RED HOOK, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- Chrissy Fitchel owns a candle manufacturing company in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
A rainy day automatically spins her head and makes her think of the times her business has flooded. The last incident was in December.
“Any type of flood will actually close our business, and we could be closed for one day, two days, or five days,” said Fitchel.
The New York City Department of Small Business Services announced the Business Preparedness and Resiliency Program or BPREP.
“Small businesses and commercial property owners that completed BPREP can receive grants up to $5,000 to strengthen their infrastructure,” said Kevin D. Kim, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services.
The program aims to help business owners reduce the chance of disruptions by teaching them how to better prepare for a natural disaster.
Fitchel’s biggest worry is having to close her company due to water getting inside.
“We have 35 employees here that I want to make sure they have their hours and that we can pay them and there is work to be done,” stated Fitchel.
With the collaboration of the NYC Emergency Management and the NYC Department of Environmental protection, the program will also teach business owners how to protect their assets, navigate insurance and get back to business as soon as possible.
The Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice is also involved in this program. They estimate that about 480 small businesses will benefit from this program.
“The Adams’s Administration is proud to have secured over $1.6 billion in federal funding to build resilience sustainable infrastructure in NYC including 2.3 dollars for this BPREP program,” said Kim.
To qualify for the grant, you must first get a free assessment. For more information, click here.
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