ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ)– Weeks after the train derailment in historic Ellicott City, the town is struggling to recover. Many businesses took a huge financial hit.

As Jessica Kartalija reports, Ravens running back Ray Rice is stepping in to help.

Historic Ellicott City is still reeling weeks after a CSX train detailed, killing two college students and causing millions in damage.

Now, Ray Rice is lending his jersey number 27 to promote 27 days of business on Main Street for what he’s calling “27 For Old EC.”

In a statement, Rice said: “As if the Ellicott City train derailment wasn’t already tragic enough, now I’m hearing businesses are really suffering bad. Please go support the shops and restaurants on Main Street!”

“I’m really happy that he is stepping up to help us out,” Simon Cortes, general manager of La Palapa Mexican Cantina and Grill, said.

Starting Friday, 27 percent of proceeds from sales on their Main Street Quesadilla and Main Street Margarita will go to the Ellicott City Business Association.

Kartalija: “I love it. It’s a great excuse to eat and drink margaritas.”
Cortes: “Yes, thank you. Salud.”

“It’s incredibly helpful to have him take time out of his busy schedule to care about the men and women merchants in Main Street Ellicott City,” Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said.

Several restaurants and shops along Main Street will donate 27 percent of sales on select items to “27 For Old EC.”

“A lot of places in the United States try to recreate a Main Street when we have a real Main Street here,” Cortes said.

“27 For Old EC” lasts for– you guessed it– 27 days. So you have until Oct. 10 to get out and have a margarita and quesadilla for a great cause.

For a list of businesses participating in this program, log on to Facebook and go to the 27forOldEC page.