ATLANTA — Nearly 7,000 small businesses in Atlanta are still feeling the economic pain after several water main breaks forced many to close, bringing their profit to a standstill for a week.
The city is still reeling from the massive economic impact, leading city officials to propose $5 million in relief grants to small business owners. The final spending amount is not yet final. The proposal to provide $5 million in relief passed in the committee and is awaiting a vote from the full city council on Monday, June 17.
For Stir House Vegan in Downtown Atlanta, the wok is still hot, but business is ice cold after just opening its doors weeks ago.
"We are a small business. We've been open for five weeks! When you talk about the impact of what happened, for a business like mine, it's capable of putting us in a very bad financial situation," said Brown.
Co-owner Phil Thompson says their freezer food went bad, and their walk-in freezer was damaged beyond repair, losing nearly $2,000 in food alone.
Once the water started running, they were back up and running, but because they recently opened, customers are still discovering the new restaurant.
"It's critical; many small businesses, like ours, that just started are day by day and week by week in terms of making payroll, making rent, utilities, so to have a day when you lose sales is a big hit on your bottom line," Thompson said.
Some businesses like Big Dave's Cheesesteaks are unclear if they will be able to reopen soon because of the significant damage they sustained.
Atlanta was in crisis mode after the nearly 100-year-old water pipes finally gave and burst across multiple key parts of the city last week. Business owners are worried another break could happen again.
Devin Barrington-Ward, the manager of the Black Futurist Group, wants to prepare for future water emergencies.
"We know that our pipes and our infrastructure in the city are aging; it is not a matter of if this is going to happen again, but when... so we want to be prepared for any other water emergency," Barrington-Ward said.
Barrington-Ward first proposed the $5 million relief fund to the city council days after the water crisis happened.
"We are really excited about the level of support, but with that level of support, we are realizing that we might need more money added to the fund because the impact on small businesses was much greater than initially thought," the manager added.
"I am grateful for the Mayor's support. He listened to me and other business owners, and now they're taking action," said Brown.
He feels it's critical that these businesses not only stay open but thrive.
"So much of downtown is a food desert, with no grocery stores, no healthy food options, and so that's what we aim to do," Thompson said.
Businesses impacted can start applying for funds that would help recoup the losses through Invest Atlanta on June 24.
Here's how to apply
The City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta have launched a landing page for business owners to apply for relief.
Although applications won't go live until June 24, business owners should plan to attend the informational webinar on Monday, June 17, at 5 p.m. Click here to register for the webinar.
Invest Atlanta has released criteria for small business owners to be eligible for relief.
Here's the eligibility requirements, according to their website:
- Businesses have to have a verifiable address within the boil water impact advisory area.
- The website also states that priority will be given to restaurants, beauty salon spas, daycares, and other "industries most directly impacted."
- Officials will also give priority to those who were impacted and or closed for a number of days.
- The business also needs to be registered with the Georgia Secretary of State and have an active City of Atlanta business license.
Check below for a map of impacted areas.
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Small business owners should check the website to see what materials they should gather for their application.
Applications will close on July 8.