GREENACRES, Fla. — On Sunday, Palm Beach County officials announced a $250,000 grant program to assist businesses affected by a recent Learjet crash that disrupted operations along Military Trail.
The National Transportation Safety Board has begun wrapping up its on-scene investigation into the incident, which occurred over a week ago. The proposed grant program aims to support local businesses that experienced financial losses due to the road closure.
Business owners may apply for up to $5,000 to cover expenses like payroll, rent, and essential operational costs. According to Palm Beach County Commissioner Joel Flores, the initiative was launched following numerous inquiries from affected small businesses struggling to meet financial obligations.
“We've been receiving hundreds of calls about when we're going to reopen. A lot of these are mom-and-pop shops, and we want to make sure that we take care of them,” Flores said.
Señor Lechon restaurant owner Eddie Rivera noted that his establishment has been closed for over a week due to the crash. The closures have severely impacted his business, which employs 15 individuals. Rivera expressed optimism about the proposed financial assistance, stating, “Any help at this point would be great.”
In addition to the county's grant program, over $50,000 has been raised by United Way for temporary assistance, while the Emergency Assistance Foundation is offering $1,000 grants to residents displaced by the crash.
Authorities aim to facilitate a safe return for residents and businesses in the coming days, although a full timeline for reopening Military Trail remains unclear as investigations continue.