Okeechobee County, Florida businesses and residents were affected by Hurricane Ian on 9/23/2022 and continuing. The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering financial disaster assistance for Okeechobee County, Florida businesses that suffered physical damage or economic injury and loss to their FL business operations located in Okeechobee County.
SBA Loan Deadlines for the Okeechobee County, Florida Declared Disaster Declaration #17644 and #17645
– Physical Damage Loan Application filing deadline is 11/28/2022.
– Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Application filing deadline is 06/29/2023.
– Read the official SBA disaster declaration for Okeechobee County here.
Business Owners in Okeechobee County, for speed and personalized attention, Schedule Your Free Disaster Loan Consultation call. For a small fee, we can assist you with the SBA disaster loan application process for your business that was damaged or economically harmed by Hurricane Ian in Okeechobee County Florida.
Hurricane Ian Incident in Okeechobee County FL
On 9/23/2022 and continuing, a Hurricane Ian bad weather incident caused damage in areas of Florida. Disaster Number FL-00178 was declared on 9/29/2022 as an official disaster area through Disaster Declaration #17644 and #17645 due to Hurricane Ian.
Okeechobee County, Florida Cities and Towns Affected by Hurricane Ian
Here is a list of all the Okeechobee County, Florida cities, towns, parishes, and municipalities affected by the Hurricane Ian that occurred 9/23/2022 and continuing:
Okeechobee.
In Okeechobee County, Florida, eligible businesses and residents are able to apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), commonly known as an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The SBA offers disaster loan assistance to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters located in Okeechobee County, Florida, that were affected by the declared disaster number FL-00178.
The SBA also provides eligible Okeechobee County, Florida small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of the declared disaster in Okeechobee County, Florida.
To apply for financial assistance from the SBA for your business that was affected by Hurricane Ian in Okeechobee County, visit the official SBA Disaster Loan Assistance website.
Physical Damage to Your Okeechobee County Business Property
Okeechobee County, Florida businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow an SBA EIDL loan up to a $2 million (two million dollars) to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Applicants in Okeechobee County, Florida may be eligible for an EIDL loan increase up to 20% (twenty percent) of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a sump pump, elevation, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from potential future damage that could be caused by a similar disaster in Okeechobee County, Florida.
Economic Injury to Your Okeechobee County Business Operations in Florida
For Okeechobee County small businesses, companies, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) 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 damage to property.
Interest Rates for SBA EIDL Okeechobee County, Florida Disaster Loans
Interest rates for Okeechobee County, Florida are as low as 2.940% (two point nine four zero percent) for businesses, 1.875% (one point eight seven five percent) for nonprofit organizations, with loan amortization terms up to 30 years or 360 months. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition of their business located in Florida.
Okeechobee County SBA Loan Interest Rates For Physical Damage:
– Florida Businesses with Credit Available Elsewhere 5.880%
– Businesses in Florida without Credit Available Elsewhere 2.940%
– Florida Non-Profit Organizations with Credit Available Elsewhere 1.875%
– Non-Profit Organizations in Florida without Credit Available Elsewhere 1.875%
Okeechobee County SBA Loan Interest Rates For Economic Injury:
– Businesses and Companies in Florida 2.940%
– Small Florida Agricultural Cooperatives without Credit Available Elsewhere 2.940%
– Florida Non-Profit Organizations without Credit Available Elsewhere 1.875%
Okeechobee County Business Owners, Schedule Your Free Disaster Loan Consultation Call for Paid One-on-One Application Assistance for Your Company that was Affected by Hurricane Ian in Okeechobee County, FL.
Okeechobee County, Florida Disaster Assistance From FEMA
If your Okeechobee County, Florida business was impacted by Hurricane Ian, and is located in one of the communities approved for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), you can apply for disaster assistance.
Check to see if Okeechobee County, Florida is approved by FEMA by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 between the hours of 7am to 11pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) seven days a week.
For other possible Okeechobee County, Florida disaster assistance resources, or to apply for assistance from FEMA, visit the official FEMA website.
Okeechobee County SBA EIDL Loan Relief vs. FEMA Assistance Facts for Florida
For Okeechobee County businesses in Florida, an SBA EIDL loan holds many benefits for recovering from Hurricane Ian that caused damage to your physical property and economic injury to your business on 9/23/2022 and continuing.
Will I be referred to the SBA after I apply with FEMA?
Yes it is possible. After you apply for disaster assistance from FEMA, you may be contacted by the SBA. If you are asked to submit an application for a low-interest SBA loan, you are encouraged to do so. Applying with the SBA assures that all available disaster assistance options remain open to you.
Will the SBA application be the basis of referrals to other grant programs?
Yes. Submitting the application makes it possible for you to be considered for additional grants. If you apply for an SBA low-interest disaster loan and are not eligible, this may open the door to additional assistance from FEMA. If SBA denies the loan application, you may be eligible for additional FEMA grant assistance to replace essential household items, replace or repair a damaged vehicle, cover storage expenses, or meet other disaster-related needs your Okeechobee County, Florida home or business has suffered.
Do I have to accept an SBA loan if I am approved?
No you do not. If the SBA determines you are eligible for a loan, you do not have to accept it. However, if you do qualify for an SBA loan and you choose not to accept it, additional resources may not be available to you for disaster recovery.
Do I have to choose between a FEMA or an SBA EIDL loan?
No. Qualifying for an SBA EIDL loan does not mean you are suddenly ineligible for FEMA assistance. There are several important reasons to complete and submit an SBA application, even if you think you don’t currently need a loan for your Okeechobee County, Florida home or business. For example, you may discover that you were underinsured for the amount of work required to repair or replace your home. An SBA low-interest disaster loan may bridge the gap between your recovery costs and the settlement amount.
Are SBA EIDL loans only meant for businesses?
No. Due to the Hurricane Ian being a natural disaster, the SBA also offers loans for homeowners in Okeechobee County, Florida up to $200,000 to repair or replace your primary residence. The loans are customized to your personal financial circumstances. On a case-by-case basis, the SBA may be able to assist with the refinance of your current mortgages, in the case of a first mortgage, and / or a second mortgage.
The SBA can also help Okeechobee County, Florida renters and homeowners replace household contents, for example: clothing, furniture, appliances, and vehicles. This is referred to as personal property. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 (forty thousand dollars) to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property caused by Hurricane Ian.
Are SBA loans available for businesses and nonprofits of any size?
Yes. Due to the Hurricane Ian declared disaster, Okeechobee County, Florida businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million (two million dollars) to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory and other business assets. The SBA can also lend additional funds to businesses and homeowners to help with the cost of improvements to protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size in Okeechobee County, Florida, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic injury assistance is available to businesses regardless of any property damage.
Is there a deadline to apply for the Hurricane Ian SBA low-interest loan?
Yes. The deadline to file applications for physical damage is 11/28/2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is 06/29/2023. These deadlines may be slightly different depending on the county and state.
Population of Okeechobee County in Florida
Okeechobee County has a population of 40,266 residents (2021 Census figures), which is a change of 1.6% in population from the 2020 Census numbers. The State of Florida has a current total population of 21,781,128. This is a 1.1% change in the number of residents in FL.
The Federal Information Processing System (FIPS) Code for the State of Florida is 12000. The FIPS code for Okeechobee County, FL is 12093
Okeechobee County Official Government Website in Florida
The official website for the Okeechobee County, FL government can be found here:
https://www.co.okeechobee.fl.us
Check the Okeechobee County website for other possible disaster relief options for residents and businesses located in Okeechobee County, Florida.
Other Florida Counties Affected by the Hurricane Ian Disaster
Besides Okeechobee County, other counties that were affected by Hurricane Ian in Florida were:
Florida Primary Counties
Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Pinellas, Sarasota, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, Flagler, Putnam, Saint Johns, Volusia.
Florida Contiguous Counties
Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Pasco, Brevard, Lake, Indian River, Okeechobee, Sumter, Alachua, Bradford, Clay, Marion, Duval.
Florida Cities Located in Okeechobee County
Okeechobee.
Summary and Conclusion of the Hurricane Ian Disaster in Okeechobee County, FL
To apply for financial assistance and relief due to your Okeechobee County, Florida business being financially damaged by Hurricane Ian on 9/23/2022 and continuing, there are important SBA deadlines for when you need to submit your new application, increase request, or reconsideration request.
For the Okeechobee County, Florida Declared Disaster Declaration #17644 and #17645, the loan application filing deadline for physical damage is 11/28/2022. The economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) application filing deadline is 06/29/2023.
This is something you can possibly do yourself (DIY) by visiting the official government FEMA and SBA websites.
Okeechobee County Professional Disaster Assistance for Your Business in Florida
Was your Okeechobee County, FL business disrupted by the Hurricane Ian incident that occured on 9/23/2022 and continuing?
We can offer professional assistance to help your business file for a new SBA EIDL loan, an increase request or loan modification, or a reconsideration appeal if you were denied for an SBA EIDL loan for your business that was economically harmed by Hurricane Ian in Okeechobee County under Disaster Number FL-00178 that was declared on 9/29/2022 through Disaster Declaration #17644 and #17645.
Business Owners Located in Okeechobee County, Florida:
Schedule Your Free Disaster Loan Consultation Call For Help in Financially Recovering From the Hurricane Ian That May Have Damaged Your Business in Okeechobee County, FL.
Cover Image Credit: FEMA Photo by Lameen Witter.