The Atlanta City Council voted Monday to approve a recovery fund for small businesses that suffered financial losses during the city’s recent water crisis.

The $7.5 million fund is expected to help small businesses and their employees recoup some costs they incurred when water main breaks on May 31 crippled the city for nearly a week with water outages and boil water advisories.

Mayor Andre Dickens originally proposed a $5 million Atlanta Recovery Fund, but the council, after some discussion at its Monday meeting, agreed to add $2.5 million to the fund.

Dickens partnered with Councilmember Matt Westmoreland, who sponsored the initial legislation on behalf of the administration; Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta; and senior city leadership to build out the program expeditiously in order to get funds dispersed as quickly as possible, the mayor said in a news release.

“Our administration knows there is a need for this assistance and together we have made sure that getting money in the hands of the impacted small businesses and their employees remains a priority,” he said. 

The application process for the fund opens June 24. Click here for information. The city plans to reach out to businesses to let them know of the fund.

The money for the recovery fund is coming out of the Department of Watershed Management’s budget.