Rebuild Palm Springs distributes initial $82,000 to bombing-affected businesses

Rebuild Palm Springs has distributed more than half of the funds raised following the May 17 bombing at a fertility clinic in the city, with the remaining money earmarked for boutique hotels navigating insurance claims, according to an email sent by Mayor Ron deHarte last week.

The community fundraising effort collected $159,000, and organizers have made 10 distributions to seven entities totaling $82,008, deHarte said in an Oct. 27 email update to constituents. The remaining $77,000 is expected to support several boutique hotel businesses currently working through complex insurance and funding processes.

The announcement comes amid calls for increased transparency about how the funds have been allocated. The initiative began after organizers determined that small businesses in the blast zone surrounding the American Reproductive Center clinic in the 1100 block of North Indian Canyon Drive faced more than half a million dollars in uninsured damages due to a gap in terrorism insurance coverage.

In response to the scope of the losses, deHarte announced in May that the fundraising goal had been raised to $250,000 from its original $100,000 target. Additional relief followed in July, when the city of Palm Springs unveiled a $50,000 recovery fund to help businesses cover costs that insurance may not fully address. That money is intended to support rebuilding, repair work and other recovery-related expenses as businesses continue to address damage from the attack.

Meanwhile, American Reproductive Centers plans to rebuild its clinic at the original location, with a groundbreaking scheduled for December. Rebuilding costs are estimated at around $17.5 million, according to the clinic. It has received $500,000 from the state after securing support from Assemblyman Greg Wallis, Speaker Robert Rivas, budget chairs, legislative leaders and the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus.

Recipients of the Rebuild Palm Springs distributions include boutique hotels, a retail complex, a multi-tenant business and a retail store employee whose car was totaled during the blast. Among them, Descanso Resort received $10,000, with insurance covering the remaining damage; The Weekend Palm Springs qualifies for $20,000 pending completion of repair work; and The Velvet Rope received $10,000 and qualifies for an additional $10,000 once receipts are submitted.

A 10-tenant business at 1111 N. Palm Canyon Dr. received $10,000 and qualifies for another $10,000 pending proof of payment. A mid-century retail complex received $3,508 for damage not covered by insurance due to a high deductible, and a small retail store qualifies for $1,000 to cover its insurance deductible. In addition, an employee at a small retail store received $7,500 after his car was totaled during the blast while he was at work, a loss his insurance did not cover.

The Desert Business Association and Greater Palm Springs Pride are distributing all funds raised, following guidelines based on the city’s Facade Improvement Program.

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