GOV. MAURA HEALEY has signed off on an economic hardship request submitted to the Small Business Administration that is seeking to help five South Lynnfield businesses that were destroyed by a large fire last month. (Dan Tomasello File Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Gov. Maura Healey has requested that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provide assistance to help five businesses destroyed by a massive fire in South Lynnfield recover.
A six-alarm overnight fire destroyed five businesses located at The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall on Sept. 10. The fire destroyed Cervizzi’s Martial Arts Academy, Dunkin’ Donuts, Fitness Together, Olde Town Market and Wal’s Cleaners. The fire caused a small amount of damage to Bank of America. The fire started at Olde Town Market.
Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director Glenn Davis informed the Villager that the local regional director of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) “reached out and asked how many businesses were involved” after the fire.
“Once we determined at least five businesses were impacted and were total losses, we put together forms and had a Zoom meeting with the owners of the five businesses,” said Davis. “We gave them the form they needed to fill out to declare income from last year, estimated losses based on the loss of their business and forwarded it to the governor to determine whether there was an economic hardship she could sign off on.”
Healey signed off on the economic hardship request in a letter sent to SBA Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience Director Edward Fears. She requested that the administrator of the SBA “implement a Small Business Administrative declaration to provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.”
“More specifically, on the night of Sept. 10, 2024, a six-alarm fire broke out at a strip mall occupied by several businesses,” Healey stated in the letter. “The strip mall was destroyed, requiring it to be torn down and rebuilt.”
In addition to the five businesses, Healey stated that 36 employees were “impacted by this fire.”
“It is estimated to take at least a year to rebuild and reopen the businesses,” Healey wrote. “A survey of these affected businesses was conducted to determine the economic impact of their losses for the disaster period as compared to the same period in the proceeding year. Based upon these surveys, I certify that at least five small businesses in this disaster area have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the disaster and are in need of financial assistance not otherwise available on reasonable terms.”
Healey said in a statement sent to the Villager that, “Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our communities.”
“This fire was devastating for several Lynnfield, Massachusetts small businesses, and so I’m requesting assistance from U.S. Small Business Administration to help them recover from the damages,” said Healey.
If the SBA approves Healey’s request, Davis said the federal agency “can offer a whole bunch of things” to help support the businesses.
“The SBA can offer low interest loans for them to rebuild or rent space elsewhere at a lower cost or with less interest,” said Davis. “The SBA can also provide front money to pay employees health benefits during the time they are not employed. There are different benefits the SBA can offer these businesses so that they can stay afoot and rebuild their business because that is what the SBA tries to do. The SBA doesn’t want them to go out of business, go away and leave permanently. They want to help them rebuild, get their cliental back and get back on their feet.”
Davis said the cause of The Shops at Post Office Square strip mall fire is “still under investigation.”
“We are all waiting for the insurance companies to find the cause of origin,” said Davis. “I anticipate the strip mall will come down in the next week or two. The insurance companies are still doing their forensic investigations. After that is completed, it will come down.”
