Business Disaster Recovery Resources

Aerial view of buildings flooded after a storm.

Programs for St. Johns County Businesses

Following the events of natural disasters that impact the St. Johns County area, agencies at the Federal, State, and local level activate business resources for disaster recovery/relief.

State of Florida Resources

Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

Application Deadlines

Hurricane Helene: Nov. 24, 2024

Hurricane Milton: Dec. 4, 2024

Program

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program provides short-term, zero-interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources.

Loans made under this program are short-term, personal loans using State of Florida funds – they are not grants and must be repaid. Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans require repayment by the approved applicant. Owners may utilize funding from longer term financial resources, such as U.S. Small Business Administration economic injury disaster loans, to repay the Emergency Bridge Loan.

Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey

Survey

Florida Commerce and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Milton and Helene. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by either hurricane. Survey responses will allow the state to expedite disaster recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses.

Federal Resources

Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers
Natural Disaster Recovery Loan

Program

Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene will be able to apply for low-interest and interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program.

These are low-interest or interest-free loans up to $500,000 for eligible agriculture and aquaculture producers that have experienced damage or destruction from Hurricane Helene or Milton.

Loans may be used to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property, including fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings, or to remove vegetative debris.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA Business Physical Disaster Loan

Application Deadline

Hurricane Milton: January 7, 2025

Program

Physical Disaster Loans provide up to $2 million to qualified businesses or most private nonprofit organizations to cover disaster losses not fully covered by insurance.

The program covers disaster losses not fully covered by insurance or other sources. If required to apply insurance proceeds to an outstanding mortgage on the damaged property, that amount can be included in your disaster loan application.

Use of proceeds:

Real property
Machinery
Equipment
Fixtures
Inventory
Leasehold improvements

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Application Deadline

Hurricane Milton: July 11, 2025

Program

SBA can provide Economic Injury Disaster loans to help cover the costs and expenses that your business would have been able to handle if the disaster did not happen. The EIDL amount will depend on how much financial impact you have experienced and your company’s financial needs, even if you didn’t suffer any property damage.

Use of proceeds:

Working capital and normal expenses such as the continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments
EIDL funds cannot be used for expanding facilities, buying fixed assets, repairing physical damages, refinancing debt, paying out dividends or bonuses, or paying back loans to stockholders or principals

EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere