By Paul Tuthill
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Springfield, MA – The tornadoes that ravaged parts of Massachusetts are the latest setback to many businesses that were struggling to recover from the recession.. Government officials say getting business going again is a priority in the storm recovery effort. .. . WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
The day after the tornadoes tore a 39 mile long path of destruction through 19 Massachusetts communities, the state's top business development official got on the phone to local chambers of commerce. Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Gregory Bialecki asked the chamber officials to identify businesses affected by the natural disaster.
Bialecki says temporary office space has been lined up for many businesses , and low interest loans are available to help with short term cash flow problems.
While the region's large employers made it through the storms relatively unscathed, Alan Blair, the president of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts says upwards of 40 small businesses in Springfield alone were destroyed.
Bruce Stebbins, the city of Springfield's business development administrator says there are a lot of variables in determining whether businesses will be able to bounce back from the disaster.
Officials says it is hard to estimate how much of a hit the local economy took due to temporary closures and lost sales. Antonio Caputo, owner of the landmark Red Rose Pizzeria in Springfield's South End , was able to quickly repair the damage to his building, but could not open for a week because streets remained closed.
Bill Fienberg, is relocating his insurance agency to West Springfield, temporarily, he says, until repairs are done to his store front office on South Main Street in Springfield.
The city spent several million dollars in public money over the last couple of years to strengthen the infrastructure and improve the appearance of the South Main Street corridor in hopes of attracting more businesses and middle class housing. Now the area will be pot marked with more vacant lots after several buildings that were damaged beyond repair are torn down.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno says he sees the proverbial silver lining in the dark cloud.
Congressman Richard Neal has urged the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to make block grants available to help businesses rebuild.