Superstorm Sandy fishery disaster relief program grants available

Governor Cuomo announced up to $3.6 million in grants are available to businesses in New York’s fishing industry affected by the impacts of Superstorm Sandy. Funded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the grants will reimburse sectors of New York’s fishing industry that suffered a loss of revenue due to the storm.

Eligible applicants include businesses in the following sectors: bait and tackle; for-hire fishing boat operators; marinas; commercial harvesters; commercial seafood dealers, shippers or processors; and aquaculture facilities.

Fishing businesses in eligible counties must complete an application and provide documentation to demonstrate more than $5,000 in revenue or gross income loss as a result of Superstorm Sandy, and have at least $15,000 in annual earnings in one of the eligible fishery sectors.

Applicants can apply online at https://apps.cio.ny.gov/apps/cfa/. Several public information meetings to explain the grant program and to provide application assistance will be held in Long Island, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley. More information on the meetings to be scheduled in the coming weeks and for more information about the program or for assistance with filling out the application is available on DEC’s website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/102594.html. For additional information, applicants can also contact DEC at (518) 402-8044 or FisheryGrant@dec.ny.gov, or the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) at 1-855-NYS-SANDY (1-855-697-7263) or info@stormrecovery.ny.gov.

Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2015.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery are holding meetings in our area to provide information about the Superstorm Sandy Fishery Disaster Relief Program.

The following informational meetings have been scheduled:

Nassau County: Seaford

Seaford Public Library
Valentine Meehan Community Meeting Room
2234 Jackson Avenue
Seaford, NY 11783
Tuesday, November 17, 7-9 PM

NYC: Brooklyn

Kingsborough Community College
Room M239 in the Marine Academic Center
2001 Oriental Boulevard
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Thursday, November 19, 7-9 PM

Suffolk County: Riverhead

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
First Floor Meeting Room
423 Griffing Ave.
Riverhead, NY 11901
Monday, November 23, 7-9 PM

Suffolk County: Montauk

Club House at the Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course
50 South Fairview Ave.
Montauk, NY 11954
Tuesday, November 24, 7-9 PM

For more information about the Program, the meetings, or how to apply for Superstorm Sandy Fishery Disaster Relief, please visit our website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/102594.html

Source:  Press release issued by Gov. Cuomo’s office dated September 15, 2015 and press release issued by NYSDEC dated October 5, 2015