Officials Commit $10 Million To Businesses Hurt By Gas Explosions

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Nearly 10 months after the Sept. 13 gas explosions in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, three in 10 of the 900 small businesses impacted say they are still struggling. On Tuesday, officials from the three communities said they will use part of the settlement from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts to help those businesses. At a news conference outside of the Rose & Dove Gift Shop in North Andover, they outlined a marketing campaign to boost business.

The campaign will offer incentives for people to shop locally, including awards of $500 to one resident from each of the three communities to use at local stores and restaurants, according to the Eagle-Tribune, which first reported this story. The campaign will also try to get residents to spread the word about local businesses on social media. The $10 million for the program comes from an $80 million settlement Columbia Gas reached with the three communities in May.

"Now we focus on celebrating our businesses in the Merrimack Valley," Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said.

Tuesday's news conference was overshadowed by an announcement earlier in the day that Columbia Gas of Massachusetts reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by the family of Leonel Rondon, the 18-year-old Lawrence man killed in when the explosions damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings. The National Transportation Safety Board, which is still working on its investigation, has blamed the explosions on over-pressurization in gas lines and has faulted the utility for work plans that led to the explosions.

Rose & Dove owner Kellee Twadelle said while her business was only closed for three days after the explosions, she worked for months without heat. The entrance to the store was blocked for several weeks last fall as crews worked to restore gas service in North Andover.

"When you can't even take a shower at home or drop your kids off at day care, the last thing you're thinking about is shopping locally," she said.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said small business owners, like affected residents in the Merrimack Valley, have struggled to get claims honored by Columbia Gas and its parent, NiSource Inc. "The claims process isn't really set up to be advantageous to small businesses," Rivera said. "They're looking to make the least amount of payouts as possible."

For more on this story, see the Eagle-Tribune.