NEW YORK—Small businesses around the city have weathered the worst of recent storms. Many were hit hard by physical damage and loss of cash flow. Now in Sandy’s wake a number of avenues have been provided to give life back to effected businesses.
Small business owner Maria Barraza runs two design and manufacturing wholesale outlets that produce women’s designer clothing. One is in Manhattan and the other in Connecticut. While her shops didn’t suffer any physical damage, her usual stream of buyers who come from Long Island and New Jersey just are not coming.
Barraza first heard of disaster relief grants and loans in a local Connecticut paper before she quickly called the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to register. FEMA and the Small Business Administration (SBA) are offering various low interest loans for uninsured property losses and loss of income.
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney held a Small Business Disaster Relief Information session on Nov. 19 at Baruch College in Manhattan. The session brought together representatives from each of the funding bodies. “The idea is that the community can become a whole, as quickly as possible,” said Maloney.
