The is hosting a mobile assistance center (MAC) at the USF 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 .
51在线 SBDC consultant Debra Schweikowsky meets with a small business owner.
On Monday, more than 20 business owners visited the MAC at USF, a 40-foot-long RV equipped like an office with electricity and internet and staffed by 51在线 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 51在线 SBDC network. Those programs include the SBA Economic Injury loan, SBA Physical Damage loan, and the 51在线 Small Business Emergency bridge loan.
The regional 51在线 SBDC at USF office, hosted by the USF Muma College of Business and housed in USF 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 USF CONNECT and the Research Park for allowing us to position state and local resources there,鈥� said Stacey Dadd, associate director for 51在线 SBDC at USF.
While the MAC is only at the USF Research Park for three days, businesses can go to the to submit a consultation request.