September 24, 2013 — The Massachusetts congressional delegation made it a clean sweep Monday, joining Gov. Deval Patrick in requesting the Small Business Administration provide all possible financial assistance to Bay State commercial fishermen and fishing-related businesses.
In a show of unity, the full delegation signed a letter to SBA director Frank Skaggs supporting Patrick’s certification of the widespread negative economic impact suffered by small businesses in six Massachusetts counties — including Essex County, with Gloucester, all of Cape Ann and Newburyport — in the wake of the 2012 federally declared fishery resource disaster.
“Our fishermen and fishing communities have been struggling to survive amid reductions in some annual catch limits that have limited fishing opportunities,” the letter states. “As a result, many fishermen are drawing on personal income or extended credit, shifting more fishing costs to crew, shrinking crew size or postponing vessel maintenance.”
That assistance, if approved by the SBA, would come from low-interest loans to eligible fishermen and fishing-related businesses through the federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
“Our fishermen and fishing-related businesses need SBA assistance as they work to adjust to a perfect storm of events that threatens the future of one of our nation’s oldest and most storied industries and the coastal communities that depend on it,” the letter states.
The SBA said last week it is reviewing Massachusetts’ request for assistance.
Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times