Nassau urges use of business recovery resources following Sandy

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano is urging business owners to use all available resources to get back on their feet after superstorm Sandy, including the county Industrial Development Agency’s Business Recovery Center.

“My administration is doing everything possible to help small businesses rebuild in Nassau County as they are the backbone of our economy,” Mangano said in a statement.

The Recovery Center offers affected businesses a sales tax exemption on purchases of furniture, fixtures, equipment, machinery and building material needed to reopen. Thus far, more than $1.5 million in exemptions have been issued.

The 24-hour center has a hotline — 516-571-1745 — staffed by economic development representatives. All federal, state and local business recovery resources can be accessed at nassaubackinbusiness.org. The county IDA also has an email address where questions can be addressed by economic development professionals — LEADs@NassauIDA.org.

Other resources available to help local businesses are:

* The U.S. Small Business Administration, with low-interest loans for businesses and most private nonprofits for physical property losses of up to $2 million.

Small businesses and most private nonprofits also can apply for economic injury loans of up to $2 million. Interested businesses can apply at any State/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center or SBA Business Recovery Center, online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, or by contacting the SBA at 800-659-2955.

* The National Grid Hurricane Sandy Relief Program provides grants up to $250,000 to National Grid commercial, industrial or multifamily residential gas customers for energy infrastructure repairs or replacement, rehabilitation of buildings, and costs associated with replacement of machinery or equipment necessary for business operations. To determine eligibility and for additional information, customers should contact National Grid at 855-496-9359.

Above: Firefighters were unable to save Tropix, an outdoor restaurant that opened just months ago on Freeport's Nautical Mile, after it was consumed in a fire that likely is Sandy-related. (Oct. 30, 2012)