The unusually cold winter has affected local businesses in varied ways. Some have benefited, while others have lost jobs because of the snow and ice.

A new poll by Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy organization, said that 40 percent of businesses surveyed throughout the state experienced a significant impact due to extreme weather.

Locally, a survey of businesses showed most were hampered by the series of wintry storms, with many having to close down operations for at least a few days this winter.

There was so much snow and ice this winter that even a business that usually benefits from such a storm could not take advantage. Herbert Clements & Sons, a Bellamy heating and plumbing business, had to pull its trucks off the road except for serious emergencies on several occasions to protect its drivers, said J.D. Clements, office manager and co-owner.

When his crews were able to get out during the repeated snow events, Clements said, they were kept busy re...