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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The Atlanta City Council has approved millions of dollars in relief for businesses impacted by the city’s massive water main breaks earlier this month.

The City of Atlanta Recovery Fund was unanimously approved by the council Monday afternoon, according to city officials.

Invest Atlanta is spearheading the grant program, which is aimed to assist businesses devastated by the water main breaks. The agency had finalized a $5 million plan, but the amount was raised to $7.5 million before the vote, the council said.

Some businesses had to close or were under a boil water advisory for days.

“On a good weekend, we’ll make at least $25,000 in sales,” said Luis Guerrero, owner of The Greatest of the Plates on Forsyth Street in downtown. “Our AC system is water-based, coming through the water line. It’s been in and out. That’s a huge inconvenience for customers as well.”

Those eligible who will be prioritized include restaurants, daycare centers and small businesses like coffee shops or cleaners. Businesses that won’t be able to apply include work-from-home businesses, liquor stores, CBD shops and nightclubs.

“Our Administration knows there is a need for this assistance and together we have made sure that getting money in the hands of the impacted small businesses and their employees remains a priority,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement.

Atlanta News First also spoke with the owners of Stir House Atlanta. The restaurant just opened in May and were only open for weeks when this happened.

“We had to send employees home for the day, as well,” said Phil Thompson, co-owner of Stir House Atlanta. “We also had some water damage in the freezer area and down in the basement, but the huge issue was having to be closed for a number of days as we waited for water to come back on,” he said. “So, we had some minor damage in the basement and our freezer, it freezes and defrost based on a continuous cycle of water running through and so when that water was no longer running, we didn’t have the water supply, so our freezer froze up and then when it defrosted down,” Thompson said. “We also had some leaking issues because when the freezer froze up or whatever, the pipes expanded,” he added.

Thompson said if approved, they will be applying.

“The reason that this legislation is so beneficial and we’ve had conversations with Invest Atlanta, members of City Council-- is because for small businesses particularly that suffered between one and $5,000 worth of damage, range even if you have insurance, if you have deductible that’s $1,000 to $2,000, it doesn’t make sense to pay $2,000 on a deductible to try to recoup a couple of thousand dollars’ worth of damage. So, this fund will basically stand in place of one, those that are uninsured but also for those that are insured where the damage wasn’t as catastrophic, but it will cover that amount of damage done without those business owners having to file on their insurance and pay a deductible to basically net out even and to face increase in premiums for doing that filing,” Thompson said.

The Atlanta City Council is expected to vote on the measure Monday. If approved, the application process will begin on June 24 and close on July 8.

Invest Atlanta will be hosting a webinar on June 17 on what business owners need to know to apply. For information, click here.

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