Governor DeSantis announces loan program for small businesses affected by coronavirus

TALLAHASSEE, Florida. – Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that Florida will provide $50 million in loan programs to small businesses affected by the novel coronavirus.

He also ordered the State Department of Revenue to extend deadlines for paying business taxes.

The interest-free loan program is designed to help companies stay in business in the short term.

Small businesses with 2 to 100 employees can apply for loans of up to $50,000.

Speaking at the state emergency operations center in Tallahassee, DeSantis said the goal is for businesses to be able to get back to normal as soon as possible once things return to normal.

“If you’re in some of these industries that are really affected, you have a cash flow problem, especially if you have tight margins,” he said. “So that’s a way to keep people afloat.”

The application period for the bridging loan program opens on Tuesday and closes on May 8.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will administer the program in partnership with the Florida SBDC Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation.

To be eligible, a company must have been created before March 9 of this year and demonstrate the economic impacts resulting from COVID-19.

For more information about the program, visit www.floridadisasterloan.org. For questions about the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at 866-737-7232 or email [email protected]. The phone line will be answered during normal business hours; all voicemails and emails will be answered within 24 hours.

If you feel sick:

The Florida Department of Health has opened a COVID-19 call center at 1-866-779-6121. Officers will answer questions around the clock. Questions can also be emailed to [email protected]. Email responses will be sent during call center hours.

LINK: Florida COVID-19 website

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