SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in Broward County to Assist Floridians Applying for a Disaster Loan
Release Date: May 5, 2023
Contact: Michael Lampton (404) 331-0333
Michael.Lampton@sba.gov
Release Number: 23-407, FL 17901/17902
SBA Opens Business Recovery Center in Broward County to Assist Floridians Applying for a Disaster Loan
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will open a Business
Recovery Center (BRC) in Broward County at 11 a.m. Monday, May 8, at the Urban League of Broward
County in Fort Lauderdale. At the BRC, SBA’s Customer Service Representatives will assist Floridians
applying for SBA disaster loans for losses due to severe storms, tornadoes and flooding that occurred
on April 12-14.
“Our Business Recovery Centers are one of the most powerful resources at SBA’s disposal to support
business owners in the midst of a disaster,” said Francisco Sanchez, Jr., Associate Administrator, Office
of Disaster Recovery and Resilience. “Business owners can meet in-person with our specialists to apply
for SBA disaster loans and get information on the full breadth of our programs designed to help them
navigate their recovery.”
The disaster declaration covers Broward County, which is eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury
Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the
following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs):
Collier, Hendry, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach in Florida. Disaster survivors with insurance should not
wait for their settlement before applying to the SBA. The SBA can make a loan for the total loss and use
insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
“We are excited to work with SBA on providing much needed resources to small businesses,” said
Courtnee Biscardi, Executive Vice President, Urban League of Broward County. “The Urban League
provides an Entrepreneurship Center which offers access to training, business coaching and counseling
and a myriad of services for small businesses. Also, through its CDFI, Central County CDC League assists
businesses by providing additional capital and support for other business needs.” Any business owner
or resident in any of the declared counties can get help at the BRC location provided by the Urban
League. It will operate as indicated below until further notice:
Business Recovery Center (Broward County)
Urban League of Broward County
Central County Community Development
560 NW 27th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311
Opening: Monday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health
and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or
replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other
business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and
most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help
meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is
available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or
destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace
disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4 percent for businesses, 2.375 percent for nonprofit organizations, and
2.375 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set
by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants
may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as verified by
the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm
shelter, sump pump, elevation, retaining walls, and landscaping to help protect property and
occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.
“The opportunity to include measures to help prevent future damage from occurring is a significant
benefit of SBA’s disaster loan program,” said SBA Associate Administrator Francisco Sanchez, Jr. “I
encourage everyone to consult their contractors and emergency management mitigation specialists for
ideas and apply for an SBA disaster loan increase for funding.”
Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at
https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17901.
To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at
DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable,
applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video
Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer
Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial
7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to
DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster.
Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and
Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is June 26, 2023. The deadline
to return economic injury applications is Jan. 29, 2024.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
Recently, U.S. SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced a policy change granting 12 months
of no payments and 0 percent interest. This pertains to all disaster loans approved in response to disasters
declared on or after Sept. 21, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. This policy change will benefit disaster survivors
and help them to decrease the overall cost of recovery by reducing the amount of accrued interest they
must repay. Details are available through the SBA Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-
2955. Individuals with verbal or hearing impairments may dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay
services from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday to Friday, or email: DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the
only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the
SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to
start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an
extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn
more, visit www.sba.gov.