Helping Our Community: SBDC Resources for Hurricane Helene Impacted Businesses

Supporting the Small Businesses of Southwest Florida in
Recovering from Hurricane Helene
FORT MYERS, FL — The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Florida Gulf
Coast University (FGCU), in collaboration with state and federal partners, remains dedicated to
helping Southwest Florida businesses recover from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. As your
trusted resource for disaster recovery, we are here to provide vital assistance and help your business
reopen, rebuild, and thrive.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS RECOVERY
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the Florida SBDC at FGCU is offering confidential, no-cost
consulting with our team of disaster specialists. Our experts are available to guide businesses
through disaster loan applications, recovery planning, and a range of post-disaster challenges. We are
here to help you access the capital and resources necessary to restore operations, offering expert
advice every step of the way.

With nearly 40% of small businesses never reopening after a disaster, taking action now is crucial.
Let us assist you in navigating these challenges. Help is here—schedule a no-cost consultation
today: SBDC at FGCU Consulting.

STATE AND FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
The Florida SBDC at FGCU is actively supporting businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene,
working closely with the state and the U.S. Small Business Administration to coordinate relief
efforts. Below are some key disaster recovery programs available:
STATE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Florida One-Stop Business Resource Sites
All sites open 10am – 3pm and will offer help with Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge
Loans, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and other business and employee resources.

• Lee County: CareerSource Mobile Unit — Oct. 2 – Oct. 4, 2024
  CareerSource SWFL
  6800 Shoppes at Plantation Drive, Suite 170
  Ft. Myers, FL 33912
• Charlotte County: FloridaCommerce Mobile Unit — Oct. 2 – Oct. 4, 2024
  CareerSource SWFL
  3745 Tamiami Trail
  Port Charlotte, FL 33952
• Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) Program
  The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, activated by FloridaCommerce,
  provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that suffered economic injury or physical
  damage due to Hurricane Helene. The loan program is designed to offer immediate remediation
  between the impact of the disaster and longer-term recovery funding, such as federally-backed loans,
  insurance claims, or other resources.
• Eligible businesses with 100 or fewer employees may apply for loans up to $50,000.
• The business must have been established before September 23, 2024, and located in an
  eligible Florida county impacted by Hurricane Helene.
• Application deadline: November 24, 2024.
• Visit FloridaCommerce for more information.
  Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program
  The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is providing low-interest and interest
  free loan programs to agricultural and aquaculture producers affected by Hurricane Helene. Eligible
  producers may apply for loans of up to $500,000 to restore, repair, or replace damaged physical
  property and remove vegetative debris.
  Explore the Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program for more information.
• FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
  SBA Disaster Loans
  Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to
  businesses in eligible Florida counties that experienced physical damage or economic injury as a
  result of Hurricane Helene. The SBA Physical Disaster Loan program allows businesses to borrow
  up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged property. The Economic Injury Disaster Loan
  provides working capital assistance for small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and most private
  nonprofit organizations that suffered economic losses due to the disaster.
• Physical property damage application deadline: November 27, 2024.
• Economic injury application deadline: June 30, 2025.
• For more information on SBA disaster loans, visit floridasbdc.org/helene.
  CONTACT US FOR HELP
  At the Florida SBDC at FGCU, we are committed to helping you access these critical resources and
  guiding your business through the recovery process. Whether you need assistance with loan
  applications or strategizing for long-term recovery, our disaster specialists are here to support you
  every step of the way.
  For more information, or to schedule a no-cost consultation, please visit this link to our regional
  office at FGCU.
  Help is here when you need it most.

About the Florida SBDC at FGCU:
The FSBDC at FGCU offers one-on-one, confidential, no-cost consulting and low-cost workshops for businesses
throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades counties. The state designates the Florida SBDC Network as
Florida’s principal provider of business assistance. The FSBDC at FGCU is a member of the Florida SBDC
Network, a statewide service funded in part through cooperative agreements with the U.S. Small Business
Administration, Department of Defense, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, and is hosted by
Florida Gulf Coast University and nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs. For more information, please
visit www.fsbdcswfl.org.