The Palm Beach County unanimously approved a fund of $250,000 last Tuesday to assist businesses that have been without customers for more than a week following the Learjet accident on Military Trail: each eligible business can apply for a one-time grant of up to $5,000 through the "Military Trail Business Interruption Grant Program."
Applications opened on Thursday, a day after the Veterans Day holiday, and are being processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the available budget is exhausted.
The affected corridor spans Military Trail from Broadway Street to the south up to Kelly Drive and Sussex Avenue to the north, where more than 80 businesses—many owned by Latino proprietors—have remained closed or with severely restricted access since the Learjet 60 crashed at the entrance of the Green Acres Mobile Home Community on November 1, leaving nine people dead.
Among those businesses is the spa of a Cuban entrepreneur whose location was only ten meters from the impact point. She recounted the incident days after the accident: "Literally, the plane fell ten meters to the side and was coming down on top of the spa. In fact, I was supposed to be there early because we're doing some renovations in the space. Thank God, the weather kept us from leaving the house, because I was heading there with my mom, my dad, and my child."
His business, located within the corridor defined by the county, may qualify for assistance.
The commissioner of District 3, Joel Flores, explained that the program was born out of an avalanche of calls from desperate owners: "We have received hundreds of calls about when we will reopen. We have employees, we have people who need to be paid and are not receiving payment. These are family businesses, and we want to make sure to take care of them."
The losses reported by some owners illustrate the extent of the blow. Fathi Itayem, owner of Hair Depot Beauty Supply, estimates a loss of about $30,000 in revenue and acknowledges that the grant "helps a little, but really doesn't cover much."
Hector Sanchez, from Sign Connection USA, estimates losses of about 10,000 dollars — a single vehicle wrap can generate between 3,000 and 5,000 dollars — and is waiting without a reopening date: "We have to try to recover when they open."
We don't know when that will be.
Kim Win, from Lovely Nails, summarizes the situation with resignation: "It's not much, but it helps nonetheless."For Eddie Rivera, owner of Señor Lechón —a Puerto Rican restaurant that opened just three months before the accident with 15 employees on staff— the $5,000 have a clear purpose: “That at least helps with half of the payroll, so that we can support them in moving forward, because I have employees who also have bills to pay.”
To apply for assistance, businesses must submit a signed application, W-9 form, most recent tax return, proof of address, photo identification, business registration, and proof of business license, as well as register as county vendors.
The funds cover rent or mortgage, payroll, utilities, and essential inventory, but do not cover personal expenses, expansion, or items already covered by insurance or other assistance. The amount is calculated based on the business's most recent tax return, assuming 30 days of interruption.
The information is available on the Department of Housing and Economic Development website of the county. For inquiries, the contact is Meri Weymer: MWeymer@pbc.gov or 561-233-3675.
As of the closing of this edition, Military Trail remained without a date for full reopening between 10th Avenue North and Purdy Lane, awaiting the Florida Department of Transportation to begin repairs on the crater left by the impact.
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