FloridaCommerce Announces More Than $60 Million Available through Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program to Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  — Today, FloridaCommerce announced the availability of $60 million to support local governments recovering from Hurricane Helene through the local government emergency bridge loan program. In the 2024 Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature passed SB 1420, which was then signed into law by Governor DeSantis, extending the repayment term to 10 years. This thoughtful change by the Legislature and Governor allows additional flexibility, especially for rural communities impacted by a disaster as they work to recover. To be eligible for this program, a county must have been deemed eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance. As a result of Hurricane Helene and the Federal Disaster Declaration issued earlier this week, county governments and municipalities in the following counties are eligible for this program:Charlotte, Citrus,  Columbia, Dixie, Franklin, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla.

“We’re grateful for Governor DeSantis’ leadership and the Legislature’s support in making these funds available to provide the most impacted counties and cities, especially smaller and rural communities, with additional resources that can be used for both maintaining day to day operations and additional operating needs like debris removal, cleanup and temporary staffing,” said FloridaCommerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly. “A disaster can potentially put a toll on expected revenues for some impacted communities, and these resources ensure that counties and cities can maintain or even expand services as necessary to support their constituents through the recovery.”

This funding is intended to assist rural and smaller local governments with costs associated with continuing, expanding, or modifying local governmental operations to meet disaster-related needs, and includes costs such as, but not limited to, staff salaries, expected revenue loss and payroll. Pursuant to Florida Statutes, “A local government may use loan funds only to continue local governmental operations or to expand or modify such operations to meet disaster-related needs.”

Loans made under this program are zero-interest, using State of Florida funds. For more information about the Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org/LocalGovernmentBridge .

Applications must be completed within 1 year of a disaster declaration (from September 29, 2024, to September 28, 2025), however priority will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible applicants are encouraged to use the checklist to submit the required documentation via email to LocalGovernmentBridge@Commerce.fl.gov. To read more about the bridge loan program, see Florida Statutes 288.066