PAnews.com, Port Arthur, Texas

Nederland

Related Photos

  • MIKE TOBIAS

    NEDERLAND BUSINESSES

Discussion

August 22, 2006

Ned Chamber still helping businesses with Rita damage

By Ashley Sanders

The News staff writer

NEDERLAND — Nearly one full year after Hurricane Rita ripped through Southeast Texas, many Nederland business owners are still struggling to make themselves whole again.

To find out just how much damage the category 3 storm inflicted on the city, the Nederland Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey in December 2005 of all of their members. What the chamber found was “surprising.”

“We were surprised at the amount of damages that businesses sustained and the number that don’t have access to adequate funding,” an Aug. 10 letter sent out to chamber members reads.

The survey, sent to 500 chamber members, returned 153 responses.

“That response rate gives us a very high confidence level for the accuracy of the data,” the letter continues. “The projected damages to businesses is over $11 million and nearly one-third of the businesses don’t have funding to make necessary repairs.”

According to the survey, 88 members who returned the survey said they experienced substantial damage during the storm. And while 18 members said they had minimum damage, 20 chamber participants said their business suffered major losses.

Only 26 business owners reported no damage at all.

Of the respondents, 40 percent said their damages cost $30,000 or more to repair. Another 18 percent said their hurricane repairs ran between $10,000-$37,000 and 37 percent of the survey participants said their costs were under $10,000.

While more than half of those who had damage to their business could meet the financial requirements to repair their business, 30 percent said they did not have enough money to cover the cost of their repairs.

“The Nederland Chamber is working with local, state and federal agencies to make sure area businesses have adequate information on available loan programs,” the chamber said in their letter to members. “Unfortunately, there are no grants available. When we have all of the potential funding sources identified we will schedule a meeting.”

For more information on the Nederland Chamber of Commerce storm damage survey, call 722-0279.

Text Only
Nederland
Subscribe today
Community Photos
CMS.jpg

Courtesy Photo
The Central Middle School Band capped off a successful year by competing in the Solo and Ensemble Contest on May 5th. Forty-eight students brought home 66 medals.  Band members who won honors are: Danny Abdullah, Syrina Akbari, Abigail Albright, Max Barclay, Joel Bardwell, Jordan Bardwell, Brandon Baumgardner, Anthony Bennett, James Brindza, Cullen Cessna, Vanessa Daigle, Collin Elliott ,Dyan Emerson, Cyle Hubbard, Colin Jackson, Jennifer Jones, Jordan Jones, Jase Keel, Jessica Koons, Marissa Licatino, Todd Luke, Kade McCorvy, Jordan Mitchell, Kelby Myers, Mason Ouzts, Sara Pierce, Kayla Prestridge, Daniela Rodriguez, Noah Ross, Shae Sanders, Chandler Smith, Brian Speight, Erin Stilley, Arriana Torres and Tommy Truong Central's Band Directors are Joe Vargas and Michelle Melancon. On May 15th, the Band will hold its final performances of the year. They will play in Central's auditorium at 9 AM. Later that evening, they will be part of the Nederland ISD Band Pageant at the Performing Arts Center.  

Video
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report 15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108 Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Facebook
Sports Tweets
  • Sports tweets

    Anonymous The Port Arthur News Tue, May 31
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com