Eighteen businesses in East Palestine, Ohio have been approved for more than $3.3 million in forgivable loans to assist with recovery efforts lingering from February’s train derailment.
A Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine on February 3.
The Ohio Department of Development’s East Palestine Emergency Support Program – which launched in August to provide loans to businesses impacted by the train derailment – approved this week’s loans for the 18 businesses. A total of $5 million was made available for the program.
The zero percent interest, forgivable loans range from $10,000 to $1 million to assist with “ongoing expenses and recovery efforts. The loans, according to Governor Mike DeWine’s office, are forgivable if utilized for “payroll, employee benefits, rent or mortgage payments, utility expenses, worker protection, or inventory replacement expenses related to the train derailment.”
“The strong business community here in East Palestine is more than just the backbone of the local economy, it’s the heart and soul of this town,” DeWine said in a statement. “By supporting these businesses, we’re giving them the tools to recover and restore jobs, services, and the vibrancy of their community.”
The following businesses were approved for this round of forgivable loans:
- Strohecker Incorporated – $965,145.97
- Fuller Hardware Inc – $3,107.87
- TRIPCO, LLC – $150,000.00
- Ohio Valley Foods, Inc. – $566,127.76
- Columbiana Sanitation Industries CSI – $62,250.00
- McKim’s Honeyvine LLC – $37,400.50
- Medart, Inc. – $526,083.36
- Brave Industries LLC – $134,500.00
- Cardinal Welding, Inc. – $232,021.76
- Bea’s Insurance Agency, LLC – $36,518.00
- Linsley-Royal Funeral Home – $160,683.50
- Gorby’s Grocery, Inc. – $97,721.25
- Hardcastle Realty, LLC – $80,066.76
- Enchanted Salon, LLC – $18,871.50
- 1820 House, LLC- $66,531.25
- DAH Realty, LLC – $95,202.00
- EPO2, LLC – $15,162.00
- Bush Heating, LLC – $87,774.00
The Ohio Department of Development continues to review additional loan applications from businesses recovering from the February train derailment.
For-profit and nonprofit Ohio businesses located within a two-mile radius of East Palestine that were operational on or prior to December 1, 2022, are eligible to apply for the loans.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Image “East Palestine Christmas 2023” by East Palestine.
