Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Punta Gorda on Saturday to show his support for the fishing communities affected by Hurricane Ian.
Joined by other state and national officials, DeSantis discussed the efforts underway to help residents and business owners within the fishing industry recover. DeSantis also addressed progress already made since Ian’s landfall.
He thanked local boat captains for their role, from helping residents get to their homes on the barrier islands to volunteering with law enforcement for rescues.
DeSantis spoke of the devastation he has seen to many vessels and their gear throughout the Southwest region.
With fishing having a roughly $10 billion economic impact on Florida, he said officials are working to help the industry and its businesses get back on their feet and remove any challenges on the road to recovery.
DeSantis discussed the Emergency Small Business Administration Bridge Loan Program, which provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Ian.