Affected By The Recent Storms? SBA Opens Business Recovery Center to Assist Floridians Applying for a Disaster Loan

“Our Business Recovery Centers are one of the most powerful resources at SBA’s disposal to support business owners in the midst of a disaster,” said Francisco Sanchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “Business owners can meet in-person with our specialists to apply for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of our programs designed to help them navigate their recovery.”

The disaster declaration covers Broward County, which is 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): Collier, Hendry, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach in Florida. Disaster survivors with insurance should not wait for their settlement before applying to the SBA. The SBA can make a loan for the total loss and use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.

“We are excited to work with SBA on providing much needed resources to small businesses,” said Courtnee Biscardi, Executive Vice President, Urban League of Broward County. “The Urban League provides an Entrepreneurship Center which offers access to training, business coaching and counseling and a myriad of services for small businesses. Also, through its CDFI, Central County CDC League assists businesses by providing additional capital and support for other business needs.” Any business owner or resident in any of the declared counties can get help at the BRC location provided by the Urban League. It will operate at the following address until further notice:

Business Recovery Center (Broward County)
Urban League of Broward County
Central County Community Development
560 Northwest 27th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.375 percent for nonprofit organizations, and 2.375 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.

Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, elevation, retaining walls, and landscaping to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

“The opportunity to include measures to help prevent future damage from occurring is a significant benefit of SBA’s disaster loan program,” said SBA Associate Administrator Francisco Sanchez, Jr. “I encourage everyone to consult their contractors and emergency management mitigation specialists for ideas and apply for an SBA disaster loan increase for funding.”

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 # 17901.

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: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance - Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 26th, 2023. The deadline to return economic injury applications is January 29th, 2024.