Company’s grants reaching appreciative businesses

W.W. Grainger, a Chicago-based electrical parts supplier, donated the money to the Somerset County Business Partnership through its "Rebuilding America" program.

By: Audrey Levine
   It is 12:30 p.m. on Friday and Bea’s Luncheonette, on South Main Street, is bustling with customers eating their meals and chatting with staff.
   Ed Handl, of Roosevelt Avenue, took a seat at the counter, enjoying some light banter with owner Wendy Hepburn as he ate his grilled cheese sandwich.
   "We have fun in here," Ms. Hepburn said Friday, as she leaned on the counter and looked over at her customers. "We are all like a family."
   But fun was in short supply when Ms. Hepburn was forced to make massive repairs in her restaurant after the April nor’easter left 4 feet of water inside — destroying appliances, food and carpeting, among other items — and forced her to close her doors for three weeks.
   "I had to throw out everything," she said. "We didn’t reopen until we had an inspection from the Board of Health."
   Now, Ms. Hepburn’s restaurant is one of seven other local businesses that received a share of the $50,000 donated to Manville and Bound Brook by W.W. Grainger, a Chicago-based electrical parts supplier. The check was presented at a press conference Sept. 6.
   "I appreciate Grainger donating to the victims," Ms. Hepburn said.
   Grainger donated the money to the Somerset County Business Partnership through its "Rebuilding America" program, which was created in 2003 to help small businesses impacted by natural disasters, including floods, tornadoes and ice storms.
   According to Jeff Horn, CEO and president of the Somerset County Business Partnership, business owners were required to fill out applications for the grant money and all 33 businesses that did so qualified, receiving an equal share, $1,515.15, of the $50,000.
   The applications were evaluated by the Somerset County Business Partnership with regard to three different criteria points. Businesses must have had major damage as defined by FEMA, plan to remain in business for at least a year after the money is received, and a team of bankers had to ensure that the business had been viable before the storm.
   Ms. Hepburn said many of her customers were on hand to assist her in repairing the $10,000 worth of damage caused by the storm.
   "They came and helped, even bringing food, because they wanted me to reopen," she said, indicating the new carpet, chairs and other equipment throughout the restaurant. "They said, ‘you’re ruining our routines (by not being open).’"
   Ms. Hepburn said that, although most of the work was done by herself and Manville residents, she appreciates that the borough was consistent in collecting the debris that she left outside.
   "They picked it up every day in a nice timely manner," she said.
   The April nor’easter affected a total of about 40 communities throughout northern New Jersey. It was predicted that the storms almost matched the destruction of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, which also set business owners back millions of dollars.
   "Many businesses are still repaying loans from Hurricane Floyd," Mr. Horn said. "But this money is a grant and does not have to be repaid."
   Ms. Hepburn said she was able to use the funds to pay for a new refrigerator that recently broke, at a total cost of about $1,500.
   Although she suffered from major damage in April, Ms. Hepburn said it wasn’t quite as bad as Hurricane Floyd, which left 8-feet of water inside her business.
   "At that time, we were able to reopen in 13 days," she said of the restaurant which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in May. "But I want to thank all my friends for coming in and getting this place reestablished in three weeks this time."
   Also receiving grant money in Manville were the American Legion Post 304, Rhythms, John Kay Electric, Lando Inc., Weston Service Center and S&G Cleaning Services Corp.