A group of small business owners and community activists in Atlanta are calling on city leaders to provide financial relief during a water crisis in the city. The group proposed the establishment of the Atlanta Small Business Water Crisis Relief Fund at a meeting with the Atlanta City Council on Monday. Devin Barrington-Ward, representing the Black Futurists Group, suggested an emergency ordinance with an initial budget of $5 million to assist businesses that have been left without water following recent water main breaks.
Barrington-Ward explained that many impacted business owners have reported significant financial losses due to the water crisis, affecting their ability to cover essential costs such as payroll and rent. The proposed relief fund would offer up to $10,000 for small businesses and up to $25,000 for medium-sized businesses to help offset these losses. Trinket Lewis, co-founder of MoreLyfe Juice Co. in southwest Atlanta, shared that her business has experienced a significant decrease in sales and operational challenges due to reduced water pressure.
The group emphasized that the funding for the relief fund could potentially come from various sources, including city budget allocations, state and federal emergency relief funds, and private donations and grants. They stressed the urgent need for financial support to help small and medium-sized businesses impacted by the water crisis in Atlanta.