Business resources to help owners in Ian recovery mode

Finding resources should be the last thing businesses in the area have to think about.

By Amanda Postma
| 6:00 a.m. October 21, 2022
| 2 Free Articles Remaining!

Some of the damage seen after Hurricane Ian. (Photo by Reagan Rule).

Education

As businesses in the area are grappling with damage and reopening efforts, the Sarasota Economic Development Corp. has been doing what it can to help ease the burden. Even something as simple as listening has been a powerful resource.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and the State Emergency Response Team created a business damage assessment survey after Hurricane Ian left many businesses closed and in the dark. The Sarasota County EDC has been collecting the data for the county and, in partnership with the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, has been reaching out to businesses that need it.

Resources for recovering businesses

Resources for Ian recovery include:

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the State Emergency Response Team (SERT) created the Business Damage Assessment Survey to help expedite and assess damage.
Enterprise Florida has compiled a comprehensive emergency management plan with a list of disaster assistance programs.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief is available for people under-insured or uninsured.
Small Business Administration can provide assistance with the business physical disaster loan and economic injury disaster loan.
For individuals and businesses that lost employment caused by the storm, there is an application for disaster unemployment assistance.
Small businesses can collect up to $50,000 through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program.
Florida SBDC disaster recovery specialists are providing free consultation services.
SWFL Inc. compiled a list of resources for rebuilding businesses after Hurricane Ian that is updated regularly.
Disaster recovery centers are located at the Fort Myers Department Management Services Building and Shannon Staub Library in North Port, to provide onsite resources for businesses and individuals including access to taking the damage assessment survey and unemployment help.

The primary issue they've run into so far is businesses without internet access or cell availability. In response, the EDC created a “helpline” to help file data on businesses’ behalf and arranged a partnership so business owners can use computers at the SunCoast Technical College to fill out the survey there. Every business that responds to the survey has the option of receiving a personal phone call to understand their needs and situation better.

As of Oct. 7, 148 businesses had filled out the survey. So far, the team had assessed over $5.5 million in estimated damage for Sarasota County businesses alone. “I think that’s just scratching the surface,” EDC VP of business development services Erin Silk says. The EDC and Chamber have stayed on top of those survey responses, as all but 39 businesses, which did not request a call, had received a personal call.

The needs they’re seeing are vast. A daycare needed a fence repair to reopen. Some businesses needed help with marketing to let people know they were open.

“I had a company I’ve known for a long time that was trying to get into the SBA website and just having a tough time with the password,” Silk says. “You just really felt for them. After everything they’ve gone through to just not be able to get in to their login. I heard it in his voice.”

“It” being all of the emotions one feels after going through a natural disaster and having to rebuild.

“What we’re finding is that people really want to share their story. They want to tell us what’s happened to them,” Krouse says. “It’s really hard to be on the other end, to listen to the stories. The stories have been tough to hear.”

“We’ve heard the storm through so many different eyes.”