Gov. Lamont announced $5 million funding to help flooded businesses

SEYMOUR, CT (WFSB) - Connecticut’s governor announced grants to help small businesses that were impacted by last week’s historic flooding.

Lamont announced a $5 million in state funding to help businesses that were impacted by record flooding in Western Connecticut.

He was joined by the Connecticut Department of Economic, Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe, and other state and local officials in Seymour on Monday.

Under this program, state grants of up to $25,000 will be available for small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and New Haven County that have fewer than 100 employees and experiences damage from the floods.

Grants can be used to cover various expenses to help in recovery, including cleaning efforts, replenishing lost inventory, and replacing equipment.

“We are working to quickly launch this state grant program in an effort to help small, locally-owned businesses rebuild, repair, and re-open as soon as possible,” Governor Lamont said.

The program will be administered on behalf of DECD by the WBDC, a nonprofit organization based in Fairfield County that works to support business growth and job creation statewide.

On Sept. 3, 2024, the WBDC will send out applications for businesses seeking grants.

Applicants will be required to provide details description of how their businesses were impacted and include photos, receipts, invoices, and estimates if applicable.

The state funding was said to be separate from any potential federal funding that businesses could be eligible to receive if the state is awarded a major disaster declaration from FEMA. As of Monday morning, the state and impacted municipalities were working with FEMA to determine if they do qualify for assistance.

Neighbors have been helping neighbors pick up the pieces and get back to normal.

“I was with my friend, and we were just like, ‘let’s go help people out,’” said Alex Pekarek of Seymour. “We just hooked up the trucks and pulled them out. We were just trying to get them out of the water and clear the roads out a little bit.”

Five years ago, Kundan Patel and her husband purchased Woodland Wine and Spirits. They poured everything they owned into the package store they’d worked at for years.

“I saved every single penny, my whole life, put it in inventory, every single penny and in just an hour, everything gone,” she said.

They are now forced to throw out roughly $700,0000 in inventory due to the flooding. That doesn’t count the equipment that was damaged or the invoices they still have to pay for the liquor they bought this month but now can’t sell.

“I have to destroy everything,” she continued.

Any homeowners and business owners who experienced damage to their property should either filling out an online survey hosted by the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security by contacting their town’s local emergency management office to have their damages recorded.

WFSB partnered with WPLR to raise money for flood victims. To donate, or to check out some resources for the victims, head here.