To date, more than 800,000 Paycheck Protection loans have been distributed to small businesses and more than $200 billion in loans has been processed. If you are a small business or self-employed and trying to pay employees and stay afloat through this crisis, this loan is designed to help. It is possible the $350 billion we allocated for this program will run out by the end of this week. Senate Republicans, with support of House Republicans, attempted to add more funds last week. Unfortunately, the Democrats blocked this measure. Negotiations continue and I hope my Democratic colleagues will allow additional funding for this program soon.
If you haven’t applied, I encourage you to contact your local lender and submit the paperwork soon. More information is available at https://bit.ly/HelpSBiz and if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity launched a new mobile-friendly site for Floridians to apply for unemployment benefits. This new website is available today. Floridians can still use the existing website, as well as submit paper applications. Click here to access the new website.
Additionally, FedEx has entered a partnership with Gov. DeSantis to print and send applications for Floridians. At more than 100 of their locations across Florida, storefronts will be providing free printing and mailing of benefit applications. More information and links are available at:Â https://webster.house.gov/unemployment-assistance
I know accessing this site or reaching an operator by phone has been a significant challenge. The state has installed 72 new servers to improve the online system, and 1,000 people have been hired and are being trained to join the Call Center. We continue to advocate for improvements.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.
