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In the Wake of Hurricane Sally, 4 Small Businesses Survive and Thrive for Their Community

Sep 2020

Each year, from June 1 through Nov. 30, residents and business owners along coastal and near-coastal regions of the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico warily eye the deep blue and emerald green waters – hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

Such was the case when Hurricane Sally made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, at 4:45 a.m. CDT on Sept. 16 as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Oddly, Sally also made landfall in the exact same location and on the same day 16 years after Category 3 Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

The asymmetrical shape of Sally meant Escambia County bore the brunt of the storm. Ginny Cranor, chief of the Pensacola Fire Department, told CNN the area received, “30-plus inches of rain, which is 4 months of rain in 4 hours," leading to historic and catastrophic flooding.

By the time Sally blew town, she’d left a swath of destruction, power outages and boil water notices throughout the county – and that’s when something remarkable happened.

Even facing their own hardships after months of COVID shutdowns and now damage from Hurricane Sally, three Pensacola breweries (and Florida First Capital Finance Corporation clients) renewed their resolve to sustain their city and support their neighbors. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, Emerald Republic Brewing, Odd Colony Brewing Co. and Perfect Plain Brewing Co. began spreading the word they were dispensing purified drinking water to the community free of charge and would continue doing so until the boil water notices were lifted.

Within hours of Sally having crawled north across the state line, another Florida First Capital client and Pensacola staple, The Butcher Shoppe, put the call out they were providing hot BBQ meals to all first responders, power crews and city/county clean-up crews. For the next 3 days and nights, with the aid of a generator and their friends from 850 Barbecue, they would feed hundreds of community helpers free of charge.

To top it off, on Sept. 21, The Butcher Shoppe provided the meat for a free community BBQ, giving thanks and giving back to their neighbors that have supported them through the years.

More good news came when Perfect Plain Brewing announced they would be releasing Recovery IPA to support Hurricane Sally relief and recovery with 100% of profits on every 32 oz. crowler going directly to aid in the efforts. And Emerald Republic gave notice to all first responders, power crews and clean-up crews that the brewery would be buying their first, much deserved, beer!

2020 has been a hard year for these and many other small businesses, and with an additional tribulation laid at their feet, the climb became steeper still. Yet, these small business owners put 1 foot in front of the other and do what they do best – continue to be the glue that helps hold their community together.

Florida First Capital is proud to aid in the effort to help these and other small businesses affected by Hurricane Sally get back on their feet. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), in partnership with Florida First Capital and the Florida Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) Network, administers the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program that provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced physical damage or economic injury during Hurricane Sally.

The application period is now open and runs through Nov. 14 or until the available funds are expended. These loans help bridge the gap between the time damage is incurred and long-term funding is secured, including Small Business Administration (SBA) or commercially available loans, insurance claims or other resources. Up to $5 million has been allocated for the program.

Small business owners with 2 to 100 employees located in Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties impacted by Hurricane Sally can apply for short-term loans up to $50,000, or in special cases $100,000, if warranted by the needs of the business.

To apply or learn more about the eligibility requirements for the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL.

For questions regarding the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, contact DEO at 833-832-4494 or email EmergencyBridgeLoan@deo.myflorida.com.