Brevard Workforce

Purpose of the Program:

Provide assistance to small businesses that are unable to maintain business operations and keep their workers employed due to a natural disaster.
Help small businesses re-open as quickly as possible and continue normal operations after a disaster.

What businesses qualify for the assistance?

Must be located in a county declared eligible for both public and individual assistance or located in an adjoining county contiguous to a county declared eligible for public and individual assistance.
Must have been in existence at least one year prior to the natural disaster
Employs 25 or less employees
Must have an existing Unemployment Compensation (UC) account
Business requires financial assistance to reopen and/or continue business operations
Business must have had workers dislocated (unable to work at the business) due to the disaster

What can this assistance program help pay for?

Deductible/Co-Payment for insurance related to the disaster
Replacement and repair of structural items (such as a fence, porch, windows, etc.) needed to reopen business
Replacement of damaged equipment such as a computer or telephone network required to reopen
Replacement of items such as carpeting, wallboard, etc. damaged by the disaster
Cost of targeted business training designed to help develop a business recovery and business continuity plan
Entrepreneurial and micro-enterprise training
Funding could not be used to pay for costs covered by insurance

What does the business have to do in order to receive this assistance?

Business can access assistance by contacting their local workforce board or local business assistance center
Business must initially determine capital asset items lost/damaged as a result of the disaster that must be repaired/replaced in order to reopen or continue business operations
Business must work with the local workforce board to provide any necessary documentation to ensure that financial assistance is coordinated with any other funding or loan program for which the business had received or is entitled to
Business must participate in either a short-term training to develop a business recovery or business continuity plan or agree to participate in other business related training designed to help the business continue and grow its operations