Feds Open Disaster Funding For Belleville Businesses Ruined In Massive Fire

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The federal government has issued an emergency declaration to aid businesses that suffered in Belleville’s recent warehouse fire.

According to a municipal advisory, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has officially issued an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for Essex County related to the May 3 fire that left several Belleville businesses in ruins.

Businesses in Belleville that were impacted by the fire are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans. Representatives from the SBA will be at the Belleville Public Library, 221 Washington Avenue starting at 10 a.m. on June 16 to assist with loan applications.

More details are available online here.

The massive fire broke out on Cortlandt Street. Strong winds eventually spread the flames to multiple warehouses in the neighborhood, with collapses reported and additional fires seen blocks away, including at several nearby homes.

The blaze devastated several local businesses.

“Everything we worked so hard to build burned down,” one victim said, reporting that their family were evacuated from their home with little warning.

“Years of sacrifice, long days, and dedication turned to ashes overnight,” another said. “We lost everything — our entire inventory, our equipment, and the materials that kept our business running. This isn’t just a business to us. It’s our livelihood.”

• Related: Devastating Fire Leaves Belleville Families, Businesses Pleading For Help
• Related: ‘Fire Is Out’ In Belleville; Governor Visits Town After Massive Warehouse Blaze

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