Two Hazard businesses have received $10,000 grants to help their recovery from the February flood. The Backing Small Business Disaster Recovery Grants are sponsored by American Express and Main Street America. One of the winners is Coal Country Candles, which is owned by Shannon Gabbard and her husband. She says the North Fork of the Kentucky River left nearly 3 feet of water in their store.
“We had quite a few volunteers, and over the first couple of weeks, we reopened our doors about two weeks after the flood, definitely not in a normal state. Dry wall was cut off four feet up the walls, and inventory was not what it normally is.”
Gabbard says the city’s downtown coordinator sent her a link to apply for the grant.
“We thought, you know, ‘Why not?’ Right? You know, you're not going to get any grant money if you don't apply grants for for profit, businesses are few and far between. And we felt like, you know, we definitely had an impact to our business, so it was worth a shot.”
The other Hazard business receiving a $10,000 grant is a womens’ clothing store called Hot Mess Express 606.
