Gov. Patrick Seeks Federal Relief for Businesses in Blast Zone
Gov. Deval Patrick appealed to a federal administration today to get relief for the business impacted by the Boston Marathon bombings. Patrick sent a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration requesting that the administration issue an Economic Injury Declaration for Suffolk County so that long term/low interest SBA loans may be available to the affected businesses and private non-profit organizations, according to a press statement from the governor’s office Friday. Numerous businesses on Boylston and its cross streets were forced to stay closed from April 15 to April 24 or 25 because a 12-block area surrounding the bombing site was considered a crime scene by the FBI. In order to receive this federal assistance, the Commonwealth must show that businesses were negatively impacted and suffered substantial economic injury, according to Patrick’s statement. “Requesting this federal aid will help Boston and the Commonwealth recover faster from the tragic events that unfolded at the Marathon,” Patrick said in the statement. “I urge the Small Business Administration to approve our request quickly to help the small businesses that keep our Commonwealth strong rebuild.” A preliminary Massachusetts Energy Management Agency survey found that at least five small businesses in the area were severely impacted, which satisfied the requirement for Patrick to file for the assistance, the statement says. President Barack Obama has already issued an Emergency Declaration for Suffolk, Norfolk and Middlesex Counties (the counties that host the Marathon route). The Emergency Declaration authorizes the federal government to reimburse municipalities, state agencies and certain non-profits for 75 percent of the cost of Direct Federal Assistance and emergency protective measures necessary to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of catastrophe in the designated counties. South End Patch
Back Bay Businesses to Reopen, Others in the Dark
While most of the Back Bay remains a crime scene following the bombing at the Boston Marathon, some businesses have been given the green light to reopen this week, according to the Boston Business Journal. While officials have told some businesses on Boylston Street when they can reopen, others still have no idea when they can reopen their doors. The Lenox Hotel, at the corner of Exeter Street and Boylston Street has been cleared to open at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Aquent at 711 Boylston Street have been told that they can reenter their office at some point in the next 48 hours, the BBJ reported. When asked, Tarek Hassan president of The Tannery said that “we have no idea,” when they will be able to reopen. “It’s not that we’re being vague,” John Guilfoil, a spokesman for Mayor Thomas Menino told the BBJ. “It’s that the FBI is in charge of the crime scene. Business owners and inspectors will be allowed back inside the blast zone on a “staggered scheduled for limited access.” Mayor Thomas Menino and the city’s emergency management team met on Sunday to come up with a five-phase plan. The phases include: Phase 1: Decontamination and Testing Phase 2: Structural Building Assessments and Utility Coordination Phase 3: Debris Removal Phase 4: Internal Building Assessments Phase 5: Re-Entry, Communications, and Counseling The city has not given a timeline as to when the plan might be called to action, but the message says workers are on standby and prepared to execute on the plan as soon as possible. South End Patch
Offices Offering Space for Displaced Businesses
Boston officials are continuing to reach out to hundreds of Back Bay businesses affected by the marathon tragedy, trying to get those stores, offices and streets, back up and running. On Tuesday, a temporary Business Assistance Center was set up at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel lobby for city officials to respond to any business, employee, or vendor inquiry. The temporary satellite office was to be open on Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Businesses needing workspace can turn to Coworking Opens Doors – a list of Boston, and Boston-area offices offering to host displaced businesses. “The community of coworking spaces in Boston is deeply saddened by the tragic events at the 2013 Boston Marathon,” said a post on Coworking Opens Doors’s website. “To help people get back on their feet, we’re opening our doors to those affected. If you or your business was impacted by the tragedy at the Boston Marathon, the following spaces will host you, for no charge.” Businesses were asked to contact individual spaces listed on the site. The Boston Chamber of Commerce is instructing people who want to help businesses to give to the One Fund for Boston, set up by the city and state to help those most affected by the bombings. Officials from the Inspectional Services Department, Boston Redevelopment Authority, and Department of Neighborhood Development are on hand at the temporary business assistance center to issue building permits, respond to questions about reopening, required inspections, and other additional business services. Also a dedicated business representative will be reachable at the Mayor’s Hotline at 617-635-4500. The Department of Neighborhood Development is also Tweeting about business assistance using the hashtag #marathonbizhelp. South End Patch
South End’s Genuine Interactive Named One of Boston’s Fastest Growing Businesses
The South End’s Genuine Interactive has been recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in Massachusetts by the by the Boston Business Journal. More than 20 Boston businesses are being recognized as 2013 Pacesetters this spring for being among the 70 fastest growing private companies in Massachusetts—businesses that saw the most revenue growth over the past three years, with a revenue baseline of $ 1 million. Genuine’s executive creative director and co-founder Chris Pape, said he and CEO John Grayson founded the company seven years ago with a firm grasp on innovation through collaboration for the digital market. “I wanted to ceate an agency that produced impactful digital ideas and to do that, we needed to have all of the relevant digital thinkers in the room,” he said. “It’s paid off because the work we’ve produced has been really well received, gone viral or been hugely impactful, and it’s because we’re thinking in the digital space.” Pape also said he’s honored to be surrounded by his 90 or so employees that really care about the work they do. “They care so much about the results and what we do for clients, and their work is really different and stands out,” he said. Pape said the location of the office in the South End was not by chance—he considers the South End a great place to work because of its art, culture, restaurants and overall vibe. “We try to attract a creative but also techncially savvy person, and there’s so many people like that in this neighborhood and this city, the South End just makes sense to us.” he said. “The other cool part is there so many technologically focused companies, and we like to be surrounded by innovative people.” The 2013 Pacesetters will be recognized at an April 25 event in downtown Boston. Also at the event, the BBJ will announce the name of Massachusetts’ No. 1 fastest growing company of 2013. Tickets to the event can be purchased online. The full list of Boston-based Pacesetters includes: Allston Latitude Beverage Co., 1354 Commonwealth Ave. Back Bay 360 Public Relations, 150 Clarendon St. Consumer United, 31 St. James Ave. High Street Partners, 31 St. James Ave. Wayfair.com LLC, 177 Huntingtom Ave. Beacon Hill Beacon Hill Staffing Group, 152 Bowdoin St Downtown Best Doctors Inc., 100 Federal St. Big Night Entertainment Group, 3 Boylston Place Boston Technologies Inc., 280 Summer St. Bullhorn Inc., 33-41 Farnsworth St. Daley And Associates LLC, 1 Financial Center EdgeRock Technology Partners, 260 Franklin St. Integrated Design Group, 133 Federal St. Merchant Warehouse, 1 Federal St. […]
Categories: Arrests Tags: 'Growing, Boston's, Businesses, Ends, Fastest, Genuine, Interactive, Named, South