Red Tide Emergency Assistance for Small Businesses

SEBASTIAN – Small business owners who were impacted by the red tide in Sebastian, Vero Beach, and Indian River County can get help.

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program has been activated for Red Tide.

These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer-term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance.

Designated Disaster Counties/Areas:

• Brevard
• Broward
• Charlotte
• Collier
• Hillsborough
• Indian River
• Lee
• Manatee
• Martin
• Miami-Dade
• Palm Beach
• Pinellas
• Sarasota
• St. Lucie

Applications will be accepted by qualified for-profit, privately held small businesses that maintain a place of business in the state of Florida.

All qualified applicants must have been established prior to August 13, 2018, and suffered physical damage and/or economic injury as a result of the designated disaster.

Qualified small business applicants must be an employer business with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 100 employees.

Amount: Up to $50,000 per eligible small business.
Term: 180 days.

Only one loan may be made per eligible business. All previous bridge loans received MUST be paid in full.

Loans will be interest-free for the term of the loan (180 days). The interest rate will be 18% per annum on the unpaid balance thereafter until the balance is repaid in full.

Applications will be accepted through December 16, 2018, contingent on availability of funds. Click here for an application form.

For additional information, visit the Florida Disaster Loan website.