A group of Massachusetts lawmakers, led by Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), is vehemently opposing the closure of the Small Business Administration (SBA) district office in Springfield.
In a letter sent Wednesday to SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Senators Markey and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01) and Jim McGovern (MA-02), condemned the move, warning it will sever a critical lifeline for small businesses across Western Massachusetts and the Pioneer Valley.
The lawmakers argue that the closure is another example of the Trump administration’s detrimental actions against small businesses, effectively “dismantling the infrastructure that supports them, and undermining the foundation of American entrepreneurship.”
They are urging Administrator Loeffler to intervene, reverse the decision attributed to the General Services Administration (GSA), and ensure the Springfield office remains fully staffed and operational.
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“The SBA’s Springfield district office is not just a convenience for Western Massachusetts and Pioneer Valley small businesses, it is a lifeline,” the lawmakers wrote. They highlighted the office’s crucial role in connecting rural, underserved, and emerging markets to federal resources and providing essential guidance on SBA loans and disaster relief programs. The closure, they contend, will impose a “tremendous burden” on entrepreneurs, forcing them to undertake lengthy and costly trips—in some cases, a six-hour round trip—to the nearest SBA district office in Boston.
According to information cited by the lawmakers from the GSA’s website, the lease for the 894-square-foot office space at 1 Federal Street in Springfield, which housed the SBA district office, is among 10 commercial leases terminated in Massachusetts by the GSA, effective June 1st.
The Springfield office is reportedly already vacant, with the last staff member having departed in recent weeks and no apparent plans for relocation or new hires.
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In their letter, the congressional members posed a series of critical questions to Administrator Loeffler, demanding responses by May 30, 2025. These questions seek to uncover:
- The specific individual or entity that authorized the lease termination.
- Whether the GSA, SBA, or another federal agency initiated the decision, and if the SBA registered any opposition.
- The SBA’s strategy for ensuring continued access to in-person services for small businesses in Western Massachusetts, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.
- What accommodations will be made for business owners now facing significant travel burdens, and whether the economic and logistical hardships were considered.
- If any public notice, stakeholder consultation, or opportunity for public comment was provided before the closure decision, and the nature of any feedback received.
This latest action follows a previous inquiry by Senators Markey and Warren on March 20th to GSA Acting Administrator Stephen Ehikian, questioning the rationale behind the cancellation or non-renewal of 17 leases in Massachusetts, including the Springfield SBA office.
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