On Monday June 7, 2010, Florida Governor Charlie Crist activated a $5 million dollar Bridge Loan Program to provide emergency, short-term loans to businesses in counties adversely affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. Eligible counties include Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough,
Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.
The program provides emergency cash to businesses who have suffered economic damage and provide a short-term solution while they await recovery, payment of claims or long-term recovery loans. Crist noted that, although BP may be the responsible party, this emergency fund could relieve the desperate situation of some of Florida's businesses and families.
Loans of up to $25,000 will be available to owners of small businesses [fewer than 100 employees] who have been operational for one full year prior to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on April 20, 2010. Applications will be available Monday, June 14, 2010 by contacting the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development at (850) 487-2568, (850)681-3601 or online at http://www.ffcfc.com
The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is funded through a budget amendment under the Governor's emergency declaration and was first activated in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew to provide emergency relief to Florida businesses.
The Bridge Loan program is in addition to a Federal loan program approved by the U.S. Commerce Secretary on May 14, 2010. More information on the federal program is available at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance
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