Oct. 11 Communication from Lee County and the Economic Development Office on Recovery Resources

Oct. 11 Communication from Lee County and the Economic Development Office on Recovery Resources

While many businesses have reopened, we know there are others who need recovery assistance, and we are here to help. Business Recovery Centers, including mobile recovery locations, are now open for disaster loan applications and support for both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Additionally, CareerSource and Lee County Government are both offering disaster relief employee/worksite agreements, helping to match employers with dislocated workers. 
 
We’ll continue to share bi-weekly updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays with vital information as we expedite support for area businesses. And be sure to check our Facebook and website pages for additional information.

Emergency Business Funding

National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG)

CareerSource Southwest Florida has announced that they can provide fully funded staffing assistance to public and non-profit agencies to assist with humanitarian and disaster-related clean-up and restoration through National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) funds. CareerSource Southwest Florida will fund and administer the payroll and worker’s compensation coverage for individuals who have been impacted by the storm to work for you.

Disaster relief projects create temporary jobs for eligible individuals to assist with humanitarian, clean-up, and recovery efforts in areas impacted by disasters or emergency situations as outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Section 170(d)(4). Below is a brief overview of the program. You can also CLICK HERE for our flyer with more information.

Allowable Grant Activities:
Temporary Jobs – NDWGs provide funding for the creation of Disaster Relief Employment, or temporary jobs, which are restricted to the following activities:

• Humanitarian Aid to include the distribution of food, clothing, and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.

• Clean-up and recovery efforts including demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of damaged and destroyed structures, facilities and lands located within the disaster area and in offshore areas related to the emergency or disaster.

NDWG funds allocated for wages should cover the activities related to temporary workers. These funds DO NOT cover project materials.

Temporary Jobs Policies:
Limit on Temporary Job Duration

• A participant may hold a temporary job for no longer than 12 months or 2080 hours.

Participant Wages

• The comparable rate of pay for other individuals employed in similar occupations by the same employer but NO less than $15.00 per hour.
• In no event shall the wage be less than the current State or local minimum wage law.

Worksite Selection

• The worksites must be located in the geographic area covered by a FEMA declaration eligible for public assistance or within the area subject to another Federal agency’s declaration of an emergency or disaster situation of national significance.
• A fully executed worksite agreement.
• Statement of work and job descriptions.

If you want to become an approved worksite and host CareerSource Southwest Florida temporary employees, please CLICK HERE to download the NDWG Agreement. Please complete and return via return email at [email protected] to discuss your specific workforce and recovery needs.

Business Recovery Centers

Additional Business Recovery Centers Now Open!

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today it will open a second Business Recovery Center at the Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral in Lee County at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10 to assist Floridians applying for SBA disaster loan assistance for losses due to Hurricane Ian that began Sept. 23.

SBA’s disaster declaration includes Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Sarasota, Seminole and Volusia counties in Florida, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Alachua, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Glades, Hendry, Indian River, Marion, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Pasco, and Sumter in Florida. 

All Lee County BRCs will operate as indicated below until further notice:

Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral
360 Santa Barbara Blvd. S., Cape Coral FL 33991
Opening: Monday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. 
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed: Friday, Saturday and Sunday 

The Hub at SWFL Inc.
25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available as indicated above to answer questions about the disaster loan program and assist business owners in completing their applications. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRCs are encouraged to wear a face mask. Additional BRC locations are available in Collier and Charlotte Counties.

Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.

To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362. 

Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to [email protected]. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155. 

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 28, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023.

Permitting Updates

Lee County

For up-to-date information regarding permitting in Lee County, please visit
https://www.leegov.com/dcd/BldPermitServ/AppsProcd/EmergProcd.

City of Fort Myers
For up-to-date information regarding permitting in the City of Fort Myers, please visit https://cityftmyers.com/1293/Building-Permitting-Inspections.

City of Cape Coral
For up-to-date information regarding permitting in the City of Cape Coral, please visit https://www.capecoral.gov/newdetail_T3_R660.php.