$5.9M in Flood Recovery Grants for Small Businesses

In the wake of severe flooding in August, 278 Connecticut small businesses and nonprofits received $5.9 million in emergency state funding, according to the Lamont administration.

The August 18 storm led to extensive flooding and widespread damage, particularly in Litchfield, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. 

 “It was a disaster to all of us,” said Mike Abe in August. Abe owns 67 Family Diner in Seymour.

“From fork, from spoon, to walk-in cooler, I lost everything.”

Shortly after the storm, Gov. Ned Lamont announced a one-time emergency state grant program to help small businesses and nonprofits rebuild. 

“We quickly established this emergency state program so that we could help these locally owned small businesses, which support thousands of jobs, rebuild and reopen as soon as possible,” Lamont said. 

Rapid Recovery

Organizations in the affected counties with fewer than 100 employees were eligible to apply for the grants between Sept. 3 and Oct. 4, 2024.

The program was overseen by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development and administered by the Women’s Business Development Council. 

The 278 grant recipients reported a total of $38,253,051 in damages.

“I am glad that the state could stand by them to support their rapid recovery.”

Gov. Ned Lamont

The maximum grant amount was $25,000.

“I am glad that the state could stand by them to support their rapid recovery,” Lamont said.

Lamont said most of the businesses that received grants have since reopened. 

“These small businesses are vital to their communities, and it was sobering to see the extent of the damage they suffered.” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima. 

“It’s a credit to the Lamont administration for stepping in so quickly to help these businesses begin to get back on their feet.”

Lifelines

“This state program did exactly what was intended, providing impacted businesses with a quick infusion of capital in the immediate aftermath of the devastating flooding,” DECD Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe said.

The state program is separate from any federal funding for storm recovery, including from FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

“The grants gave these small businesses a lifeline when they needed it most and acted as a critical bridge to accessing the federal resources that came later in the recovery process,” O’Keefe said.

“The grants gave these small businesses a lifeline.”

DECD’s Daniel O’Keefe

In September, the Biden Administration approved the state’s request for a major disaster declaration.

FEMA and the SBA are still accepting applications from businesses and nonprofits impacted by this storm. 

The deadline for them to apply for federal individual assistance is Nov. 19, 2024.

Nonprofits are able to apply for funding through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program through Dec. 24, 2024.