ANNAPOLIS, MD — Twenty-one Maryland businesses won grants to help them recover from this fall’s historic flood, officials announced Tuesday. Eighteen of those companies are from Anne Arundel County.
Leaders distributed $647,095 in relief through this initiative. The effort offered grants of $1,000 to $50,000 through the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation.
Floods rocked the Chesapeake Bay basin on Oct. 29 and 30. The inundation was the fourth-worst in Annapolis’ recorded history, as the tide reached 4.9 feet above normal. This was the biggest surge since Tropical Storm Isabel, which brought a record 7.16-foot tide in 2003.
This time around, standing water swamped downtown Annapolis roadways and seeped into many historic establishments. Ryan Lamy, the owner of Pip’s Dock Street Dogs, said flooding along Ego Alley has always been a nuisance. This inundation, however, damaged equipment and forced the eatery to close before a traditionally strong Halloween weekend.
“It can take weeks or even months for a small business to recover from an unexpected loss like this,” Lamy said in a press release. “I was extremely grateful to receive this funding that helped us to get back to business as quickly as possible.”
Kate Grove, who owns Yogavibez Edgewater, had to close her waterfront studio for two days. The money helped Grove replace materials, buy cleaning supplies and pay her staff.
“This grant made a huge impact,” Grove said. “Applying for it was an incredibly easy process, with great customer service and quick responses from beginning to end. Thank you to AAEDC for supporting a small, locally-owned business!”
In Galesville, Pirate’s Cove Restaurant and Dock Bar also scored a grant. The aid helped owner Anthony Clarke recover from the costs of replacing equipment, carpeting and drywall that was underwater for almost two days.
“The grant could not have come at a better time,” Clarke said. “We greatly appreciate the County Executive making time to visit the property during the flooding event and for making grant money available through AAEDC.”
Altogether, Anne Arundel County entrepreneurs collected $546,095. Two businesses in Grasonville, Queen Anne’s County each earned $50,000. One in Oxford, Talbot County netted $1,000.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman opened the grant applications on Oct. 30. This VOLT Disaster Recovery Relief Program was funded through Maryland’s Video Lottery Terminals. The initiative requires the state’s six casinos to contribute 1.5 percent of their slot proceeds to help small-, minority- and female-owned businesses.
To see pictures of the flooded establishments, click here.
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