Essex County launches flood-recovery grant outreach

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February 12, 2012

E Applications available for those who suffered severe storm damage in '11

KIM SMITH DEDAM Press-Republican The Press Republican Sun Feb 12, 2012, 02:28 AM EST

ELIZABETHTOWN — Some more flood-recovery funds are in place for Essex County businesses and towns.

And applications are available through nearby town offices and county support agencies.

The Empire State Development Flood Recovery grants provide up to $20,000 for companies and businesses, including farms, that sustained at least $40,000 in flood damage from tropical storms Irene and Lee last year.

The grants will deduct any insurance payments made to date.

Proceeds are paid directly to applicants and do not funnel through county channels.

And the program covers inventory, including stored farm products and apartment buildings managed as a business.

Essex County Board of Supervisors Chairman Randy Douglas (D-Jay) organized a meeting held this week to help foster outreach to hard-hit business owners.

There are two pots of state money, he said, along with what is apparently an additional $320,000 available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue work repairing river channels.

The largest source of money is a $21 million allocation available statewide for businesses hit by tropical storms Irene and Lee.

A second $9 million is available for municipal recovery efforts.

Both are grant funding, not loans.

ADVANCE FUNDS

Essex County Industrial Development Agency Co-Director Carol Calabrese said they have contacted some 60 businesses in Essex County identified in impact data gathered by the State Emergency Management Office.

Companies can apply while in the process of rebuilding and recovery, she said.

"The IDA will assist in any way to help."

Bill Ferguson, an Empire State Development commerce policy analyst based in Plattsburgh, said businesses can receive grant funds up to $10,000 in advance while recovery work continues.

That figure is half of the total $20,000 maximum grant allowed per business, so the grantee would receive two payments.

Supervisors at the meeting asked about what types of businesses qualify.

"We have one farm in Keene Valley that lost maple sugaring equipment, and they lost a bridge they own privately," said Supervisor Bill Ferebee (R-Keene).

"Is that bridge something that would qualify?"

Ferguson said if the bridge is property owned by the farm it would qualify.

"Yes, real property is all covered."

Supervisor Margaret Bartley (D-Elizabethtown) said two bed-and-breakfast operations in her town were severely damaged in flooding from Irene.

Neither have reopened since the late August storm, she said, but both are in the process of repairing floors, basements, wallpaper and replacing furniture.

"As long as (repairs) are directly associated with their business," Ferguson said, "it's covered."

Calabrese said the IDA posted links to the grant application on its Web page.

Both she and Ferguson said they are available to help business owners fill out the forms and answer any questions.

MARCH 16 POSTMARK

Ferebee and Douglas discussed holding a town grant-making sessions to provide support for small businesses and farms interested in learning more about available resources, but no firm dates were set.

But applications for grant assistance through the Empire State Development relief program have to be postmarked by March 16.

Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) asked if town-owned businesses qualify for grant relief.

The town-owned campground at Bulwagga Bay in Port Henry sustained significant damage in two rounds of flooding last year.

"Not from this pot of money," Ferguson said.

But apartment buildings considered as business income do qualify for grants from Empire State, he said.

Douglas encouraged supervisors and people at the meeting to contact small-business owners they know who might benefit from the grant monies.

"Friends, neighbors, people you know, have them get a hold of Bill (Ferguson) or Carol (Calabrese)," he said.

Reach Calabrese at 873-9114. Call Ferguson at 561-5642.

Forms for the Empire State Development Hurricane Irene-Tropical Storm Lee Flood Recovery Grant Program are posted at: essexcountyida.com.

Email Kim Smith Dedam at: kdedam@pressrepublican.com