane Helene is June 30, 2025, and the deadline to return economic injury applications for Hurricane Milton is July 11, 2025.
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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.