Elected Officials Create Coalition to Provide COVID-19 Relief

BABYLON, NY — The Town of Babylon launched a new initiative Monday to help local businesses in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Babylon Business Blitz” aims to create a unified coalition of elected officials to further help promote the town’s Direct Support Program. The program allows small businesses, nonprofits and veterans groups to receive federal grant money to ease any negative impacts caused by the pandemic. The effort is the final push to promote the program with the goal of allocating all funds within 100 days.

Babylon officials gathered with a group of local village mayors and trustees, county legislators and state senate and assembly members to help promote the program. Village of Lindenhurst Mayor Mike Lavorata, Village of Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry, New York State Senator John Brooks, Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, and Assemblyman Michael Durso were among those who handed out informational folders to community businesses.

Several recipients of grant allocations attended the event, including Joseph Alletto of Alletto’s Italian Restaurant in Lindenhurst. Alletto is an 88-year-old veteran and business owner who has been in business for more than 50 years.

“After trying other resources, the Town of Babylon were the only ones who came through,” said Alletto’s daughter Kathryn on his behalf. “I’m just so grateful to the town for really being there for him after all the years he’s been in business.”