Deadline today for post-Michael employment, business loan programs

Monday marks the deadline for residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Michael to apply for two significant assistance programs.

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program, which is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, helps those who lost jobs as a direct result of a disaster.

Residents in 12 Florida counties — Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla and Washington — may apply for the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program.

The Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity in conjunction with the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, provides temporary assistance to small business owners impacted by the storm

Businesses in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties may apply for the bridge-loan program.

The bridge loans were made available to businesses before federal assistance became available. To be eligible, businesses must have been open before Oct. 7 this year, and they must have less than 100 employees.

Gov. Rick Scott activated the bridge loan program on Oct. 12.

“We will do everything we can to help our small businesses — that truly are the heart of the Panhandle,” Scott said then.

“The small business bridge loan program will help small business owners and communities get back up and running, and I encourage all affected business owners to apply today.”

Department of Economic Opportunity officials said the temporary loans would help the region recover more quickly from the historic storm.

“We know the first step to getting communities back on their feet is getting our business back on their feet,” DEO Executive Director Cissy Proctor said. “Hurricane Michael has brought devastation to the Florida Panhandle, and DEO is working with these businesses to make sure they can recover and be successful.”

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This article includes information from the News Service of Florida.