Senator Joseph Addabbo pushes legislation to support small businesses harmed by Hurricane Sandy

Image source: City Limits – shuttered damaged businesses do not help anyone in the Rockaways

The Times Ledger reports that Senator Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) has pushed legislation “that would give out $10,000 grants to small business owners with shops damaged by Hurricane Sandy in order to help them fix up their storefronts.” There are many businesses in his district – Howard Beach, Broad Channel, and the rest of the Rockaways – that were badly affected by the storm, and they range from damaged to destroyed. The grants would give many of them the ability to open their businesses again.

The bill would set up the Hurricane Sandy Storefront Repair Fund and it would do the following:

• Grants would be available to small business owners whose buildings sustained at least $10,000 in damages from the storm
• Grants would only be offered to businesses with 50 or fewer employees
• Owners would need to prove that their damages were a direct result of the storm
• No cap on the number of grants given out to businesses

The money would either come from state funds or Federal disaster aid the NY is already receiving. Senator Addabo believes the bill will evolve over time. The Rockaway peninsula was one of the most damaged areas in the Northeast, and the area is still suffering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy. One would think that these grants would not only help on a financial level, but also on a morale level. The recent re-opening of Surfside Bagels, which was met with much celebration, goes to show you that the renewal of local businesses in the Rockaways is good for everyone.

Queens storefronts to get face-lift funds in hurricane bill [Times Ledger]
From the QNYC mailbox – Surfiside Bagels Grand Reopening Monday in the Rockaways [QNYC]
Businesses in the Rockaways continue to suffer economically after Hurricane Sandy [QNYC]