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.