PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, FEBRUARY 28, 2003: Michael E. McMahon, executive director of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation (RIEDC), announced today that the State of Rhode Island through RIEDC will offer economic assistance packages to assist the family businesses of those who were killed or injured in the tragic fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick on February 20.
McMahon said that these assistance packages will also be available to businesses in the immediate vicinity of The Station whose daily commerce has been affected by the fire and its aftermath.
"As everyone knows, Governor Carcieri has focused much of his initial efforts on the identification of the victims and providing comfort to their families," said McMahon. "In his discussions with the families he also recognized that many of them have suffered economic losses as well. Some have lost relatives, through injury or death, who were vitally important to the management or operation of a small business. In addition, other businesses in the surrounding communities have lost one or more employees who were important to the day-to-day operation of that business. The Governor spoke to me about finding some way to help these people and I've committed to him that we will do everything we can to provide that assistance," said McMahon.
"There are also businesses that operate in the immediate vicinity of where The Station once stood whose commerce has been affected. In many cases, they have customers who have been unable to get to their business, due to its proximity to the site of the fire. They are short on supplies because they have been unable to receive their normal deliveries. And those closest to the site may have inventory that was damaged from the fire," McMahon said.
"We've assembled a team of people from RIEDC who will be visiting these businesses and helping them with a financial needs assessment. We want to listen to their issues and their concerns. We will also help walk them through whatever paperwork they should submit to formally apply for whatever assistance they might need," McMahon said.
McMahon also said that representatives of RIEDC would be available to meet with the families. He said their objective in doing so is to listen to the families' concerns as well, to explain the assistance packages and to help those who are interested in applying for some State assistance to fill out the applications.
McMahon said that RIEDC also expects to develop a specific program to make make financial resources available to businesses in the hospitality industry. This assistance could take the form of loans, most likely in coordination with the Small Business Administration, to help those businesses - located throughout Rhode Island - upgrade their facilities and make them more fire safe. "The Governor has asked us to get something going to help small establishments that might want to install some additional fire safety equipment, such as a sprinkler system," McMahon said.