DELAURO VISITS 3RD DISTRICT BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY STORM

New Haven, CT — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) toured 3rd Congressional District businesses, including a farm, affected by Tropical Storm Irene today and met with the owners to address their concerns and needs with the recovery efforts.

Congresswoman DeLauro was joined on the tour in New Haven Mayor by John DeStefano, in Hamden by Mayor Scott Jackson and Nancy Welsh, County Executive Director of the U.S. Farm Service Agency, in Shelton by Bill Purcell, President of the Naugatuck Valley Chamber, and Bernard Sweeney, District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA) in Connecticut.

The major disaster declaration signed by President Obama provides Connecticut small businesses with access to a wide range of assistance from the SBA. Businesses that were damaged or suffered economic injury can apply for SBA disaster loans to help recover. Assistance is also available to the state and some farms in Connecticut from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Tropical Storm Irene caused significant damage to our local businesses and economy, but with the help of FEMA, the SBA, USDA and all of those in Connecticut who are working on behalf of our local businesses, we will recover and rebuild. I am pleased to see the work that has already been done, as people work together with their local and state governments to move forward. The President's major disaster declaration will ensure that our local businesses have access to the help they need, and I will continue to fight in Washington to maintain that assistance and help Connecticut fully recover from this historic storm."

To contact the Congresswoman's office, please call (203) 562-3718 or visit www.delauro.house.gov.