Wilmington Aims To Keep Businesses

VPR/ Steve Zind

Ann Coleman and husband Joe Specht are rebuilding the gallery they owned in Wilmington.

 (Host)  In Wilmington, local fundraising efforts are under way to help businesses flooded by Irene. 

But there's also an effort to persuade them to stay in the historic village district. 

As VPR's Steve Zind reports, there's concern that the village's vitality may be one of Irene's casualties.

(Kevin Downey)  "We had a 24 seat restaurant right here."

(Zind) For seven years Kevin Downey and his wife Lori owned Beanhead's, a café and restaurant just off the intersection of Routes 100 and 9 in Wilmington village.   

Now, just a few traces of the business remain in the gutted building.  Irene claimed nearly everything else.

The Downeys plan to restart their business:  But it won't be here. 

Uncertainty about their landlord's plans is one factor.  But the main reason is they don't want to risk having another flood hit Wilmington's historic downtown. 

(Downey) "Being part of that history was kind of nice. At the same time, after experiencing a flood that would be over our head in here today, I'm leery about coming back."

(Zind)  Wilmington village's picture postcard charm has always been an attraction to visitors who come to nearby destinations like Mount Snow.  But more than 40 village businesses were closed by Irene's flooding. 

Some have reopened, or are scheduled to soon.   Others have decided to reopen, but relocate.  There are fears more may do the same.

(Bill Colvin) "I think there are concerns about the vitality of the village and I think there are efforts to try to gauge how real those concerns are."

(Zind) Bill Colvin is Wilmington's economic development specialist.  Colvin says the town and local business leaders are working to encourage businesses to remain in the village. 

Money from a local fundraising event called Floodstock is being used specifically to help flood damaged businesses willing to stay in the village. 

For Ann Coleman, whose gallery was literally swept away by the flood, grant money is important in helping her reduce the amount she'll have to borrow to rebuild her gallery.  She says even emergency loans from the Small Business Administration carry 4 percent interest.

(Coleman) "We're already trying to replace a loan that we have.  So, now we'll be taking out another loan.  Ouch!"

(Zind)  Coleman has already received some grant money, and she and friends are actively fundraising to help her start up again.  She's decided to stay in the village.

(Coleman) "I think the rebuilding has the strongest pull.  To try to put the town back together. With all our fundraising efforts and going after grants and everything, that is the best way to recoup what we've lost. Because people will support you if you have a goal like that in mind."

VPR/ Steve Zind

Kevin Downey and his wife plan to move their flood ruined business out of Wilmington village.

(Zind)  Coleman will build her new gallery above Irene's flood level. 

Kevin and Lori Downey's circumstances were different. Unlike Coleman, they don't own the building where Beanheads was located.  So they made a different decision.  Kevin Downy shows off where he hopes to relocate, on higher ground outside of the village.

(Downey) "It would have to be the million year flood for this place to get hit!"

(Zind)  It's not yet clear how many of the flood ruined businesses will return to Wilmington village. 

Officials and business leaders say they're doing what they can to work with the businesses and the owners of downtown buildings to maintain the appeal the village has long had for visitors.

For VPR News, I'm Steve Zind.