By Steve Mosco
Elected officials are banding together to drum up some help for businesses in the Rockaways.
More than six months after Hurricane Sandy, shops on the peninsula are still struggling to keep their doors open. To help those businesses stay viable, City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton), state Sen. James Sanders Jr. (D-Jamaica) and the Rockaway Development Revitalization Corporation are holding a resource fair Thursday.
The small business fair will bring together an account manager from the NYC Business Solutions Center, representatives from the Mayor’s Restoration Business Acceleration Team and representatives from many other organizations with the resources local businesses need.
“Hurricane Sandy devastated all of us,” Richards said. “Businesses are no exception. We have been working hard to help homeowners and individuals who were hit by Sandy and we are working hard to help businesses as well. There are resources that can help and we want to make sure that our local businesses are aware of any and all aid available.”
The small business fair is slated to run from 10 a.m. through 1 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. through 7 p.m. in Richards’ Far Rockaway office at 15-26 Central Ave. To RSVP for this event, email cmdonovanrichards@gmail.com or call his office at 718-471-7014.
Sanders, who is also helping to organize the fair, said elected officials in the Rockaways envision the peninsula coming back better than before, despite the devastation that Sandy brought.
“By putting together this fair, we want to reaffirm New York’s commitment to not only see small business rebound, but to see them operate stronger than ever,” Sanders said. “We understand that businesses have been suffering, but resources are available and this effort ensures that business owners will be informed and aware of their options.”
Reach reporter Steve Mosco by e-mail at smosco@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
