Problems plague distribution of Napa quake funds

NAPA, Calif. (KGO) -- Unforeseen problems are plaguing a fundraising campaign to help with recovery efforts after last month's Napa earthquake. It seems getting the financial help to those who really need it is no easy task.

It was about a week and a half ago when we were in Napa reporting that FEMA was giving money back the city and county to deal with infrastructure issues. Still, local businesses and residents who are recovering from the earthquake are still without federal money.

There's $10 million in place that was promised by the local vintners for the community. But so far, only $1 million has landed in their hands. Why? It's complicated.

Jim Jacques is a tropical fish store owner for just five more days. Last month's earthquake left him with nine tanks out of 130. And that's not the worst of it. Here's the twist.

"Mostly I need my customer base back," he said. "A lot of my customers, probably about 50 percent of my customers lost their fish tanks in the earthquake. They have no desire to them back up."

That's just one small business challenge in a community stacked with them. One month after the quake, Napa still has plenty of scaffolds, plenty of red tags, and a few tourists.

What small business owners like Patricia Trimble really need is money.

"At this point there is nothing for us," she said. "And believe me, I have beat the bushes."

Nothing comes as a bit a surprise to many around here because shortly after the quake, the Napa Valley Vintners Foundation pledged $10 million.

But as of Friday, only about $1 million of that has made its way into the community.

"We think we have a $10 million answer to a $300 million dollar question," said Terrence Mulligan, who runs the Napa Valley Community Foundation.

That foundation is administering the money. But turns out they're handcuffed by circumstances and government regulations.

"We're working as diligently as we can to get the dollars out the door as quickly as we can, and we'd like to be moving faster," Mulligan said. "And the truth is, we have to balance that sense of urgency with the rules the IRS imposes upon us when we're talking about getting dollars ultimately into the hands of business owners or households."

Having lost $37,000 worth of unpaid-for merchandise, Trimble would love some of that money, but she must wait. She is not angry, just hopeful.

"You know, they didn't have to do anything," she said. "They donated this money. Nobody told them they had to give to us. We're still waiting for the feds."

Still waiting, still repairing, still Napa.