Businesses experiencing economic losses due to Kummer Bridge repairs may qualify for federal assistance

Informational meeting for business owners set for December 22nd

Southeast King County businesses being impacted by the closure of the Kummer Bridge linking Black Diamond and Enumclaw over the Green River on State Route 169 will have a chance to get questions answered and learn about possible federal assistance at a meeting December 22nd in Black Diamond.

Meeting details:

Monday, December 22, 2008
4:00 p.m
The Swinging Arm in Diamond Square
30741 3rd Ave, Suite 105
Black Diamond, WA

King County Office of Emergency Management staff will be available at the meeting to answer questions and provide information to business owners interested in the United States Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.

Many southeast businesses have already seen a reduction in customers since the Kummer Bridge was closed to all traffic on November 18th and state Department of Transportation contractors began emergency repair work near the bridge to relieve pressure from a landslide.

King County staff are conducting a damage assessment of disrupted business activity related to the bridge closure in anticipation of obtaining a declaration by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Reported economic losses to local businesses are as high as 80% and are expected to continue until bridge repairs are completed in May 2009.

For more information about the meeting or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, contact Timothy Doyle at 206-296-3830 or timothy.doyle@kingcounty.gov.