Rep. Bowman visits Hastings as part of small business 'Road to Recovery' tour
A Hudson Valley lawmaker got a firsthand look at a Westchester ice cream shop hit hard by Ida's remnants, while already struggling to stay in business.
Penny Lick Ice Cream, a staple on Warburton Avenue in Hastings since 2013, is among dozens of small businesses that sustained damage after the remnants of Ida battered the Hudson Valley.
The popular ice cream shop was flooded both from the front and back.
Owner Ellen Sledge says her original hardwood floors will have to be replaced.
"We certainly didn't have flood insurance because we're not in a flood zone, and we're really high up off the water," says Sledge.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman checked out the shop in his district as part of a small business "Road to Recovery" tour.
He says FEMA and the Small Business Administration are ready to help.
"Any small business that was damaged can go on and begin the process, we're pushing to have all of that expedited, but they responded in a very fast way so that's been good so far," says Bowman.
Sledge says she also has to grapple with a surging delta variant and its possible impact on her business.
"The delta variant has us worried that at some point we're going to limit hours more, limit seating more," says Sledge.
There's also concern about supply chain issues and trying to keep operating costs down. But Sledge says she won't call it quits.
"I'm not giving up. I'm not giving up," says Sledge.
The ice cream shop owner tells News 12 she is lucky and thankful her factory in Port Chester did not flood during the storm.

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