CLENDENIN, W.Va. — Several dozen Clendenin residents whose businesses were ravaged by last month’s flood attended a U.S. Small Business Administration meeting Tuesday night looking for answers.
House Speaker Tim Armstead said that unlike home damage, getting flood damage restitution for businesses is more complicated.
“Unfortunately, there’s not the same program for businesses as there are for homeowners. Homeowners can get direct grants,” he said. “Most of the assistance available for businesses are loans. They are low interest loans, but they are loans and so we’re still working with the state and see if there’s any way we can get direct assistance to some of these businesses.”
Armstead sent a letter to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin Tuesday afternoon asking him to include an aid proposal for area small businesses to help them rebuild as part of the agenda for a likely special session later this summer on flood relief.
“I’m going to have to. I can’t afford to do it any way else,” said Kevin Jackson, who said he lost about half his equipment at Elk River Lawncare. “I’m going to have to try to get a loan.”
Hoyt Newman, who owned what used to be the Clendenin Dairy Queen, said there was almost nothing he could salvage from the store that was reduced to a pile of rubble.
“About everything gone,” he said. “We went through it today hauling stuff out, but about everything destroyed.”
Many in the Clendenin area are determined to rebuild. Robert Fletcher, who owns Elk River Boxing Club said he had been cleaning up since the flood and wanted to open again beginning next month.
“We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to get this done, and hopefully open the first of August if everything goes well,” said Fletcher.
Full Gospel Church in Queen Shoals has been providing meals in the aftermath of the flood. Its pastor Scott Means said FEMA wouldn’t do anything for the church.
“I got a letter back from FEMA today saying they didn’t find any flood damage at that location. Of course, our church was under 10 feet of water. We’re trying to get our church back together and get a kitchen in order so we can continue feeding people.”
The SBA explained several options for businesses impacted by flooding:
Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster damage or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
SBA also makes low interest loans to Homeowners and Renters for their recovery.