The New York State Small Business Storm Recovery Program was established to provide assistance to eligible small businesses, including farming and agricultural operations, and not-for-profit organizations that suffered direct physical damage and/or economic hardship as a result of Superstorm Sandy on or after October 29, 2012. Hurricane Irene on or after August 28, 2011 or Tropical Storm Lee on or after September 7, 2011.
You may be eligible if...
If your business has been in operation in and located in a county designated for FEMA Individual Assistance including:
SuperStorm Sandy: Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties.
Hurricane Irene: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Greene, Herkimer, Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Suffolk, Sullivan, Ulster, Warren, Washington, and Westchester counties.
Tropical Storm Lee: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Delaware, Fulton, Herkimer, Oneida, Orange, Otsego, Schenectady, Schoharie, Tioga, and Ulster counties.
All applicants must:
• Have suffered eligible uncompensated losses as a direct result of Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee;
• Have eligible unmet needs after accounting for all Federal, State, local and/or private sources of disaster-related assistance including, but not limited to, flood insurance proceeds;
• Be currently operating or if not currently operating, intending to re-open as a result of assistance;
• Submit a complete application, with all required and requested attachments;
• Be incorporated or registered to do business in New York State;
• Have been operating in New York State as of the date of the storm;
• Meet the U.S. Small Business Administration’s definition of a small business, with priority given to those small businesses with 100 or fewer employees either at the time of application or the date of the storm;
• Have average annual gross sales or gross receipts of a minimum of $25,000; ** If a business was affected that would had opened just prior to one of the eligible storms, or was planning to open but could not as a result of the storm, the application will be considered on a case-by-case basis;
• Receive the majority of its income from business directly related to commercial culture, harvest, packing, dealing, shipping and/or processing and/or recreational fishing;
• For commercial fishing, the business must have a valid 2012 and 2013 permit or license issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation (NYSDEC) for the taking, dealing or shipping, culture and/or sale of marine resources including fish, shellfish, crustacean, or other marine biota; or an affidavit attested to by the NYSDEC that the business is directly related to the commercial fishing industry; and
• For recreational fishing, must have a valid 2012 and 2013 NYSDEC marine and coastal district party and charter boat permit and/or license for carrying fishing passengers for hire; and/or an affidavit attested to by the NYSDEC that the business is directly related to the recreational fishing industry (e.g. a bait and tackle shops or marinas serving the fishing industry).
Eligible Activities
Eligible losses shall mean a loss suffered with respect to damage resulting from Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee where there remains an unmet need for repair or replacement after accounting for all Federal, State, local and/or private sources of assistance including, but not limited to, business owners personal finances and/or insurance proceeds. For losses to be considered a direct result of Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene or Tropical Storm Lee, the losses demonstrated must be on or after October 29, 2012 for Superstorm Sandy, on or after August 28, 2011 for Hurricane Irene, or on or after September 7, 2011 for Tropical Storm Lee. Some activities already undertaken as part of a business’s recovery efforts may be eligible for funding, subject to review and applicability of program rules and guidelines.
Eligible activities are limited to the following:
* Machinery * Furniture * Supplies * Working Capital
* Equipment * Fixtures * Inventory
Businesses are not eligible for both the Coastal Fishing Industry Grants and the Seasonal Tourism Industry Grants. For Questions about which program is better for your business, please contact your local Small Business Development Center office.
For more information, call 1-855-NYS-Sandy or visit www.NYSandyHelp.ny.gov to apply for assistance.