The Merrimack Valley Small Business Center is part of the team of agencies working to help small businesses and entrepreneurs from the Lawrence, Andover and North Andover area as they work to recover from the recent Columbia Gas Emergency.

The Merrimack Valley Small Business Center put together the following tips for small businesses and entrepreneurs:

1. Be sure to document and photograph any losses or emergency related expenses and keep all receipts.
2. Check in with your Insurance company to get up to date information on what options you may have for filing a business loss claim.
3. If you have had to temporarily close your business or if for any other reason you are having trouble keeping up existing business loan payments be sure to contact your local loan representative to discuss options for delaying payments without penalties based on the current Columbia Gas Emergency.
4. Reach out to the Merrimack Valley Small Business Center and any of the other agencies who are participating in the We Are Lawrence business response at the link below:

Additionally, here are some links for Small Business Owners who have been impacted by the emergency with up to date information on emergency loan options as well as recommendations about how businesses can better plan for future crises.

http://wearelawrence.org/lawrencegasresponsebusiness

https://www.columbiagas.com/massachusetts/incident-home

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/3099-disaster-recovery-tips.html

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/node/43155

For more information, please contact:

Franky Descoteaux, Director of MVSBC

Community Teamwork, Inc.

165 Merrimack Street

Lowell, MA 01852

978.459.0551