State Allocates Funding, Resources for Flood Cleanup, Recovery
At the Klarides Village shopping plaza in Seymour, cleanup and recovery is just beginning after a record-setting storm on Aug. 18.
The storm led to devastating flooding that left 14 of the 16 businesses in the plaza with extensive damage.
“We came Monday morning, and it was a disaster to all of us,” said 67 Family Diner owner Mike Abe.
“From fork, from spoon, to walk-in cooler, I lost everything.
“We need to come back stronger and better. But we still need a little help.”
As similar scenes play out across western Connecticut, the Lamont administration is allocating $5 million in state funding for a micro-grant program to help small businesses rebuild.
‘Stop-Gap Funding’
“This is intended as stop-gap funding,” said Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development commissioner Dan O’Keefe said Aug. 26.
“The goal here is to really help these small businesses, which are the lifeblood of our economy, start the process of reopening.
“We wanted to come in very quickly and provide that funding while we continue to pursue and await federal funds.”
That money can be used to help cover expenses for things like cleanup, replacing equipment, or restocking lost inventory.
Under the program, small businesses with fewer than 100 employees can apply for grants of up to $25,000.
“These are all family businesses,” said former state representative Themis Klarides, who co-owns the plaza.
“They put everything they make into making the business better, and they have nothing left.
“We have done everything, and will continue to do everything we can to help them build back better and stronger. But we need help, and we need it yesterday.”
Application Process
Applications for the grants will open Sept. 3.
Businesses will be asked to provide detailed descriptions of how they were impacted through photos, receipts, invoices, and estimates.
O’Keefe said the goal is to get the grants out on a rolling basis one week from the application date.
“We wanted to get this done fast, because it’s incredible how fast this tragedy happened,” said Gov. Ned Lamont.
“It’s really important for all of us to step up and do the right thing and err on the side of generosity.”
Officials in Seymour, Oxford, and Southbury estimate the storm did hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to local infrastructure.
“It’s sobering to see the extent of the damage suffered by these small businesses,” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima.
“Kudos to the Lamont administration for the multi-agency effort in all affected parts of the state to repair damage to roads, buildings, and infrastructure.”
Federal Help
Lamont said the state is also working to determine what federal funding businesses or homeowners may be eligible for.
State emergency management director William Turner said teams from FEMA and the Small Business Administration will assess the damage in Litchfield, New Haven, and Fairfield counties this week.
He said it’s possible the state will apply for a federal presidential disaster declaration by the end of the week.
That could lead to federal funding to rebuild and repair damage to eligible public and uninsured private property.
As part of the process, the state is asking homeowners and businesses to complete a survey to document property damages.
“What we do ask is that you as the public and the residents and the businesses, please continue to report your damages,” Turner said. “We need that data.”
Recovery, Rebuilding
The Women’s Business Development Council will administer the grant program.
DECD created an email address for businesses with questions about the grant program.
After touring the damage, state and local officials thanked all the first responders, and everyone helping in the recovery and rebuilding process.
“This is one of those moments where in the worst of times, it can bring out the best in people.”
DECD’s Dan O’Keefe
“This is one of those moments where in the worst of times, it can bring out the best in people.” said O’Keefe.
“There’s a strong sense of resilience in these communities,” said DiPentima.
“There’s no better display of that than the sign outside the 67 Family Diner that says ‘We will be back stronger and better than ever!!’”
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CBIA IS FIGHTING TO MAKE CONNECTICUT A TOP STATE FOR BUSINESS, JOBS, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. A BETTER BUSINESS CLIMATE MEANS A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE.