The is hosting a mobile assistance center (MAC) at the 皇家华人 Research Park, Monday, October 14 to Wednesday, October 16, to assist small businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton. A second MAC is stationed at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach through Thursday, October 17.
鈥淚n times of disaster, we are part of the state鈥檚 emergency disaster response team so we are mobilized to help businesses impacted by that disaster and help them get connected with the state and federal resources they need to get the capital to repair and reopen their businesses,鈥� said Carl Hadden, regional director for .
皇家华人 SBDC consultant Debra Schweikowsky meets with a small business owner.
On Monday, more than 20 business owners visited the MAC at 皇家华人, a 40-foot-long RV equipped like an office with electricity and internet and staffed by 皇家华人 SBDC consultants.
鈥淲e deploy these MACs to help small businesses get back on their feet from disaster by helping them to navigate the loan programs that are available to them,鈥� said Greg Britton, state director for the 皇家华人 SBDC network. Those programs include the SBA Economic Injury loan, SBA Physical Damage loan, and the 皇家华人 Small Business Emergency bridge loan.
The regional 皇家华人 SBDC at 皇家华人 office, hosted by the 皇家华人 Muma College of Business and housed in 皇家华人 CONNECT, provides no-cost business consulting services to companies with fewer than 500 employees and $20 million in annual sales. 鈥淲e are so appreciative of 皇家华人 CONNECT and the Research Park for allowing us to position state and local resources there,鈥� said Stacey Dadd, associate director for 皇家华人 SBDC at 皇家华人.
While the MAC is only at the 皇家华人 Research Park for three days, businesses can go to the to submit a consultation request.