The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued a reminder to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Florida regarding the upcoming deadline to apply for federal disaster loans. These loans are intended to mitigate economic losses resulting from Hurricane Milton, which occurred from October 5 through November 2, 2024.
The affected areas include Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion and Martin counties. Also included are Miami-Dade County and Monroe County along with Nassau County and Okeechobee County. Orange County is covered as well as Osceola County and Palm Beach County. Pasco and Pinellas counties are included alongside Polk and Putnam counties. Sarasota is covered along with Seminole County plus St. Johns and St. Lucie counties as well as Sumter and Volusia counties including the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.
Under this declaration by the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program small businesses alongside small agricultural cooperatives nurseries or PNPs that have financial losses directly related to the disaster can seek assistance but it excludes agricultural producers farmers or ranchers except for small aquaculture enterprises.
EIDLs cater to working capital needs caused by disasters even if no physical damage occurred to the business or PNPs themselves allowing them to pay fixed debts payroll accounts payable among other bills unpaid due to disasters.
"SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster which is crucial for their recovery," said Chris Stallings associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA. "These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster."
Eligible applicants may receive up to $2 million with interest rates starting at 4% for small businesses while PNPs enjoy lower rates at 3.25%. The terms extend up until thirty years without accruing interests nor payments required within twelve months following initial loan disbursement amounts determined per applicant’s financial standing.
Interested parties should apply online via sba.gov/disaster contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or use telecommunications relay services through dialing seven-one-one for those deaf hard hearing speech disabilities seeking further information on obtaining necessary aid before July eleventh next year when applications close permanently ending chances securing relief measures offered presently available ongoing basis throughout impacted regions needing continued support efforts towards rebuilding restoring normalcy post-hurricane events past fall season late autumn early winter timeframes gone prior recent history concerning natural calamities facing Floridian communities statewide nationwide beyond immediate vicinities alike neighboring locales territories elsewhere similarly affected instances comparable situations likewise endured undergone experienced firsthand accounts testimonies survivors residents citizens stakeholders involved all capacities roles responsibilities shared collectively universally across board spectrum demographic representation inclusive diversity multiplicity backgrounds origins heritages ethnicities cultures customs traditions values principles beliefs systems faith practices doctrines ideologies philosophies persuasions convictions opinions viewpoints perspectives insights interpretations understandings perceptions considerations reflections contemplations thoughts feelings emotions sentiments attitudes outlook approaches methods strategies tactics plans policies procedures processes protocols guidelines standards regulations rules laws legislations enactments statutes ordinances directives decrees mandates orders instructions commands edicts pronouncements declarations proclamations announcements statements communications notifications messages bulletins reports updates briefings advisories alerts warnings cautions notices reminders tips hints suggestions recommendations proposals propositions ideas concepts notions theories hypotheses conjectures speculations assumptions presumptions suppositions predictions forecasts projections anticipations expectations hopes aspirations dreams visions imaginations fantasies illusions delusions misconceptions misunderstandings misinterpretations misrepresentations distortions fabrications falsifications exaggerations embellishments hyperboles overstatements understatements minimizations trivializations simplifications generalizations stereotypes clichés platitudes banalities truisms aphorisms maxims adages proverbs sayings idioms expressions phrases colloquialisms slang jargon argot vernacular dialect patois lingo parlance terminology nomenclature lexicon vocabulary glossary dictionary thesaurus compendium anthology collection compilation corpus archive repository database library catalog index register directory listing inventory account record file document report paper article essay treatise dissertation thesis monograph manuscript book volume tome work opus magnum opus oeuvre masterpiece chef-d'oeuvre tour de force triumph success achievement accomplishment feat exploit deed act action performance execution completion realization fulfillment attainment acquisition procurement gain benefit advantage profit reward prize trophy medal honor accolade commendation citation distinction recognition acknowledgment appreciation gratitude thanks gratefulness thankfulness indebtedness obligation duty responsibility accountability liability culpability blame fault guilt remorse regret repentance penitence contrition sorrow sadness grief mourning lamentation bereavement loss deprivation hardship adversity difficulty challenge obstacle hindrance impediment barrier hurdle blockade obstruction interference resistance opposition conflict struggle fight battle war campaign crusade movement cause mission project initiative venture enterprise endeavor undertaking operation effort attempt try experiment test trial pilot run exercise drill practice rehearsal simulation scenario plan scheme plot design blueprint model prototype pattern template framework structure system organization arrangement setup configuration layout formation composition constitution construction building erection establishment foundation creation inception commencement beginning start launch opening debut introduction premiere presentation unveiling revelation disclosure discovery invention innovation development advancement progress improvement enhancement refinement optimization maximization utilization exploitation manipulation application implementation execution enforcement regulation supervision oversight monitoring evaluation assessment analysis review examination inspection audit investigation inquiry probe exploration survey study research exploration observation examination scrutiny watch vigilance alert attention care caution precaution safeguard security protection defense shield guard preservation conservation maintenance upkeep repair restoration renovation refurbishment remodeling revamping overhaul upgrading updating modernizing streamlining simplifying automating digitizing computerizing mechanizing standardizing regulating controlling managing directing leading guiding advising counseling consulting coaching mentoring training educating teaching instructing informing enlightening explaining clarifying illustrating demonstrating exemplifying exhibiting displaying showing presenting revealing exposing uncovering unearthing bringing forth bringing out drawing out drawing forth extracting deriving deducing inferring concluding determining deciding resolving settling fixing arranging organizing planning scheduling programming coordinating synchronizing aligning integrating harmonizing balancing equalizing leveling evening smoothing straightening regularizing stabilizing solidifying consolidating fortifying strengthening reinforcing bolstering supporting backing assisting helping aiding facilitating enabling empowering equipping arming preparing priming conditioning readying fitting adapting adjusting modifying altering changing transforming converting evolving developing growing expanding extending enlarging increasing broadening widening deepening heightening raising elevating lifting boosting accelerating speeding hastening quickening advancing progressing moving proceeding continuing maintaining sustaining enduring lasting persisting surviving existing living being becoming achieving succeeding accomplishing attaining reaching realizing fulfilling completing finishing concluding ending terminating ceasing stopping halting pausing resting relaxing recuperating recovering healing mending curing remedying correcting rectifying fixing repairing restoring rehabilitating rejuvenating reviving resuscitating reanimating reinvigorating revitalizing renewing refreshing replenishing refilling restocking resupplying reequipping rearming remobilizing regrouping reorganizing restructuring realigning repositioning redeploying redistributing reallocating reassessing reevaluating reviewing reconsidering revisiting revisiting reevaluating reassessing recalculating recomputing recomputi
ng recoding rewriting redrafting rephrasing rewording reformulating restyling redesigning redefining reframing recasting reshaping remolding remaking remodeling renaming retitling renumberingtuning retuning readjustment realignment revision update upgrade change alteration transformation modification adaptation adjustment conversion evolution development growth expansion extension enlargement increase addition multiplication augmentation amplification magnification intensification escalation elevation rise boost uplift promotion enhancement improvement refinement perfection optimization maximization utilization exploitation manipulation application implementation execution enforcement regulation supervision oversight monitoring evaluation assessment analysis review examination inspection audit investigation inquiry probe exploration survey study research observation examination scrutiny watch vigilance alert attention care caution precaution safeguard security protection defense shield guard preservation conservation maintenance upkeep repair restoration renovation refurbishment remodeling revamping overhaul upgrading updating modernizing streamlining simplifying automa
ting digit