**IN CASE YOU MISSED IT** 

FOX BUSINESS: “Florida’s small businesses cannot survive a $15 minimum wage mandate”

Tallahassee, FL — FOX Business published an opinion column today by Paul Caragiulo, a Florida small business owner based in Sarasota, warning about the disastrous consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 in Florida.

“We’ve seen liberal cities across the country vote in favor of minimum wage proposals. They sound good in principle — who doesn’t want our workers to have a bigger paycheck? But they have been a disaster in practice.

“In cities where this initiative has passed, small businesses were forced to close. Unlike major corporations, small businesses could not absorb the exponential increase in operating costs.

“Others were forced to cut the number of employees, cut their hours or cut their benefits, just to make ends meet.

“That’s what will happen in Florida if the proposed constitutional amendment to raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15 per hour by 2026 passes on November 3.”

Instead of helping workers increase their paychecks, this ballot amendment will cause them to lose their paychecks altogether, Caragiulo warns.

“Our small businesses have struggled to stay alive during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some have had to close. If the amendment passes, many more small businesses will be forced to shutter their doors forever.

“It will destroy Florida’s economy.”

Caragiulo, who owns a restaurant in Sarasota, knows this firsthand.

“I am a small business owner, a restaurateur in Sarasota on Florida’s southwest coast. Our industry statewide has been one of the most severely impacted.

“Many operations were forced to close across the Sunshine State, and more than 934,000 people were furloughed or laid off as a result.

“Ballot Amendment 2 would raise Florida’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. That’s a 77% increase in payroll for businesses in the service industry.

“This drastic increase will force our industry to cut jobs, cut hours and cut benefits.

“The very workers this misleading amendment is intended to help would be left without jobs and without the means to pay their bills and provide for their families. It will be a lethal blow to our struggling businesses.”

Those restaurants that are able to remain open will turn to other cost-savings, including replacing workers with technology and raising prices, Caragiulo says.

“And what will Florida’s hospitality industry look like with a $15 minimum wage? Just like we’ve seen in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Seattle, the smiling faces that traditionally greet customers in establishments all across the Sunshine State will be replaced by iPads and kiosks to take your order.

“Yes, technology will replace yet another segment of human interaction. What sort of hospitality is that?

“Not only will technology replace the friendly faces we’re known for, but prices for goods and services across Florida will increase. That’s the only way business owners can cover the exponentially increasing costs of labor to make ends meet.”

In other cities across the country, exponentially raising minimum wage has negatively impacted small businesses and their employees.

“We’ve already seen this liberal scheme fail in the elitist Northeast and radical West. When the mandatory minimum wage was jacked up to $15 or more, the charming businesses that defined those regions closed their doors and laid-off workers. Their communities and local economies are skeletons of their former selves.

“Why would we apply those failed liberal policies here in Florida?

“As many as one thousand people a day are fleeing the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut region and they are moving to Florida.

“We welcome you, but please don’t bring those failed policies with you. Workers and small business owners from the Panhandle to the Keys are fighting to save their jobs. Please don’t make it harder for them.

“The election is just days away. The consequences will last a lifetime. Help us save jobs. Help us save businesses.

“Floridians, please vote NO on Ballot Amendment 2.”

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:

• Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

###

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis, took to social media today to urge Floridians to reject Ballot Amendment 2, which will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, killing small businesses already devastated by COVID-19 and putting the jobs of hundreds of thousands of Floridians at risk.

“During these difficult times, we must protect small businesses,” his post said. “Ballot Amendment 2 would lead to thousands of Floridians losing their jobs, hours being cut, and an increase of the cost of living for seniors on a fixed income. Vote NO on 2.”

His post may be viewed here.

Ballot Amendment 2 will force businesses to slash hours, cut benefits, and eliminate jobs. We have seen this fail in other cities and at large retail brands across the nation.

Thank you CFO Patronis for advocating to SAVE FLORIDA JOBS.

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:

• Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Recently, several Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association members were recognized in the Florida 500 by Florida Trend in the Hospitality/Tourism sector. Here is the list of recognized members:

JIM ALLEN – Hard Rock International

MICHAEL BROWN – Wyndham

BLAKE CASPER

ALLISON CASPER

CAROL DOVER – FRLA

MARYANN FERENC – Mise En Place Hospitality

DON FOX – Firehouse

RANDY HASSEN – McKibbon Hositality

GENE LEE – Darden

KIM LOPDRUP – Red Lobster

JULIAN MACQUEEN – Innisfree Hotels

RICHARD MILLARD – Trust Hospitality

ALICE NORSWORTHY – Universal Parks

MARCELLUS OSCEOLA JR. – Seminole Casino

GENE PRESCOTT – Seaway Hotels

MARY ROGERS – Fontainebleau

STEPHEN SAWITZ – Joe’s Stone Crab

DANIEL SCHWARTZ – Restaurant Brands International

JEFF VAHLE – Disney

MICHAEL WALSH – Ocean Property Hotels

STEVE WEISZ – Marriott Vacations

The Florida 500 is a special publication that highlights the 500 most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. This immense, year-long research initiative by the editors of Florida Trend has resulted in a personal look at some of the state’s most influential business leaders.

You can find the full list of influencers here.

**IN CASE YOU MISSED IT** 

SUN-SENTINEL: PROTECT FLORIDA BUSINESSES; VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 2 | OPINION

Tallahassee, FL — The South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an opinion column today by Carol Dover, the president and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. The piece warns about the catastrophic effects of Ballot Amendment 2, which would destroy Florida’s economy and workforce with a forced wage hike mandate.

“There’s a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Florida this November that — if passed — would be catastrophic to Florida’s economy. Amendment 2 would kill jobs, force more small businesses to close and destroy our state. With all we’ve suffered this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford Amendment 2.

“Amendment 2 would raise Florida’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. That’s a 75% increase in payroll for businesses in the service industry. This drastic increase will force our industry to cut jobs, cut hours and cut benefits. The very workers this misleading amendment is intended to help would be left without jobs and without the means to pay their bills and provide for their families.”

Dover speaking on behalf of businesses across the state of Florida, underscored the loss of jobs this year. If passed, Ballot Amendment 2 will be the final blow for many small businesses.

“At the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, we are proud to represent more than 10,000 members of the hospitality and tourism industry. This industry generates more than $112 billion in annual economic impact. We also support more than 1.5 million jobs for Florida’s families here in the Sunshine State.

“But during COVID-19, this iconic Florida industry has suffered greatly. Many businesses were forced to close, and more than 934,000 people were furloughed or laid off as a result. Our state unemployment rate is again in the double digits.

“Amendment 2 would be a lethal blow to our struggling businesses.”

Dover explains a similar minimum wage mandate has been tested and has failed in other cities across the nation. Many businesses were left turning to automation and technology with the forced wage hike, laying off their staff or shutting their doors due to overwhelming labor cost increases.

“And what will Florida’s hospitality industry look like with a $15 minimum wage? Just like we’ve seen in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Seattle, the smiling faces that traditionally greet customers in establishments all across the Sunshine State will be replaced by iPads and kiosks to take your order. What kind of hospitality is that?

“Not only will technology replace the friendly faces we’re known for, but prices for goods and services across Florida will increase. That’s the only way business owners can cover the exponentially increasing costs of labor to make ends meet. In this current economic downturn, we literally cannot afford Amendment 2.

“We’ve already seen this scheme fail in other parts of the country. When the mandatory minimum wage was jacked up to $15 or more, the charming businesses that defined those regions closed their doors and laid off workers. Their communities and local economies are skeletons of their former selves. Why would we apply those failed policies here in Florida?”

Dover urges voters to vote NO on Ballot Amendment 2 to help workers maintain their livelihood and opportunities for the future.

“Businesses across Florida are fighting Amendment 2. Workers from the Panhandle to the Keys are fighting to save their jobs. But time is running out.

“…The consequences will last a lifetime. Help us save jobs. Help us save businesses. Floridians, vote no on Amendment 2.”

To read the full column, click here.

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:

• Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

###

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

**PRESS RELEASE** 

TAMPA BAY RESTAURANT WORKERS HOST RALLIES TO EDUCATE FLORIDIANS TO VOTE NO ON BALLOT AMENDMENT 2

Tallahassee, FL — Tipped employees in Tampa Bay held multiple rallies to educate voters about the negative impacts of Ballot Amendment 2 last weekend.

Ballot Amendment 2, a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot this General Election, mandates a $15 an hour minimum wage. This will force many small businesses across Florida to cut workers’ hours, lay off employees or close completely.

On Saturday, the employees gathered throughout the Tampa Bay area in Largo, Bradenton and Sarasota to inform voters about the devastating impact it will have on their income and jobs if passed.

Misty Johnson, a server for over 15 years, turned out Saturday to help rally against Ballot Amendment 2. In a recent article, Johnson stated if the minimum wage is raised, she will lose money.

“[Ballot Amendment 2] will be taking away jobs from people that are tipped in gratuity,” says Johnson. “To the point that it would take our jobs away completely. I wouldn’t be able to take care of my family the way that I am.”

Coupled with the long-term effects of COVID-19 on Florida’s economy, Ballot Amendment 2 will have catastrophic impacts on small businesses, which are the backbone of our state’s economy.

Greg Guevara, manager of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside, notes that the wage hike won’t just affect restaurants, “It’s restaurants. It’s grocery stores, their prices are going to have to go up. All across the board, prices are going to have to go up because people can’t afford to pay $15 an hour.”

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:

• Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

###

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

In the 2020 David v. Goliath, Small Business Defeated Millionaire Trial Lawyer

Tallahassee, FL — It was the David v. Goliath of 2020 when JT Corrales of Crabby Bill’s in Indian Rocks Beach went up against millionaire trial lawyer John Morgan in a debate about Ballot Amendment 2, the proposed $15 minimum wage.

And just like the original David in the Bible, JT Corrales won decisively, effectively outlining the devastating consequences Ballot Amendment 2 will have on the Sunshine State.

If Ballot Amendment 2 passes, businesses will close, jobs will be lost and workers will lose income. The debate, hosted by the Florida Tiger Bay Clubs Election Series 2020, and moderated by Yvonne Frye, President of the Tampa Bay Tiger Bay Club, was streamed online at noon Friday to Tiger Bay Club members across the state and through Tiger Bay Clubs’ social media channels. Corrales represented Amendment 2 Hurts You, a coalition of businesses and workers fighting to save jobs. Morgan advocated for his self-funded political action committee. During the debate, Morgan referred to small businesses as thieves claiming that “number one in theft is from restaurant owners.”

Morgan also labeled the COVID-19 global health pandemic a “boogeyman.” At the time of the debate, more than 770,000 Floridians have tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 16,000 have died.

Corrales underscored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses: “…Prior to the pandemic, we had 500 members of our team amongst our seven brands in our area. When we got shut down in March and April, in those two very critical months for tourism here in the state, that number essentially went down to zero. …We’ve been able to kind of get back to what we were. I can tell you we are at about 65% of what we were doing before the pandemic… A constitutional amendment is not the way. This [Ballot Amendment 2] will kill jobs, this will raise the cost of living, this will just overall change the way of life for the residents that call the Sunshine State home…It is 100% the wrong time.”

The debate covered a series of topics related to the proposed $15 minimum wage. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Corrales vs. Morgan on the issues.

Click here to watch the full debate.

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:  Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com

• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

###

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

By Carol Dover

Special to the Sun Sentinel

There’s a constitutional amendment on the ballot in Florida this November that — if passed — would be catastrophic to Florida’s economy. Amendment 2 would kill jobs, force more small businesses to close and destroy our state. With all we’ve suffered this year during the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot afford Amendment 2.

Amendment 2 would raise Florida’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. That’s a 75% increase in payroll for businesses in the service industry. This drastic increase will force our industry to cut jobs, cut hours and cut benefits. The very workers this misleading amendment is intended to help would be left without jobs and without the means to pay their bills and provide for their families.

At the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, we are proud to represent more than 10,000 members of the hospitality and tourism industry. This industry generates more than $112 billion in annual economic impact. We also support more than 1.5 million jobs for Florida’s families here in the Sunshine State.

But during COVID-19, this iconic Florida industry has suffered greatly. Many businesses were forced to close, and more than 934,000 people were furloughed or laid off as a result. Our state unemployment rate is again in the double digits.

Amendment 2 would be a lethal blow to our struggling businesses.

And what will Florida’s hospitality industry look like with a $15 minimum wage? Just like we’ve seen in New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Seattle, the smiling faces that traditionally greet customers in establishments all across the Sunshine State will be replaced by iPads and kiosks to take your order. What kind of hospitality is that?

Not only will technology replace the friendly faces we’re known for, but prices for goods and services across Florida will increase. That’s the only way business owners can cover the exponentially increasing costs of labor to make ends meet. In this current economic downturn, we literally cannot afford Amendment 2.

We’ve already seen this scheme fail in other parts of the country. When the mandatory minimum wage was jacked up to $15 or more, the charming businesses that defined those regions closed their doors and laid off workers. Their communities and local economies are skeletons of their former selves. Why would we apply those failed policies here in Florida?

Businesses across Florida are fighting Amendment 2. Workers from the Panhandle to the Keys are fighting to save their jobs. But time is running out.

The election is just weeks away. The consequences will last a lifetime. Help us save jobs. Help us save businesses. Floridians, vote no on Amendment 2.

Carol Dover is the President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

**IN CASE YOU MISSED IT** 

FLORIDA TODAY: AMENDMENT 2 WOULD HURT THE PEOPLE IT’S SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH $15 MINIMUM WAGE | OPINION

Tallahassee, FL — Florida Today published an opinion column by Christopher Muro, an assistant political science professor at Eastern Florida State College, in opposition to Ballot Amendment 2. The article warns that the mandatory minimum wage hike would cause great economic harm, increase unemployment, advance automation and impose higher prices across Florida’s hospitality industry.

“Minimum wage increases are typically approved with more than 60% of the vote, whether they are on the ballot in Arkansas, Oregon, Missouri, or California. Approval makes voters feel good about themselves, believing all they must do to solve hunger and homelessness is fill in a bubble on a scantron voting sheet. If only life were that simple.

“On the contrary, approval of Amendment 2 will only serve to hurt the very people its advocates claim to be helping. Affirmation of the minimum wage increase will lead to higher unemployment, automation, and higher prices for consumers. Floridians need to set a trend by rejecting these outdated economic policies and continue moving Florida’s economy into the 21st century.”

Maro disputes the myth of a constitutionally mandated minimum wage hike, providing the harsh reality for hospitality workers, especially those who earn tips.

“A common myth associated with this issue is the notion that there are millions of Americans struggling to feed their families but are trapped in poverty due to the low minimum wage. The problem with this argument is that, according to the most current data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 2.1% of the workforce earns minimum wage. That is correct, 97.9% of hourly wage earners in the United States earn a wage higher than the minimum wage. By way of comparison, in 1980 just over 15% of hourly paid workers earned minimum wage. Also consider that the single largest employer of minimum-wage workers, according to the Pew Research Center, is the restaurant and food service industry as servers and bussers who are tipped and truly make much more than the minimum wage.

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most actual minimum wage earners are under 25 years of age, never married, work fewer than 35 hours per week, and have not earned a high school diploma. There were no statistically significant variations regarding minimum wage and race; White, Black, and Hispanic workers earned the minimum wage at the same percentage of the workforce. Thus, the typical minimum wage earner is young, not the head of a household, and is working in an entry level position that does not require a high level of training or education. These statistics should not be surprising and are, in fact, rather intuitive.”

Maro explains the economic effects of government intervention on wages that will force private businesses to offset increased labor costs.

“The deleterious economic effects of a minimum wage increase will be even more pronounced in Florida as there is a sizable segment of our economy that is retail and service based. Approving Amendment 2 is nothing more than a voter imposed unfunded mandate on private businesses. Business owners are then forced to offset increased labor costs in the form of higher prices for consumers, a reduction in hiring or embracing automation.

“The minimum wage increase is outdated and is just bad public policy. Hopefully, the voters of Florida will let Karl Marx, John Maynard Keynes, and the minimum wage rest in peace by voting no on Amendment 2.”

To read the full column, click here.

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:

• Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn
• On Instagram

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

###

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

**IN CASE YOU MISSED IT** 

THE NEWS-PRESS: GUEST OPINION: RAISING MINIMUM WAGE WOULD HURT FLORIDA FAMILIES, NOT HELP THEM

Tallahassee, FL — The Fort Myers News-Press published an opinion column this week by Skylar Zander, state director of Americans for Prosperity-Florida, informing voters to be wary of Ballot Amendment 2, as it is a weak scheme that promises a quick fix for Florida’s economy from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While families, workers, and small businesses across the Sunshine State struggle to make ends meet, policymakers are searching for solutions that will help ease the burden.

“But we ought to be wary of any solution that promises a quick fix.

“On Election Day, Floridians will consider one such “solution” — Amendment 2, which would incrementally raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour.”

Zander explains that Ballot Amendment 2 means severe consequences for workers, managers, owners and, most especially, small businesses.

“In the wake of the COVID-19 shutdowns, small businesses are already struggling to stay afloat.

“To be sure, increasing the government-mandated minimum wage is bad for workers in any circumstances. But doing it now, at a time when money is already tight and employers have already had to cut hours or close their doors, would be doubly disastrous.”

Zander references real-life case studies seen across the country and the data proving the detrimental effects of a wage hike.

“One local Seattle burger joint, called Dick’s Drive-In, had to raise prices because of labor costs for the first time in its history.

“Bigger businesses have also been affected.

“Target raised its minimum to $15 per hour in 2017, then had to cut employees’ hours.

“As one Target employee named Heather told CNN, “I got that dollar raise but I’m getting $200 less in my paycheck.”

“A Competitive Enterprise Institute study found that wage hikes come with trade-offs, which include reduced non-wage compensation, fewer job openings, reduced hours, increased automation, higher insurance co-pays, less vacation and personal time, and reduced employee discounts.”

Another concern discussed is the danger of implementing a constitutional amendment that will mandate the same minimum wage in both rural and metropolitan areas of Florida, regardless of the varied cost of living in that region.

“Another challenge for statewide increases is that most states — especially one as large and diverse as Florida — have widely varying economies for which one-size-fits-all wage mandates make no sense.

“Families and small businesses in Miami experience different costs of living than those in Marianna. Palm Coast and Port Charlotte are not the same.

“We are already seeing this happen in New York, where a similar measure to incrementally raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour has affected the Utica-Rome region much differently than New York City, where the cost of living is 30.2 percent higher.”

Zander believes that wages should be determined by the economies of scale, not by a government-mandated raise that would ultimately put hundreds of thousands out of a job.

“The best way to help workers is to grow the economy so businesses succeed, productivity increases, and employees are rewarded for those gains. Giving a few workers a raise while forcing others to work fewer hours or lose their jobs entirely is no way to achieve that.

“According to a Florida State University study, it is predicted that Amendment 2 will cost Florida at least 158,00 jobs.”

Zander explains the argument for lifting people out of poverty, though well-intentioned, is not sustainable and will ultimately fail.

“”In 1987, The New York Times editorial board wrote: “The idea of using a minimum wage to overcome poverty is old, honorable — and fundamentally flawed.”

“These words are no less true today than they were 30-plus years ago. Many things have changed since 1987, but the fundamental laws of economics have not been repealed.

“To protect Florida workers, families, and small businesses, we encourage Floridians to vote no against Amendment 2 in November.”

To read the full column, click here.

Amendment 2 Hurts You is a campaign to raise awareness for the consequences of Ballot Amendment 2 on small businesses, workers and the economy.

Learn more about how Ballot Amendment 2 will devastate Florida:

• Online at Amendment2HurtsYou.com
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On LinkedIn

Help save Florida jobs by voting no on Ballot Amendment 2 this November.

###

Paid Political Advertisement by Save Florida Jobs Inc.
230 South Adams St., Ste 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Disaster Field Operations Center East
Oct. 20, 2020

Contact: Michael Lampton (404) 331-0333 Michael.Lampton@sba.gov

ATLANTA – Disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration are an affordable way for businesses, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters to obtain funds to pay for their uninsured disaster-related losses, including their insurance deductible. The SBA has approved more than $11 million in disaster loans for businesses and residents with losses resulting from Hurricane Sally in Florida on Sept. 14, 2020 to Sept. 28, 2020.

“Currently, 271 disaster loans have been approved in the amount of $11,331,700 for affected survivors. The SBA encourages anyone who has not applied to act now. Our mission is to help businesses and residents rebuild and resume their normal lives as quickly as possible,” said Michael Lampton, acting director of SBA’s Field Operations Center East in Atlanta.

The disaster declaration covers Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties in Florida, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private non-profit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington in Florida; and Baldwin, Covington, Escambia and Geneva in Alabama.

The SBA is operating two Business Recovery Centers where business owners can receive one-on-one assistance submitting their disaster loan applications. In accordance with precautions for COVID-19, the SBA established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. Visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask. The Centers are located as indicated below and will operate until further notice.

Okaloosa County Business Recovery Center
Bridgeway Center Building C 205 Shell Ave. Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Hours: Sunday-Saturday (7 days a week)
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (CST)

Escambia County Business Recovery Center
East Pensacola Heights Clubhouse 3208 East Gonzalez St. Pensacola, FL 32503
Hours: Sunday-Saturday (7 days a week)
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (CST)

Businesses and private non-profit 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. Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase 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, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future damage caused by a similar disaster.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private non-profit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans 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 3 percent for businesses, 2.75 percent for nonprofit organizations and 1.188 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.

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.

Survivors can apply for an SBA disaster loan at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov and can contact the SBA’s Disaster Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 for assistance in completing their loan application. Requests for SBA disaster loan program information may be obtained by emailing FOCE-Help@sba.gov. The SBA will conduct extensive outreach to ensure that those affected by the disaster have an opportunity to apply for assistance.

Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing), or by emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at www.sba.gov. 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 Dec. 1, 2020. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 2, 2021.

###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. 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.