Hopatcong businesses push for I-80 sinkhole relief
HOPATCONG, N.J. (PIX11) — Multiple businesses in Hopatcong, New Jersey, are hoping the state will change its requirements so they are eligible for I-80 grant relief funds.
Currently, relief through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is only available to businesses in Morris County that are within a five-mile radius of the sinkhole. Businesses in Sussex County that are within the same radius do not qualify.
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'I think it's kinda crazy because we're just literally down the road from the sinkholes,' said Aldo Chavez, a manager at Chapala Grill 4 in Hopatcong.
Like many restaurants surrounding the sinkholes, Chapala Grill 4 has seen a drop in customers, but Chavez can't apply for the grant money because the business is located in Sussex County.
State Assemblymember Mike Ignanamort, who represents Hopatcong in District 24, said county lines should be irrelevant, given the circumstances. 'A natural disaster doesn't follow county lines, and nor should the response,' said Ignanamort.
Ignanamort said he has been in talks with the NJEDA to expand the grant criteria to include Sussex County. He remains cautiously optimistic.
'We're having good conversations with them,' said Ignanamort. 'We're gonna continue to make the case that this program should be open to Sussex and Morris Counties.'
To make matters worse for businesses, however, the N.J. Department of Transportation just announced that the two westbound lanes scheduled to reopen on May 4th will now reopen at the end of May. The DOT said sonic drilling is taking longer than expected.
NJ businesses around I-80 sinkhole get creative to get customers in
Those couple of extra weeks are critical to seasonal businesses along Lake Hopatcong, including marinas and restaurants.
'You have Mother's Day coming up, which is gonna fall within that two-week delay,' said Lisa Palanci, the COO of Camp Six, a property company that manages several businesses along the waterfront.
Palanci said the delays will cost businesses during a critical time when businesses are ramping up for the season.
'When the weather's like it is today, they want to get out to the lake,' said Palanci. 'People are putting their boats in and they want to come up and spend the day on the lake, and there's just that hesitation because they're going to hit traffic.'
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