The Small Business Administration expanded its Hillsborough County Business Recovery Center into a Business Recovery and Assessment Center, partnering with SCORE and the Small Business Development Center to support businesses affected by Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The October 31 announcement describes a model that combines disaster-loan help with mentoring, coaching and funding strategies, rather than limiting the center to application assistance. [story-s1]

The Tampa center, at the Entrepreneurs Collaborative Center, was scheduled to operate weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. SBA representatives could help owners complete loan applications, submit documents and check application status; walk-ins were accepted, with appointments also available. The release separately listed existing recovery centers in Pinellas and Manatee counties, with different locations and hours. [story-s1]

The announcement arrived after a funding constraint had already changed the practical meaning of loan assistance. It states that the Disaster Loan Program’s funds were fully expended as of October 15, 2024, and that no new loans could be issued until Congress appropriated additional money. SBA said it would keep accepting and processing applications so applicants could be ready if funding returned. Thus, the new center could offer immediate guidance and application processing, but the release did not promise immediate loan disbursement. [story-s1]

The SBA described business property loans of up to $2 million and economic-injury loans for eligible small businesses and other specified organizations. It said EIDL eligibility did not depend on physical property damage. The listed application-return deadlines were December 10, 2024 for physical damage and July 11, 2025 for economic injury. For operators, the announcement’s central operational message was two-part: seek local help promptly, but distinguish an accepted application from an available loan. [story-s1]

Source documents

  1. New SBA Business Recovery Center Launches with SCORE and SBDChttps://legacy.sba.gov/article/2024/10/31/new-sba-business-recovery-center-launches-score-sbdc