Joplin Businesses Slowly Prepare To Reopen One Year Later

The loss of life is a major part of the Joplin tragedy when a tornado ripped through the city a year ago.

But the loss of jobs has also been a very real aspect of all that is now gone. Businesses are trying to rebuild as best and fast as they can despite the challenges that remain, especially for the smaller locally owned places.

The finishing touches are being made to Liz Easton's bakery. She says it's finally time to bake again.

Joplin Tornado Timeline

"It's been long," said Easton. "It's been scary, but it's been very exciting."

Easton is about to re-open what the May 22 tornado closed, with frightening force.

"Joplin is recovering and rebuilding," Easton said.

Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean admits the anniversary is a huge milestone for Joplin.

"I think after this memorial, it's going to give people a chance to breathe and move forward," said the mayor.

Moving forward has been slow, but the people of Joplin have rallied behind every "green-ribbon" cutting ceremony to mark a new start for a business blown away.

One of the reasons the rebuilding is taking time, is because many of the business owners like Easton lost their home as well.

The US small Business Administration approved more than 40 million for nearly 500 tornado impacted individuals and businesses.