SBRN Assists Clothing Company Weather Future Storms

By Leslie Rivera, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Among the vibrant storefronts of Downtown Staten Island, ROS 3 Clothing Co. knows how to stand out. Nestled in the heart of Stapleton since 2012, the business has energized the community by providing high-quality, vintage, and alternative men's clothing. Shelves are stocked full of signature brands and statement pieces carefully curated by the store's owner, Erick Leon, who, over fifteen years ago, saw an opportunity to bring something different to the community via his passion for fashion and clothing.

Despite its success and long-standing roots in the community, the storefront has faced constant challenges due to flooding of the area. Following a particular devastating storm, the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce visited the area to offer support to the affected businesses.

Through the Chamber's outreach team, owner Erick Leon learned about a business preparedness program by the NYC Department of Small Business Services designed to provide relief to businesses in flood zone areas. With support from the Chamber, Erick applied to the program and was reimbursed $5,000 dollars - the maximum reimbursement amount for upgrades to make the storefront more resilient to future floods.

After submitting his application, SBS experts reviewed the location, business operations, and insurance needs to provide recommendations that help reduce the risk to the business and/or property in the event of future disasters.

"We ended up getting sandbags and other additional equipment to stop the water from overwhelming and coming into the store. We had seen so much damage from the water rushing through that securing and upgrading the storefront was the priority," says Erick. "I may not get my lost merchandise back, but at least we know that next time we'll be more prepared."

Today, the improvements have returned some peace of mind and vibrancy to the front of ROS 3 Clothing Co.

"A lot of people would benefit from this kind of program, but not a lot of people are aware that there are resources out there they can access," notes Erick, "That's why I'm glad I get to see the [Chamber's] outreach team around often. Chances are I wouldn't have found if Leslie hadn't stopped by the store."

The BPREP grant is still available for any small businesses located in New York City floodplains. To be eligible, your business and/or property must be located in an area at risk of flooding according to the NYC Flood Hazard Mapper (select "Future Floodplain 2050s" layer) or the NYC Stormwater Resiliency Maps (select "Moderate Flood (2.13 in/hr) with 2050 Sea Level Rise" layer).

For more information, please contact Leslie Rivera at the Chamber at 718-727-1900 ext. 1002, or email her at [email protected].