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COVID-19 Business and Employee Resources and Assistance

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

This U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Program provides emergency assistance for eligible restaurants, bars and other qualifying businesses impacted by COVID-19. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.

Registration for the SBA application portal will begin on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 am ET. Applications will open on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon ET.

Learn More

Emergency Business Damage Assessment Survey

Governor Ron DeSantis has activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s local business operations. The survey, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy so actions to implement appropriate relief programs can begin.

The Business Damage Assessment Survey can be taken online. Results from this survey will be shared with state agencies and local partners. Completing this survey could help unlock State and Federal funding. For inquiries or assistance with the survey, businesses can contact Emergency Support Function 18 at ESF18@em.myflorida.com.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program

Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan

The Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program is available to small businesses and nonprofits that have been severely impacted by COVID-19. These targeted, low-interest loans of up to $2 million can provide vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue during this time. The EIDL allows for an advance of up to $10,000.

Loans approved prior to April 7, 2021 for less than $500,000 are likely eligible for an increase based on new loan maximum amounts announced March 24, 2021. Businesses that received a loan subject to the previous loan limit can submit a request for an increase at this time.

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Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, and amended by the American Rescue Plan Act. The program includes over $16 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.

Eligible applicants may qualify for grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees.

Who Can Apply:

Live venue operators or promoters
Theatrical producers
Live performing arts organization operators
Museum operators
Motion picture theater operators (including owners)
Talent representatives

Learn More

South Florida Regional Planning Council Loan Programs

The South Florida Regional Planning Council offers two different loan programs to help businesses impacted by COVID-19.

CARES Revolving Loan Program

For businesses impacted by COVID-19

The South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) has secured funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) to capitalize a small business revolving loan fund for business adversely impacted by COVID-19. These funds, provided pursuant to the March 2020 Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), will be administered by the SFRPC through its Revolving Loan Fund CARES Act Program.

Small businesses, sole proprietors and 501c3 organizations located within Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward & Palm Beach counties are eligible to apply.

The RLF CARES Act Program is a long-term financing program to help stabilize existing businesses impacted by COVID-19. RFL CARES Act Program funds CAN be combined with:

*Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
*Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or
*the State of Florida Bridge Loan Program

Personal guaranties and collateral are required. RLF CARES Act Program is NOT a grant or forgivable loan.

Learn More & Apply

Small Business Revolving Loan Program

For businesses looking to expand

The SFRPC knows that the best economic development plan for the region is to support entrepreneurs and their businesses so that they can create jobs and opportunity for South Florida’s residents. The Small Business Revolving Loan Program is designed to meet the needs of businesses that are not met by conventional lenders.

SFRPC offers loans between $25,000 and $500,000. You must complete the SFRPC-RLF application; provide a business plan, business and personal financial statements, tax returns, and appraisals for equipment, land and other business assets.

Learn More & Apply

Stimulus Checks

You can track the status of your stimulus checks using the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Get Your Payment application. You can find out when it’s scheduled to be mailed or deposited into your bank account.

You can also use the application to provide your direct deposit information as well as update your mailing address if you have moved since you last filed federal income taxes.

U.S. citizens and permanent residents who did not have to file federal income taxes in 2018 or 2019 can enter their direct deposit information to receive their stimulus check.

Short-Time Compensation Program (Florida Department of Economic Opportunity)

The Short-Time Compensation Program is a voluntary employer program designed to help employers maintain their staff by reducing the weekly working hours during temporary slowdowns instead of temporarily laying off employees. If an employer establishes a Short Time Compensation Plan and an employee meets the qualifications to file a re-employment assistance claim in the state of Florida, the employee will receive a partial re-employment check to supplement their reduced paycheck.

Employees & Employers: Find more information on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Short Time Compensation Program.

Employers: Apply for the Short Time Compensation Program (required for employees to submit a re-employment claim).

Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.

Employer Notice: Each covered employer must post in a conspicuous place on its premises a notice of FFCRA requirements. Employer requirements fact sheet. The Department of Labor has issued a press release indicating that it intends to observe a 30-day period of non-enforcement for employers who engage in reasonable, good-faith efforts to comply with the FFCRA.

Job Application Assistance

Unemployment Benefits

Temporary Signage for Businesses in Sunny Isles Beach

The City of Sunny Isles Beach would like to provide temporary assistance to our business community and will allow installation of temporary flag banners along Collins Avenue. In order to take advantage of this opportunity, please follow the steps below:

Email infopz@sibfl.net with the following information:
- Name, address, and type of business
- Contact information including name, phone and email of site manager/owner
- Hours of operation (days and hours)
Picture or graphic of the proposed temporary flag banner (one per business)
Dimensions of the proposed temporary flag banner (one per business)
Temporary flag banner content
Contact information (name, phone, email) of person in charge of installing and removing banner on a daily basis
Prior to installing your temporary flag banner, you shall receive a notification of approval from infopz@sibfl.net with the specific location where to install your flag banner
There will be NO fee to request a temporary flag banner, however, Code Compliance will assess $250 daily fines if guidelines are not followed

For questions and more information, please call 305.792.1740 or email infopz@sibfl.net.