City Council increases recovery fund to help businesses hit by Atlanta water crisis

The Atlanta City Council voted Monday to provide a recovery fund for small businesses that suffered financial losses during the city’s recent water crisis.

The $7.5 million fund is expected to help small businesses and their employees recoup some costs they incurred when the May 31 water main break paralyzed the city for nearly a week with water outages and boil water advisories.

Mayor Andre Dickens had initially proposed a $5 million Atlanta recovery fund, but the council, after some discussion at its Monday meeting, agreed to add $2.5 million to the fund.

Dickens joined forces with advisor Matt Westmoreland, who sponsored the initial legislation on behalf of the administration; Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta; and senior city leaders to develop the program quickly to disperse funds as quickly as possible, the mayor said in a news release.

“Our administration knows this relief is needed, and together we have ensured that getting money into the hands of impacted small businesses and their employees remains a priority,” he said.

The application process for the fund opens on June 24. Click here for more information. The city plans to contact businesses to let them know about the fund.

The money for the recovery fund comes from the Ministry of Watershed Management’s budget.