Erie County Legislator and Minority Leader John Mills announced $2 million in funding to help area farms and agribusinesses still struggling from losses in last November’s storm. The money is to help with repairs and replacement of damage to structures and machinery from the lake effect storm, which dumped seven feet of snow on the region over a short time period.
“Insurance does not typically cover damage to greenhouses. The weight of snow from that storm did considerable damage to many structures. I’m hoping this $2 million commitment will help many farmers make the necessary repairs,” said Legislator John Mills.
The funds will be made available to those eligible businesses up to $200-thousand and will be administered through Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District. ECSWCD will review applications, determine which meet the criteria and are eligible for potential funding.
“When you are in farming or the agribusinesses, so much is out of your control. Weather is especially a challenge. When storms and poor weather damage structures or equipment determined to be not eligible for insurance coverage, it creates added challenges for these business owners. I’m glad we can do something to help them recover,” said Legislator Mills.
The $2 million is allocated within the 2023 Erie County Budget. The assistance is for damage that resulted from the 2022 November Storm. Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District will work with the selected businesses to assist in securing the funding.