• Ken Riehl, CEO, [email protected]

• Peter Webber, Sr. VP, [email protected]

• Olivia Perez-O’Dess, Member Services Director, [email protected]

• Phase 2 Guidelines for Restaurants: On Friday, May 29 the State published a preview of mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for restaurants. “These workplace safety standards for restaurants are posted in advance of the Governor’s initiation of Phase 2 to allow restaurants time to prepare to operate in compliance with these mandatory health and safety standards. Restaurants may not provide any service beyond carry-out or delivery until specifically authorized to do so in Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Workplace Re-Opening Plan. The Governor will initiate Phase 2 of the Re-Opening Plan by formal Executive Order and only following a careful review of public health data.”  For comprehensive restaurant details please click here.

• Phase 2 Guidelines for Lodging: On Friday, May 29 the State also published a preview of mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for operators of lodging facilities. “These workplace safety standards for lodging are posted in advance to the Governor’s initiation of Phase 2 to allow operators of lodging time to prepare for reopening in compliance with these mandatory standards….Hotel[s], motels, and other Lodging businesses may not expand their operations until specifically authorized to do so in Phase 2 of the Commonwealth’s Workplace Re-Opening Plan….The Governor will initiate Phase 2 of the Re-Opening Plan by formal Executive Order and only following a careful review of public health data.” For comprehensive lodging details please click here.

• Reopening Massachusetts General Business Guidance. The following information is designed to help businesses meet the self-certification requirement to reopen. All businesses must meet these requirements before reopening.

• COVID-19 control plan template – Template that satisfies the written control plan requirement for self-certification

• Compliance attestation poster – Poster that customer facing businesses are required to print, sign, and post in an area within the business premises that is visible to workers and visitors

• Employer and Worker posters – Posters that businesses can print and display within the business premises to describe the rules for maintaining social distancing, hygiene protocols, and cleaning and disinfecting

• Hygienic or Protective Supplies for the Workplace – Resources to help inform employers and employees about supplies needed to return to workplaces, and connect businesses with manufacturers and distributors.

• Find all this information and more on the new Reopening Massachusetts website, including detailed sector-specific reopening guidance, timelines and links to additional resources.

• Reopening Massachusetts – Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and the COVID-19 Command Center developed new Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards in consultation with the Reopening Advisory Board. 

• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Continues. For further information about PPP and EIDL loans and other SBA loan and debt relief programs please click here.

• Guide to PPP Loan Forgiveness. This U.S. Chamber of Commerce has shared this helpful guide for businesses to help navigate the application process for Paycheck Protection Loan forgiveness.

• SBA and Treasury Set Aside $10 Billion in PPP Funding for Low Income Communities. The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, announced on May 28 that it is setting aside $10 billion of Round 2 funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be lent exclusively by Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs work to expand economic opportunity in low-income communities by providing access to financial products and services for local residents and businesses. These dedicated funds are intended to ensure that the PPP reaches all communities in need of relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. For additional details please click here.

• COVID-19 Dashboard for May 31: The most recent Dashboard of Public Health Indicators continues to trend in a positive and encouraging direction and is available here. The positive test rate has remained at 8% or below since May 26 (7 day weighted average), and the total number of hospitalized patients has fallen to 1,824.

• Reopening Cape Ann. We have updated and refreshed the Chamber’s special COVID-19 information and resource page - including information for and updates about Cape Ann’s businesses and their operations as we progress through the phased reopening of Massachusetts. Please send your business information and updates to Olivia Perez-O’Dess ([email protected]). These lists now include salons, barbershops & beauty services, take out and delivery options, retailers, banks and grocery store hours.

• To view our recently launched list of Cape Ann Salons, Barbershops & Beauty Services including updated operations and protocols, please click here

• Job Postings Welcome. We encourage Chamber members to use us as a resource to post job openings as NeedyMeds and Yankee Clipper Inn have done. All CACC members have an online account where they can post a job listing. View current job listings here. For assistance in posting job openings for your business, please contact Olivia Perez-O’Dess at [email protected].

• Resources for Cape Ann Businesses. The Chamber team is working diligently to assist our members and the community as we navigate these uncertain times together. We encourage you to review the Chamber’s compendium of Business Resources and Recommended Actions here and we invite you to contact us if you have any questions or need assistance.  

• Please Welcome Our Newest Chamber Members.

• M A Barker Photography

• John Abisamra

• Copp Home Improvement

• Caring for Caring LLC

• William J Funk Procurement Consulting Services

• Jane Deering Gallery

• Eleven Eleven Elixir

• Town of Rockport Provides Reopening Guide for Local Businesses. Rockport’s Reopening Advisory Group has prepared a compendium of state and local resources to assist Rockport businesses through the phased reopening of the local economy. This guide is being shared with Rockport businesses through Basecamp and is also posted here.

• LEAP for Education’s Summer Internship Program is now recruiting employers and community members. Be a “Career Mentor” and virtually advise a teen summer intern in a six-week project-based remote learning experience. Please email JoAnn Leavitt, Program Coordinator, at [email protected] if you would like further information, or call 774-270-0119.

• Beauport Hearing Care in Magnolia is now open for in-office services, while they continue offering curbside access for most routine hearing aid services – as they have every day of the COVID-19 shutdown. In addition, they are now accepting in-clinic appointments for new patient hearing testing and other services. They take the health and safety of patients and the community very seriously, posting and practicing upgraded sanitation and social distancing procedures in alignment with state requirements and CDC recommendations. Please call (978) 525-2300 for details and to arrange an appointment or visit www.beauporthearing.com.

• Say Thank-You and Congratulations with the Gift of Cape Ann. Cape Ann Gift Certificates are a great way to say congratulations to graduating high school and college seniors, thank-you to their teachers and all health care workers and first responders, and support over 200 local businesses. To learn more please visit here. To purchase Cape Ann Gift Certificates, please email Karen Carone at [email protected].

• Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). For AIM’s latest COVID-19 blog please click here.

• COVID-19 Command Center Update: Read MEMA’s May 27 Command Center report here.

• Department of Public Health: Safer-at-Home Advisory

• Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For the latest COVID-19 news and information for Massachusetts, including public health advisories, business resources and government services, please visit here.

• Department of Public Health: Stay at Home Advisory. For details click here.

• Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante: Most recent update

• Centers for Disease Control

• Symptoms and Self-Checker

• What You Need to Know

• Congressman Seth Moulton: Updates and Resources

• OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

• Essex: www.essexma.org

• Gloucester: www.gloucester-ma.gov

• Manchester-by-the-Sea: www.manchester.ma.us

• Rockport: www.rockportma.gov