COVID-19 Business Information

Health and government officials are working together to maintain the safety, security, and health of the American people. Small businesses are encouraged to do their part to keep their employees, customers, and themselves healthy.

Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loans

• The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) will administer the loans in partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network and Florida First Capital Finance Corp. The loans are interest-free for up to one year and designed to bridge the gap in either federal U.S. Small Business Administration loans or commercially available loans.
  • For inquiries, please contact the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity toll-free at (833) 832-4494 or by email at FloridaBusinessLoanFund@deo.myflorida.com. 
• The Florida Business Loan Fund provides financing to assist businesses with resiliency efforts.  The funds will address the current gap in available, affordable capital for businesses that can be used for inventory purchases, construction, working capital, equipment financing and more.

Businesses with questions about the program can email disaster@FloridaSBDC.org or call (866) 737-7232.

Black Business Loan Program

The Black Business Loan Program (BBLP) offers alternative lending solutions to Florida-based black owned small businesses by providing short-term loans and technical assistance.  Visit FAMU Federal Credit Union or the Miami Bayside Foundation for loan program information.

Restaurants

Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-192, authorizing The Department of Business and Professional Regulation to ensure all restaurants implement employee screening protocols pursuant to guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As restaurants and bars resume operations in some areas of the United States, CDC offers considerations for ways in which operators can protect employees, customers, and communities and slow the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants and bars can determine, in collaboration with state and local health officials, whether and how to implement these considerations, making adjustments to meet the needs and circumstances of the local community. Implementation should be guided by what is feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to the needs of each community. These considerations are meant to supplement - not replace - any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which businesses must comply.  Some guiding principles include:

• Stagger and limit seating to ensure seated parties are separated by a distance of at least six feet.
• Encourage restaurants to continue and expand take-out and delivery services.
• Screen all employees and prohibit entry for employees that answer "yes" to any of the following questions:
  • Have you traveled out of state recently?
  • Have you experienced signs or symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, repeated shaking with chills, sore throat, headache, or new loss of taste or smell?

   

A full list of CDC guidelines can be found on their website.

Bars and Nightclubs

The Executive Order 2020-10 rescinded the provision closing all bars and other alcoholic beverage vendors until further notice. As a result of the recession, beginning September 14, 2020, those establishments may resume sales and service of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises.