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EAST PALESTINE -- Norfolk Southern held its first of two planned open houses for local business owners at the East Palestine Memorial Public Library Thursday to connect businesses impacted by February's train derailment to available resources from the railroad.
The open house, which was held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., also served as a forum for village proprietors to share their struggles and voice their concerns as businesses continue to see the residual effects of the rail disaster.
"We hope this event provides a space where we can listen, connect and extend our support to local businesses, understanding the challenges they faced following the February derailment," said Will Harden, senior director of Legal Claims at Norfolk Southern. "This touchpoint represents another important step to helping the community recover and thrive."
Harden said that Norfolk Southern was able to engage with several business owners during the event and that every business voiced a different concern related to the derailment. Different businesses, he said, need different things.
"It's been a case-to-case basis and there's no one theme that I have heard so far," Harden said. "Everybody has a different story. And a different scenario that we need to consider.
According to Norfolk Southern, the open houses are "a chance to spotlight the services available and nurture community connections" and "to connect businesses with resources to aid in their recovery, including reimbursement for losses incurred as a result of the derailment."
"This is an additional avenue to get information out to business owners and let them know that NS is here to help them with assistance from the derailment," Harden said. "It's mostly financial assistance through the railroad."
Harden said Norfolk Southern is ready and willing to financially assist businesses that have suffered due to the rail disaster. He encouraged business owners to attend and the second open house that is set for Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the library.
"We want the message to be that NS is here for the long haul," Harden said. "We are here to make it right and when we say that, we mean it."
Harden also encourages business owners to visit the NS Family Assistance Center. The center is located at 191 E. Rebecca St. and is available to business owners and residents Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday noon to 8 p.m. Businesses can also call the center at 800-230-7049 or email at epbl@nscorp.com for information or assistance.
Earlier this month, Norfolk Southern announced its intention to give existing businesses, potential new village businesses and the village economy a long-term boost with a grant of $500,000. A portion of the grant will be used to employ an independent, private-sector economic development consultant to be hired by and work for the village. Details of the grant program have not been released.
Ohio has also rolled out a plan to assist East Palestine businesses. The East Palestine Emergency Support Program, an emergency support program, announced by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, state Sen. Michael Rulli (R-Salem) and state Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana County) in June, began officially accepting applications Thursday at 10 a.m. Funding through the program will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and will provide zero-interest, forgivable loans to businesses to assist with ongoing expenses and recovery efforts associated with the derailment. The program is open to for-profit and nonprofit businesses located within a 2-mile radius of East Palestine in Ohio and operational on or prior to Dec. 1, 2022.