State Releases More Funds For Explosion-Impacted Businesses

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday that the state would make an additional $10 million available for the more than 600 businesses hurt by the Sept. 13 gas explosions in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence. In addition to $2 million for technical and other business support and $2 million for longer-term regional support for economic development, the state is giving $2 million to each of the three communities to release as they see fit for business support and economic development.

In a press release, the Baker administration said it was "leveraging" the additional $10 million from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the gas utility that serves the three communities. A National Transportation Safety Board report of the explosions, which killed one and damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings, laid most of the blame for the disaster on Columbia Gas and its parent company, NiSource Inc.

As of Tuesday, Columbia Gas had restored service to 584, or 85 percent, of the businesses that had been without heat or hot water since the explosions. The residential recovery effort is ongoing, with service restore to 5,374, or 73 percent, of the gas meters serving homes.

"While we remain focused on restoring gas service to all those businesses and residents who have not yet been re-lit, we must also transition to assisting businesses that have been adversely impacted," North Andover Town Manager Andrew Maylor said. "The announcement today of $10 million in additional support, specifically up to $2 million for direct support to each municipality, to offset the economic impact this disaster has had in local economic development is huge."

The Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund will serve as the fiduciary agent for the $2 million being give to each program, and the grant program will be implemented through the Lawrence Partnership.

"Moving forward, I look forward to discussing with our community how we can best position Andover businesses for not only the duration of the recovery, but for long-term sustainability and success," Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan said. "This community-wide effort will embrace the critical importance of our downtown, shopping centers and the entire business community that was affected."

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Top: The house on Chickering Road in Lawrence where 18-year-old Leonel Rondon was killed on Sept. 13. Rondon was sitting in the car parked in the driveway when a gas explosion destroyed the house and toppled the chimney onto the car. Photo by Dave Copeland/Patch.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).