Cathedral reopening and fire damage article, Sep 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document a iiuLiivojic itit uie iiuru Awxn., d wdy ui ucipulg uie cay water trom the sanctuary. great metaphor,” said Peter Swords, many people’s surprise. M said Elizabeth Owens, a visitor “It’s truly a miracle that we could 66, who lives nearby and has been through a hurricane befo Brom Nashville. “When I heard what be open,” Mr. Wegman said. Fire visiting the cathedral since he was a Philadelphia newspaper i nappened to the church, I just had to Department officials believe the fire child. "The same selfless dedication were Inky dark. The winds come. It’s a place I’ve always want- was caused by faulty electrical wir­ that saved this church and helped to up everything in their patl to see for myself.” ing in the gift shop. prepare it for Christmas is also began to fly through the a ’The night before, nearly 5,000 peo- He added: “Last week, we didn’t what’s helping America recover hell were breaking loose u j*ple had filled the sanctuary for the know when or where we would have right now.” Just as suddenly, thi kind of calm began to 1 appeared through some p soon, perhaps within 15 nr pletely clear. Just as sudd- New York State Action Plan began again. Skies on the cane’s eye wall turned ini Empire State Development swept up everything in tl pieces of roofs, of barns, World Trade Center Disaster wasn’t tied down loose. ' newspaper reporter, thou Action Plan for New York Business Recovery those few moments of cab and Economic Revitalization when all was calm and all Executive Summary have had a breakdown bef As Governor Pataki’s designated lead agency for coordinating business recovery. Empire State Development (ESD) has worked with the New York City Interesting In that moi Economic Development Corp. (EDC), to develop the following Action Plan for the $700 million appropriated to New York State through the U.S. man chose these words, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds are appropriated tor economic recovery and revitalization, and assistance will be bright,” to describe the eye targeted to four types of businesses directly affected by or responding to the disaster here on Christmas Eve 2C c 1. Businesses located In lower Manhattan atthettmeofthe disaster that have remained within lower Manhattan, many of you know what it if 5e 2. Businesses located In lower Manhattan at the time of the disaster that have temporarily relocated elsewhere because of the disaster. to come to this service, fro v: 3. New York City businesses that suffered significant economic dislocation because a major portion of their customers were located In lower Manhattan. from the storms and hei 4. Businesses seeking to locate new operations and create new Jobs In lower Manhattan. Assistance will enhance the cost-competitiveness of lower Man­ Anyone who lives in this c hattan locatlen decisions, but will not pirate employment from other states. indeed anyone who inhabitf rJ National ObiecUva been through a storm. If j -11 The activities contained In fhlsAction Plan have been designed to meet community development needs having particular urgency because existing day, you remember, you ' Si conditions pose a serious and Immediate threat to the health or welfare of the City of New York where other financial resources are not available to dark clouds, the pieces of b' q-’ meet ouch needs. air, the sense that all heli Ir ESD has Identified the following areas of business assistance as key components of a comprehensive recovery and economic revitalization tonight, all is calm, all is b u approach: small business assistance; Job retention and attraction; business Information; Infrastructure rebuilding; and administration. Fund alloca­ tions to these components are: .6 Action Flan Categories________ AUocatton* St. Francis Xavier Ror ,rt Small Business Assistance $371.000.000 Park Slope, Brooklyn -a Job Retention S Attraction Assistance $285,000,000 J- The Rev. Joseph Diele u Business Information $5,000.000 Infrastructure Rebuilding _____ $25,000,000 Sometimes I think wh bi story of God being born in h Administration________________ TOTAL FUND us. It's amazing to think tha s us, it’s a little distant.... st •ESQ reserves the right to reallocate funds among and within the above categories as needed to respond most effectively to the goals of economic revitalization. Job retention and creation m New York City. Additional funding from future federal allocations will be required to meet program objec­ Let’s imagine ... whe; st tives described below. Bethlehem from Nazaretl et people. It’s crowded. Imagi •B Small Business Assistance - total atlocatton: $371,000,000 1. Bridge Loan Program — ESD and EDC each committed funding for loan guarantees for banks and other community-based lenders offering bridge They need to find an inn, Oj loans to businesses throughout Naw York City applying for SBA economic Injury or physical disaster loans. imagine this church witho 2. Lower Manhattan Grant Program — offers grants to small, non-retall businesses located In the restricted area of lower Manhattan, capped at privacy. ... What they fin, '.e $10,000, and tied to approval of SBA loans. around It, animals help kee] h. 3. WTC Retail Recovery Grant Program — currently offers three days lost business revenue, capped at $10,000, to retail and personal service firms not an ideal birthing room, located In lower Manhattan (south of Houston Street) with fewer than 500 employees on September 11, and conhnuing in business In New York. Upon tine. But by blood and wati receipt of federal funds, grant caps will be increased to $100,000 lor all eligible firms, except that lor firms located In damaged or destroyed buildings, the cap would be $200,000. 4. Non-Retall Recovery Grant Program — will offer three days lost business revenue, capped at $100,000, to any business with fewar than SOO employ­ ees, not eligible tor the Retail Grant Program, located In lower Manhattan (South of Houston Street) on September 11, and continuing In business In New York. However, firms located In damaged or destroyed buildings will be eligible for grants of up to $200,000. 5. Business Recovery Loan Fund — will provide funds for loans and loan guarantees to make low-cost financing available through ESD, EDC or private lendera, and may also capitalize micro-loan funds offered by not-for-profit community organizations. Business Retention and Attraction — total allocation: $286,000,000 • Job Retention and Creation Grant and Loan Program — will offer grants, loan guarantees and low cost loans to assist firms displaced n from their workspace for at least one month, and to retain and attract new firms to lower Manhattan. The primary objectives are to retain and create Jobs in lower Manhattan, to create demand lor available office space, and encourage reconstruction of space that was damaged or NEW YO destroyed by the attack. Assistance will be extended to all firms in damaged or destroyed buildings, and offered to other lower Manhattan firms based upon an assessment of need. Grants will offer Increasing incentives to firms making larger workforce commitments, and to BUFFALO: BOXER TO CARRY OL' those relocating In lower Manhattan. Assisted companies will be required to maintain Jobs in New Yo'k City for a minimum of five years. , weight t Firms making new commitments to locate in lower Manhattan will also be considered for assistance The program hopes to attract and edtobe retain 59.(109 workers. torchber Business Infonnatlon — total allocation: $5,000,000 its way i • Business Infonnatlon Program — will market the availability of WTC business assistance programs, in order to increase program aware­ ness, effectiveness, and participation. Olympic Infrastructure Rebuilding — total allocation: $26,000,000 • The Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation (LMRC) - Governor Pataki and Mayor Giuliani established the Lower Manhattan Rede­ velopment Coqroration (LMRQ—an ESD subsidiary—as a Joint State-City redevelopment corporation. LMRC will oversee transportation and infrastructure improvements, construction and development of the areas affected by the attacks. In addition to working with ESO and EDC to velt Squ achieve the economic revitalization goals detailed above, the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation will manage redevelopment of where fireworks will mark the the destroyed World Trade/FInanclai Center complex Including memorial, public and commercial spaces. LMRC will also coordinate develop­ rying the torch on New Year’: ment of transportation and communicafions Infrastructure needed to complete the revitalization of lower Manhattan as the world financial said Mr. Mesi, who has a 21-0 center and business hub. Allocated funds will be used for Initial planning and design efforts. as a heavyweight, “will mean i Administration — total allocation: up to $14,000,000 mgtheheavyw’etghtbox • With the creation of ths Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Corporation, New York State and New York City have established a vehicle tor the flame will continue bun City’s recovery. This partnership has been confirmed by Mayor-Elect Bloomberg. ESQ and EDC will continue to provide extensive personal services to Impacted businesses through walk-In centers, hotline phone services, web sites and professional case management staff, and today, when the torch through contracted administrative services, coordinated through LMRC. This will Include development of an Integrated data base manage­ Rhode Island on its 65-d ment system to ensure coordinated delivery of business services, offering businesses a more centralized approach to seeking assistance. 46 states and 125 cities. • HUD has authorized the use of up to 10% of total funds ($70,000,000) for planning and administrative management costs. We anticipate allo­ cating $14,000.000 for administration. As noted above, $25,000,000 will be allocated lor planning. Any unspent administrative funds will be reallocated to program needs. NC\ Action Plan Amendments TRENTONi MCGREEVEY'S Adding or deleting an activity or changing the planned beneficiaries of an activity will constitute a substantial change, in the event of a substantial change, the State will prepare an amendment to the approved Action Plan which will be subject to the same citizen participation process required for elect James E. McGree the Initial Action Plan. incentives to help revlv< Antl-Dlsplaeement and Relocation Assistance Plan gered some South Jersey i’l said that a $181 million in •s The activities contained In this Action Plan do not contemplate displacement However, should the potential lor displacement occur, the State will undertake the following steps and will abide by the requirements of 49CFR Part 24 and 24 CFR Part 570.496a(c) and HUD Handbook 1376. distressed city was unaf 1. Maintain current data on the occupancy of residential units targeted tor CDBG assistance—nona currently planned. budget shortfall. The C. of McGreevey had pressure J 2. Review all activities prior to Implementation to determine the offset. If any, on occupied residential properties. 81 3. Include consideration of alternate solutions when It appears an assisted project will causa dlsplacemerrt, If Implemented. Legislature to abandon v 4. Require private Individuals and businesses toconsiderotheraltematlyesto displacemsnt causing activities. If they are requesting CDBG assistance $20 million in annual deb Complete Text of the Action Plan scientists have said that 1 n. This is an Executive Summary of the World Trade Center Disaster Action Plan for New York Business Recovery & Economic Revitalization. The full text yet not sufficient for urb version of the plan is available to ths public at: NEWARK: INSURER TO DRi lyh illbXcom gle Insurance Company, ■ • Chatham Square and Jefferson Market regional branches of the New York Public Library" risk drivers, will no longe • ESD's NYC Offices at 633 Third Avenue (Lobby) between 40th and 41 st St* nies. These customers wi • ESQ'S Walk In Center at 110 Malden Lane * the insurance giant A.l.G. • Battery Park City Site Safety HQ — One West Thames' ment of Banking and Inst • Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, 62 Mott Street */ • FuKlen American Association, 125 Canal Street of the state’s biggest autt ' during normal business hours Ing State Farm and A. Jersey, saying they cou Comment to the Action Plan lacked the flexibility to Comment must be received by January 11,2002. Comments may be sent conditions because of hea' • by email to: .ny.us insurers were forced by t • by post to: Empire State Development / WTC Spending Plan / PO Box 4436 / Qrand Central Station / New York, NY 10017 rates by 15 percent in tl

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