In recent years, stories of Florida businesses suffering financial blows due to prolonged public construction projects have become increasingly common. From blocked access to months-long delays, small business owners are calling for solutions to a growing problem—and one proposed fix just moved a step forward in the Florida Senate.

Last year, the owners of a well-known café in Tampa brought their concerns to the City Council, describing how ongoing construction outside their storefront was “hemorrhaging” their cash reserves and putting their entire operation at risk. That café eventually shut down just a few months later.

Now, a proposal introduced by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) may provide a financial safety net for small businesses facing similar challenges. Smith’s bill, SB 324, would establish a loan program through the Florida Department of Commerce, offering low-interest loans of up to $100,000 to small businesses directly impacted by long-term construction projects that obstruct access to their establishments.

To qualify, businesses must show clear evidence of financial loss—specifically, a decrease in revenue from the start of the construction through the time of their loan application. Applicants would need to submit a year-over-year revenue comparison and provide photo or video proof that construction has interfered with customer access.

Smith said the idea for the legislation was sparked by the closure of the Hammered Lamb, a popular Orlando restaurant that shut its doors in January after enduring an extended public infrastructure project.

“They directly attributed that closure to this sewage infrastructure project that was delayed for 18 months,” Smith told colleagues. “As Florida continues to experience tremendous growth, we’re going to hear more about these stories, more and more. We can’t as a state or a local government throw up our hands and say, ‘I’m sorry. Deal with our construction.’ We have to be able to offer a lifeline for those who want to stay afloat.”

Recent examples show that the issue hasn’t gone away. In South Tampa, a $65 million stormwater improvement project drew backlash from business owners who feared road closures could cripple local commerce. The proposed construction plan would shut down sections of a major roadway in both directions for up to two months—potentially devastating the area’s economy.

At a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development this week, Smith’s bill passed unanimously, but not without debate.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Hernando County) raised concerns about the bill’s requirement for businesses to submit financial documentation. He suggested an amendment to exempt those records from public access.

“It seems to me that competitors would say, ‘I want the P&Ls [profits and losses] of my competitor right across the street,’” Ingoglia said.

Though he supported the measure, Ingoglia also questioned whether it was wise to give publicly funded loans to businesses that may not qualify for commercial loans elsewhere.

“To get an unsecured loan for an established business is relatively easy to come by,” he added. “Granted, you’re going to pay higher interest rates, but that loan is pretty easy to come by.”

The bill has one more Senate committee stop before it can reach the floor. Its companion in the House, HB 215, sponsored by Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando), has yet to receive a hearing in any committee—casting some uncertainty on whether the measure can pass both chambers this session.

Still, as construction projects continue across a rapidly growing Florida, the conversation is gaining urgency. Lawmakers face a clear choice: provide small businesses with the tools to weather the disruption—or risk watching more local storefronts close their doors for good.

Originally reported by Mitch Perry in Florida Phoenix.