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NEW: Frequently Asked Questions - CARES ACT from US Senator Rick Scott
On April 1, U.S. Senator Rick Scott released a very comprehensive document with details on many of the programs available to businesses and individuals. You can find the PDF here.
NEW: Economic Injury Disaster Loan Guide
The CARES Act expanded the Small Business Administration’s long-standing Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program(EIDL), which includes $10,000 grants for eligible applicants. The EIDL program was created to assist businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters.
NEW: Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
The CARES Act created a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of the COVID-19.
NEW: Small Business Emergency Loan Guide
The U.S. Chamber’s Coronavirus Small Business Emergency Loan Guide, first issued last week, outlines the steps small businesses need to take to access much-needed Payroll Protection Program(PPP) funds. The guide now includes important information including key dates as the government moves toward implementation. Recently, the Treasury Department issued more details on this paycheck protection program and a loan application available for download.
Starting Friday, April 3, small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply for loans. Starting April 10, independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply for loans.There is a funding cap, so the Treasury Department recommends applying as soon as possible.
The English guide is available here.
A Spanish language guide is available here.
We Need Your Feedback - The Apopka Area COVID-19 Business Impact Survey
We understand this is an incredibly difficult time for many of our local businesses and we'd like to know how we can best help you. Below is a link to a brief survey. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes and your responses will help guide us as we find seek solutions that'll help our business community.
Click Here to Take Our Business Impact Survey.
Take Action - The Emergency Business Damage Assessment Survey
On March 12, Governor DeSantis activated the Emergency Business Damage Assessment Survey related to the Coronavirus. https://www.flgov.com/2020/03/12/governor-ron-desantis-activates-emergency-business-damage-assessment-survey-for-coronavirus-covid-19/
We need your feedback in order to provide comprehensive information about the impacts of COVID-19 to our partners at the federal level. Plus, this step is part of a required process the state must take before Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans can be accessed in Florida.
If your business has incurred economic injury due to the effects of Coronavirus in Florida, please use the following link to participate in the official assessment survey: https://floridadisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments
Apply for Relief - Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is currently available to small business owners (2-100 employees and 1099 employees count towards that total) located in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage as a result of COVID-19. Qualified small business applicants are eligible up to $50,000 and loans of up to $100,000, may be made in special cases as warranted by the need of the eligible small business. Currently, $50 million has been allocated for the program. The application period opened March 17, 2020 and runs through May 8, 2020. To apply for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, please visit https://floridadisasterloan.org/.
Apply for Relief - U.S. SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
If you have suffered substantial economic injury and are one of the following types of businesses located in Florida (which is now declared a disaster area), you may be eligible for an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan:
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Small Business
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Small agricultural cooperative
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Most private nonprofit organizations
Substantial economic injury means the business is unable to meet its obligations and to pay its ordinary and necessary operating expenses. EIDLs provide the necessary working capital to help small businesses survive until normal operations resume after a disaster.
The SBA can provide up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Your loan amount will be based on your actual economic injury and your company's financial needs, regardless of whether the business suffered any property damage.
The interest rate on EIDLs will not exceed 4 percent per year and the term of these loans will not exceed 30 years. The repayment term will be determined by your ability to repay the loan.
EIDL assistance is available only to small businesses when SBA determines they are unable to obtain credit elsewhere and a business may qualify for both an EIDL and a physical disaster loan. The maximum combined loan amount is $2 million.
To apply for an EIDL, please visit the SBA disaster assistance loan website.Apply for Relief - U.S. Small Business Administration Physical Disaster Assistance Loans
The SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters. To apply for a SBA Disaster Assistance Loan, please visit https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
Apply for Relief - Short Time Compensation Program for Employers
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity administers a short-term compensation program which helps employers retain their workforce in times of temporary slowdown, by encouraging work sharing as an alternative to layoff.
The program permits prorated reemployment assistance benefits to employees whose work hours and earnings are reduced as part of a Short Time Compensation plan to avoid total layoff of some employees.
If you are an employer interested in this program, please visit http://www.floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-workforce-services/reemployment-assistance-programs/short-time-compensation-program-for-employers.
DBPR Renewal Reprieve - Suspension of Professional Licenses, Permits, Registrations, etc.
The Governor Ron DeSantis has issued an emergency order suspending renewal deadlines for all department-issued licenses, permits, registrations, or certificates that are set to expire in March or April 2020. Late fees will not apply to licenses renewed during this extension period. Additionally, if there are requirements that people have to complete continuing education hours to renew their professional licenses, those will also be suspended for 30 days from the existing renewal deadline.
For more information on other emergency actions and other operational announcements during this state of emergency, please visit myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/emergency.
Coronavirus Prevention Customizable Flyer for Businesses (Please open this file in the latest version of Chrome or Edge browser, or Adobe software, to customize.)
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