Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $4.5 million in emergency bridge loans have been approved to 65 Panhandle small businesses impacted by Hurricane Isaias.
He made the announcement while speaking at a press conference in Destin this week.
The loans, administered by FloridaCommerce, aim to provide short-term, no-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage to the storm. Specifically, FloridaCommerce activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey to assess impact from the hurricane resulting in 238 surveys.
As a result, FloridaCommerce, alongside the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Florida Small Business Development Network, sent eight strike teams to conduct business-to-business canvassing to 737 business owners in Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties following the storm from the surveys initiating the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) program.
As the Panhandle recovers from Hurricane Isaias, we are helping businesses reopen safely and getting Floridians back to work. Thanks to the efforts of first responders, emergency management personnel, and state agency teams, many businesses in the region have already been able to… pic.twitter.com/nZcYw30TnE
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 19, 2026
Applicants for EBL can apply through Nov. 25 or until funds are exhausted by going here.
Isaias landed as a Category 2 Hurricane near Destin on the Panhandle last Friday evening. The announcement follows Gov. DeSantis' declaration for federal relief from the storm earlier this month, which is pending approval.
