A chocolate company in the Rockaway section of Queens will be forced to close its doors unless it receives additional federal aid, says The New York Daily News.

Jorge Farber, owner of Madelaine Chocolate Co., attended a city-organized meeting on Feb. 25 with a group of his employees to plead for additional funds from the federal Sandy relief fund, the Daily News reports.

Farber's plant sustained more than $50 million in damage as a result of Superstorm Sandy and has already received a $250,000 grant from National Grid; $6 million in state tax credits; and a small business loan, says the Daily News. The assistance hasn't been enough, however, and the company has only been able to rehire approximately 125 of its 450 workers. Before the storm, Madelaine was the largest employer in Rockaway. The factory has been operating at 60% capacity since the storm because of serious damage to equipment and inventory, says the Daily News.

Farber has put the facility up for sale, but hopes the city will provide federal relief to will allow him to take it off the market.

Special Reports /

Rockaway Chocolate Company Pleads For Additional Sandy Relief Aid

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