November 28, 2017

SBA: Economic Injury Disaster Loans Offered to Small Businesses in Florida Affected by Hurricane Irma

Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations located in the declared counties of Florida that have suffered financial losses as the result of Hurricane Irma, should consider applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are designed to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.  These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.  The loans are not intended to replace lost sales or profits. Examples of eligible industries include but are not limited to the following: bait and tackle shops, charter boats, commercial fisherman, crabbers, fishing guides, hotels, and marinas, owners of rental property, restaurants, retailers, souvenir shops, travel agencies, and wholesalers.
The loan amount can be up to $2 million with interest rates of 3.305 percent for small businesses percent and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations and, with terms up to 30 years.  The SBA determines eligibility based on the size of the applicant, type of activity and its financial resources.  Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Free assistance with reconstructing financial records, preparing financial statements and submitting the loan application is available from any of SBA’s partners: Florida Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE, Women’s Business Centers (WBC), and Veteran’s Business Outreach Centers.  To determine if the business is located in a declared county, visit this webpage: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/Declarations/Index.
FEMA/SBA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Saturday
Broward County (Mobile DRC)
Broward County/Palm Beach County
Highlands County
Atrium West
Carol Sims Center
Bert J. Harris Agricultural Center
Sunrise, FL  33351
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Sebring, FL  33875
Closes Tue, Nov 28 at close of business
Lee County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Bonita Springs Recreation Center
Miami-Dade College Kendall Campus
Old Bank of America Bldg.
Bonita Springs, FL  34135
Miami, FL  33176
Big Pine Key, FL  33043
Monroe County (Mobile DRC)
Monroe County
Monroe County
Islamorada Fire Department
Habana Plaza
Marathon, FL  33050
Islamorada, FL  33036
Key West, FL  33040
Orange County
Seminole County (Mobile DRC)
Orange County Bank
Central Branch Library
Orlando, FL  32804
Casselberry, FL  32707
SBA Business Recovery Centers (BRC)
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday – Saturday
Broward County/Palm Beach County
Collier County
Duval County
Carol Sims Center
Naples Accelerator
Beaver Street Enterprise Center
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Naples, FL  34105
Jacksonville, FL  32204
Highlands County
Lee County
Miami-Dade County
Bert J. Harris Agricultural Center
Bonita Springs Recreation Center
Miami-Dade College Kendall Campus
Sebring, FL  33875
Bonita Springs, FL  34135
Miami, FL  33176
Monroe County (Mobile BRC)
Orange County
Pinellas County
Old Bank of America Bldg.
Orange County Bank
The EpiCenter-Pinellas County
Economic Development Center
Big Pine Key, FL  33043
Orlando, FL  32804
Clearwater, FL  33760
St. Lucie County
Florida SBDC at Indian River State College
Port St. Lucie, FL  34986
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Disaster loan information and application forms may also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or by sending an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov(link sends e-mail).  Loan applications can be downloaded from www.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 deadline to return economic injury applications is June 11, 2018.
This post was originally published here.