Business relief fund in Rome booms with donations following tornado destruction

ROME, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — After a tornado blew through Rome last week, the Copper City is trying to get back on its feet.

“We still have a big uphill climb. And we need people to remember that we are not out of the woods,” said Rome Mayor Jeffrey Lanigan during his press conference Monday afternoon, July 22.

That’s why after a couple years dormant, the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce brought back its business relief fund started during COVID. It’s raised $640,000 in donations, coming from the city, Oneida County and local donors.

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“Some of the applications were hard to read because it is sad, the amount of devastation they have been through,” said Chris Destito, the second vice-chair for the chamber. “Anything we can do to get them to be back open and continue as normal is our goal.”

Like helping Franca’s Wine Room get new windows and doors ruined by the twister.

“I was blown away so to speak that this damage was incredible. Every turn I made trying to make my way in here, the traffic was unbelievable. It was just devastation,” said owner Paul Dowd. “I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’ve lived in Upstate New York my whole life.”

Over 30 local businesses have submitted applications to the fund.

“When something like this happens, and it is unexpected, and you are unprepared for it, those are things that make it hard for businesses to open up again,” Destito said.

“We want to get back to what our passions are. When wind blows our passions away, we pull them back and get set back up again,” Dowd said.

To submit an application, click here .

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