Mobile Assistance Center - In person one-on-one support

The Florida SBDC at USF will be on-site at the Longboat Key Mobile Assistance Center to assist businesses affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Stop by and let our professionally certified consultants guide you through these critical recovery programs: 

• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
• SBA Physical Disaster Loan
• Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

Business Assistance

Sarasota County has announced multiple business recovery resources for businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton. For business recovery assistance, businesses can contact:

• Email BusinessRecovery@scgov.net
• Visit scgov.net
• Call 311 or 941-861-5000

Businesses can submit resource requests to Sarasota County through an online form: https://bit.ly/businessrecoveryresourcerequest

SBDC Business Recovery Center Information:

The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, 1945 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, FL 34236
Dates: Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19 - Hours: 10am - 3pm
Businesses can apply on-line at the following:
https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance/hurricane-milton

Helpful Links

EDC Sarasota County Business Recovery:  https://www.edcsarasotacounty.com/businessrecovery/ 

FEMA Individual Assistance: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual

Florida Disaster.org: https://www.floridadisaster.org/dem/recovery/individual-assistance/

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program: https://floridacommerce.my.site.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s/

The Florida SBDC at USF stands ready to support the business community in your area. https://sbdctampabay.com/business-continuity-disaster-preparedness/  The support and services provided by the Florida SBDC at USF is at no-cost and confidential.

The Business Damage Assessment Survey is activated https://floridadisaster.biz/Respond/BusinessDamageAssessmentsSurvey  

The FDACS Agriculture and Aquaculture loan has been opened https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Agriculture-and-Aquaculture-Producers-Natural-Disaster-Recovery-Loan-Program

You are not alone. Every day, hundreds of people across our Tri County region of Desoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties turn to 2-1-1 for information and support—for financial assistance, health programs, crisis support and more. You can access 2-1-1 by phone, email, chat or text (just text your zip code to 898-211). Reaching out will get you connected to a multilingual 2-1-1 specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations providing critical services to improve and save lives.  https://211suncoastcares.org/

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)

Now OPEN at Sarasota Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail.
Current Hours of operations are 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily
Assistance available at the DRC for residents and business owners affected by Hurricane Milton:

• Apply for assistance. You can also Apply for FEMA Assistance online or Apply/Check your status by phone 1-800-621-3362
• Learn the status of your FEMA application
• Learn about disaster assistance programs
• Find housing and rental assistance information.
• Understand any letters you receive from FEMA
• Get answers to questions or resolve problems
• Get referrals to agencies that may offer other assistance
• Learn about Small Business Administration (SBA) programs

Sarasota County residents impacted by Hurricane Milton are eligible to apply for FEMA assistance. If you applied for assistance after Hurricanes Debby or Helene, you will need to fill out a SEPARATE application for Hurricane Milton.

There are 3 ways to submit an application:

1. Going to DisasterAssistance.gov
2. Using the FEMA APP
3. Calling 800-621-3362

 Learn More: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4834 

Helpful Tips:

1. Photograph everything prior to cleanup – physical damage, landscaping damage, personal property, spoilage of food, vehicle odometer (if vehicle is flooded), etc. 
2. You can file a flood claim by contacting your insurance agent or NFIP 877-336-2627 (flood insurance is almost always separate from property insurance)
3. Discuss claim requirements, timelines, and expectations with your adjuster
4. Make temporary repairs – for example, have your roof tarped where water might enter – it is the policyholder’s responsibility to mitigate further damages
5. Make a list of damaged contents including age, place of purchase, and original purchase price
6. If you need a contractor, check their license at https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp
7. Ask your contractor for a copy of their insurance before they commence work – you can call the insurance company (not the agent) to make sure coverage is active
8. Beware contractors asking you to sign anything resembling an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) – you do not need to assign away your insurance benefits to start repairs

Building Permits Requirements for Hurricane Milton Repairs:

• The removal of drywall is allowed up to 4 feet in height from the finished floor to minimize the active growth of mold. The total square footage of removal is not limited. This activity will need to be part of the costs submitted for all homes in special flood hazard areas at the time of permit application. Commercial structures will require an Asbestos Survey to be submitted with the permit application prior to removal.
• All electrical service repairs, roof repairs, and roof replacements may begin immediately. Electrical Contractors and Roofing Contractors will need to submit a permit application through the online portal to expedite the process.
• Paper applications may be submitted during normal business hours at the address listed below but will take longer to approve. The application must state "Hurricane Milton" in the description of work.

We encourage all to submit permit applications electronically as this will allow for quicker review times and permit issuance.  https://ftgportal.sarasotafl.gov/Common/ApplicationLinks.aspx 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

FloridaCommerce announced DUA is available to businesses and residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Milton and are not eligible for regular state or federal Reemployment Assistance benefits. Eligible Floridians whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of Hurricane Milton are encouraged to submit a claim at FloridaJobs.org

DUA is available to those who are ineligible to receive federal or state Reemployment Assistance benefits and the individual meets one of the following requirements:

• Is unemployed as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Was scheduled to start employment but was unable to as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Is unable to reach their job or self-employment location because the individual has to travel through an affected area and is prevented from doing so as a direct result of the major disaster;
• Has become the primary breadwinner because the head of the household died as a direct result of the major disaster; or
• Is unable to work because of an injury that was a direct result of the major disaster.

DUA is available for weeks of unemployment beginning October 6, 2024, through April 12, 2025, if the individual’s unemployment continues to be a result of the disaster in the designated-disaster areas. The deadline to submit a claim for DUA benefits is no later than December 10, 2024.

To file a claim, go to www.FloridaJobs.org  and select “File a Claim”, visit a local CareerSource Career Center, or call 1-800-385-3920. Customer service representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For DUA claims information, call 1-833-FL-APPLY (1-833-352-7759) to speak with a representative.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

In light of this disruption to income flow for workers, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, in partnership with the Houston-based Southern Smoke Foundation, has stepped in to offer grants.

The organization is providing $1,000 to individuals and $1,200 to families which would be distributed by The Southern Smoke Foundation. This grant covers folks in the farming industry, hospitality, food, and beverage industry such as waiters, bartenders, grocery workers, and delivery drivers if eligible.

Visit the Southern Smoke Foundation directly to apply for the grant. (Note: You can also connect to the application via the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Rapid Response Fund page which will immediately redirect you to The Southern Smoke Foundation Emergency Reliefhttps://southernsmoke.org/emergency-relief/ website to apply)

City of Sarasota Office of Economic Development

EconomicDevelopment@SarasotaFL.gov