Chapel Hill event aims to help workers without jobs after flooding from Chantal

Workers in Chapel Hill who lost their jobs after flooding from Tropical Depression Chantal
can get help Monday as they plan their next steps.

Two 90-minute sessions will be held Monday, at 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., at the Chapel Hill Public Library, located at 100 Library Drive, in meeting room B.

The event, which is open to anyone in need of job assistance, will provide attendees with information about unemployment benefits, education and training opportunities and help searching for jobs.

Additionally, a mobile unit will be available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to offer assistance with resume building and job applications.

“We will help people understand what does it mean to file for unemployment,” said David Putnam, Chapel Hill’s economic development director. “And then we will have training and other educational opportunities available for them.”

Among those impacted by storm are people who worked at the Eastgate Crossing shopping center on East Franklin Street. Severe flooding left many stores unable to accept customers, and there is no timeline yet on when these businesses can
reopen.

Earlier this month, the co-owner of The Loop restaurant at Eastgate Crossing said the business is unrecognizable after Chantal sent more than five feet of water inside the building, leaving behind mud-soaked floors, blown out walls and overturned equipment.

“We have seen some flooding in the past, but we have never seen anything like this,” said Chad Pickens, the general manager of Great Outdoor Provisions. “This was [water] five feet high inside the shop. It literally picked up everything and turned it all over.”

Sky 5: Cars strewn across parking lot at Eastgate Crossing, stores flooded

Town officials are vowing to work with Kite Realty, the company that owns the Eastgate Crossing shopping center, to help stores get back on their feet as quickly as possible. 

Putnam said the town has plans to offer more help to workers in need.

“It could be convening more events,” he said. “It could be doing more of what we’re already doing with technical support and one-on-one assistance and just helping people navigate the resources available to them.”

Monday’s event is hosted by the town of Chapel Hill’s economic development team in partnership with Capital Area Workforce Development.