Editor’s note: This story has been modified to correct the amount of money 40 local businesses have reported in losses due to Red Tide.CLEARWATER — Pinellas County’s Economic Development Office says 40 local businesses so far have reported combined losses of $1.24 million because of Red Tide.Those 40 are just the ones who have answered the county’s assessment damage survey since Red Tide hit Pinellas County more than two weeks ago. On Tuesday, the U.S. Small Business Administration opened a satellite office at the St. Petersburg College EpiCenter — suite 2-200, 13805 58th St. N in Clearwater — to help local businesses apply for its low-interested loan program. Read more: Struggling against Red Tide, a Redington Beach liquor store is too small to qualify for local aid Before businesses can apply for up to $2 million federal loans or for the county’s bridge loan program, they have to fill out a disaster survey.Applicants can apply for the SBA loans online at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. The deadline is June 4, 2019.
