Federal Business Loans Help Fire Recovery Effort

By JOSHUA SABATINI

Visiting the sandy lot on Main street where the Tisbury Inn stood
before it was destroyed in a December fire, Cong. William Delahunt
joined Tisbury officials and businessmen yesterday morning for a
groundbreaking ceremony.

Mr. Delahunt announced as part of the event that the inn's
owners, Sherman and Susan Goldstein, had received nearly $400,000 in
loans from the federal Small Business Administration to help rebuild
their landmark hotel.

The congressman had telephoned the Goldsteins 48 hours after the
fire, and a month later opened several avenues of financial assistance
from state and federal agencies for them and other Tisbury business
owners.

His work does not make him a hero, Mr. Delahunt said:
"It's what I should do. It is nothing extraordinary,"
he told the more than 30 gathered.

"What's heroic here is the community," said the
congressman. "It was the community sense that responded in a
crisis."

Mr. Delahunt said he will return to the Island in May 2003 for a
ceremony opening the reconstructed inn, a project with an estimated
price tag of $8 million.

Back in January, the congressman visited the Island and headed a
group of federal, state and local officials in a two-hour brainstorming
session on how the Goldsteins and neighborhood businesses could secure
financial assistance in the wake of the fire.

The inn, said Ray LaPorte, chairman of the Tisbury selectmen,
represented the "economic engine" of the town.

Downtown businesses benefited in part from the foot traffic
generated by the inn's health club. Without the inn, Tisbury
business owners have experienced a decline in sales.

When Elaine Guiney, district director for the federal Small Business
Administration (SBA), heard back in January about the foot traffic
generated by the inn, she realized the fire could qualify as an
"economic injury disaster."

The application for financial assistance was open to all businesses
in the county who were somehow affected by the fire. "We have
completed checks to four businesses [including the inn] for about
$500,000 in Tisbury," said Mrs. Guiney. This money, she said,
"is for working capital until a business is restored to its normal
operations."

Pat Gregory, owner of EduComp, was a recipient of one of the SBA
loans. "I am here today to thank the congressman for bringing down
the agency heads to put this together and put it on the fast
track," said Mr. Gregory. "His office has been incredibly
responsive. I think it is terrific when government sees a problem and
they are able to respond."

Praise for the congressman came from Mr. LaPorte as well.
"[The congressman and his office] were vigilant in making sure we
got the disaster designation so we could provide some relief to the
businesspeople in town, particularly the Goldsteins," Mr. LaPorte
said.

To the crowd standing on the sandy lot in front of a sign displaying
a sketch of the future inn, Mrs. Goldstein said, "We have truly
realized how important our government is for us. Without [the
congressman's] leadership, without that help, we would not be
looking at the reality of having the hotel here for next year at this
time.

"With their help and constant guidance, we were able to access
all of these marvelous government agencies that are designed to help
people who are in crisis." Applause sounded around the empty lot.

Mrs. Guiney presented the Goldsteins with a check for $387,400.
David Squire, a representative from the Massachusetts Office of Business
Development, said the agency gave the Goldsteins $25,000 to help with
design costs, and they may secure a loan for a portion of the
project's cost.

"This is a great example of public and private
partnership," said Mr. LaPorte. "They are looking forward to
putting back the smile on the face of Tisbury's Main street with
the new building."

Mr. Goldstein thanked the "myriad of people, organizations and
friends who offered solace" in the aftermath of the fire and
assistance during the rebuilding process.

"I congratulate you for turning a disaster into a spirit of
renewal," said Mr. LaPorte.

Mr. Gregory said a speedy reconstruction will benefit everyone.
"We are all in symbiosis with each other," said Mr. Gregory.
"The people who go to the health club in particular are often
walk-in customers of EduComp. The inn itself was one of our customers.
Downtown areas need anchor locations, and the inn was one of the
anchors. It is a big deal for all of us."

The project's approval process went swiftly through the town
boards and the Martha's Vineyard Commission. "We are
confident people are really going to like the new version of the Mansion
House as much as they liked the historic version," said designer
David Galler of Prellwitz/Chilinski Associates of Cambridge. "It
is clear that everyone wanted to see this thing built."

Yesterday's event marked the end of the site's forlorn
phase. Soon activity will swarm the empty lot and a new structure will
begin to take shape. "I am thrilled that we are getting toward
putting Main street back together again," said Valerie Richards,
director of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Squire said the inn is a great asset to Tisbury, as it brings
jobs and tourists who will spend many days on the Island. "Having
a hole here hurts all of Main street and all the businesses," said
Mr. Squire. "Our interest is in a vibrant community. This is small
in relative terms, but it is very important."

"This is textbook," said Mrs. Goldstein. "Without
all the help this site would have remained a sand pit for many
years."

The inn will rise again in May with some extra facilities, including
a 75-foot swimming pool and a 1,400-square-foot meeting room.