Manatee County Government and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) have announced that a SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center will open to assist businesses that have been affected by red tide. The center will open at the Manatee County Island Branch Library this Friday. SBA representatives will be on hand to provide information about disaster loans, answer questions and assist businesses in completing the SBA application. The County’s Economic Development team and local economic development and Chamber of Commerce partners will also be on hand to provide information and resources to assist and to help businesses document financial losses at Floridadisaster.biz. The temporary SBA Center at the Island Branch Library will operate until further notice. No appointments are necessary. The library is located at 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. On its first day of operation, the center will open at 11am, but other weekday hours in the future will be Monday - Friday, 9am to 6pm. The center will also be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To receive additional disaster assistance information, visit SBA’s website below.

U.S. Small Business Administration