News

Washington, D.C. – With Florida’s Treasure Coast businesses being impacted by the algae bloom, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)‎ requested clarity from the Small Business Administration (SBA) about eligibility for the disaster loans he helped secure earlier this year as a response to January discharges from Lake Okeechobee‎. The SBA has now confirmed to Rubio’s office that small businesses impacted by the recent algae bloom would also be eligible for disaster loan assistance until November 17, 2016.
 
“I am glad to know that businesses affected by this algae crisis can benefit from the same relief I pushed the SBA to offer businesses affected by Lake Okeechobee discharges earlier this year,” Rubio said. “After all, the billions of gallons of water being released from the lake have contributed to this harmful algae bloom.
 
“I have seen firsthand how this algae crisis has affected far too many people and their livelihoods. The Army Corps’ decision to reduce discharges was a good first step in addressing the problem, but now businesses ‎already impacted by the situation and those that continue to suffer can receive some much needed relief,” Rubio continued.
 
Rubio helped secure the disaster loans back in April, after challenging an SBA official at a Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee hearing on federal disaster responses. Last week he urged the Army Corps to take immediate action regarding the Lake Okeechobee discharges, and he continues to call for action on the catastrophic algae bloom situation.