VT Attorney General addresses disaster relief with Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce

By Bella Osgood
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
LUDLOW, Vt. — On Tuesday, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark visited Java Baba’s in Ludlow to discuss disaster relief options with the Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce, following the recent flooding throughout Vermont. Ludlow was among the hardest hit areas.

Clark was accompanied by “small business advocate” Emily McDonald. Clark, who grew up in the Ludlow area, expressed her gratitude for small businesses and their resilience to the recent natural disasters, saying that “small business is what makes Vermont, Vermont.”

She stressed the importance of staying aware of scammers who attempt to take advantage of events, such as natural disasters, for their own profit. One example Clark provided was fake charities that promise relief for communities in need.

Later, when financial support options were discussed, McDonald encouraged all businesses affected by flooding to look into as many options as possible.

Steven Clark, a public affairs specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration, provided information about how to apply for loans through the federal agency. The SBA, he said, “has low-interest loans for physical damage for homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses,” in addition to Economic Injury Disaster Loans. He said the SBA “can make a loan for total loss,” and urged anyone who is interested to apply for these relief loans as soon as possible, adding that, once an application for a loan is accepted, the recipient has 60 days to accept the offer, and two years to request more money, if the funding they originally received was not adequate.

Okemo Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Lighthall mentioned the Okemo Valley Disaster Fund, which was established by the Chamber and other community organizations. Lighthall said that they have raised “a couple thousand dollars,” and that the application for support from this fund will be coming soon. The application deadline is Aug. 22.

“Those outside of Ludlow are thinking of you,” Clark said.