Cedar Rapids Businesses Look for Flood Recovery Answers

By Dave Franzman, Reporter

An overturned trailer along with mud. broken glass and other debris is strewn along 16th Ave in Czech Village on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 in Cedar Rapids. Authorities allow business owners and the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library were allowed to return today to begin salvaging items from their flooded buildings. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

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By Dave Franzman

Story Created: Jun 26, 2008 at 4:46 PM CST

Story Updated: Jun 26, 2008 at 5:17 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS- Cedar Rapids businesses disrupted by the flooding are going to great lengths to recover. And some signs of that recovery were on display at a "Back to Business" workshop Thursday.

The Cedar Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce hosted more than 100 business owners to provide flood information and answer questions. But another key point to Thursday's gathering was to try and determine what businesses have relocated and where.

Lee Clancey, chamber president, said "there have been a variety of businesses not impacted by floods that have taken in businesses and allowed them space in their place of business and it's happening all over town."

But no one, including the chamber, knows exactly which Cedar Rapids businesses went where. So part of the workshop included a plea for companies to fill out survey forms. Chamber workers will even go door to door beginning Monday to try and fill in the blanks.

The chamber hopes to compile a directory of who's still in business and who's relocated and get it published. Another chamber plan involves free message signs for businesses in flood areas indicating whether they're still open...or moved to a different location.

The chamber expects to reveal details about a $750,000 recovery fund for businesses sometime next week.

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