June 15, 2020
Dear Friends ,
Welcome to today’s edition of our special COVID-19 newsletter. As we enter Week two of Phase II of Reopening Massachusetts the state’s key public health indicators continue to trend favorably. Simultaneously, Cape Ann’s retail, lodging and restaurant sectors are ramping up and expanding business operations in accordance with state and local guidelines. Today’s issue includes the latest, sector-specific information from the state’s Reopening Massachusetts webpage , as well as local news and updates from Cape Ann communities and businesses.

Please save the date and plan to join us for our weekly Business Check-In and Information Sharing on Thursday, June 18 at 10am. To pre-register for this week’s Zoom meeting please click here .

The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and our entire Cape Ann community are delighted to see so many Cape Ann restaurants, retailers and lodgings back in business this past weekend, and we look forward to more and more reopenings in the days and weeks ahead. We wish all a healthy and prosperous summer on Cape Ann.
Sincerely,

Your Chamber Team
Please remember, we are here to support our community with information about reopening Massachusetts and Cape Ann, and business and community resources. Please call (978) 283-1601 or email us as follows:

        

News & Business Resources:

  • Reopening Massachusetts, Phase II. We have posted links to the latest General Business and Sector-Specific Guidance from the state on our special COVID-19 webpages. Please click here for detailed information including mandatory workplace safety standards.
  • Dashboard for June 14: The most recent Dashboard of Public Health Indicators continues to trend favorably and is available here. Another key indicator – the Commonwealth’s testing capacity – has progressed from yellow (in progress) to green (positive trend). The positive test rate continued to trend downward, with the 7-day weighted average dropping to 3% on June 12. The total number of patients currently hospitalized has also fallen steadily, standing at 1,039 on June 14.
Chamber Updates & Resources:
New Listings:

  • Reopening Cape Ann. As we progress through Phase II, most Cape Ann retailers and galleries are now open or reopening soon for in-store/ in-gallery service in accordance with state and local guidelines. We encourage members to update your business information in your online account so that our online Business Directory has your most current information. To learn more or for assistance logging into your member account, please contact Olivia Perez-O’Dess ([email protected]).

  • Restaurant Hours and Information Needed. The Chamber’s list of Cape Ann eateries offering Take-Out/ Curbside Service, Delivery, and Outside Dining requires continual updating as more dining establishments reopen and expand services. This list is a valuable resource for Cape Ann innkeepers, retailers, visitors and residents alike. Please help us keep this information fresh and current by sending the details of your hours and operations to [email protected].
  • Job Postings Welcome. We encourage Chamber members to use us as a resource to post job openings as 1606 Restaurant & Bar and Seaport Grille has done recently. 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].
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  • Say Happy Fathers’ Day with the Gift of Cape Ann. Cape Ann Gift Certificates are a great way to show your love and appreciation for the Dads in your life while supporting over 200 local businesses. To learn more please visit here. To purchase Cape Ann Gift Certificates, please email Karen Carone at [email protected].
  • Thank you to the generous and gifted volunteers on the Rockport Beautification Committee for planting and caring for the flower beds at the Chamber’s Rockport Visitor Center. We are working to open the center on a limited basis in early July.
Member & Community Updates:

New Listings:

  • Cape Ann Communities Working to Enable Increased Outdoor Dining Opportunities. As we move into week two of Phase II many local restaurants are already offering outdoor dining. All four Cape Ann communities are taking steps to enable more restaurants to serve their patrons outdoors. Plans are being developed in each community and are expected to be in place in the coming days and weeks. Please check with individual restaurants to learn more about their outdoor seating availability.  

  • Rockport’s Pay For Parking Season, With New Pay-By-Plate Kiosks, Begins Today, June 15. For detailed instructions on the use of the new kiosks, please click here.

Ongoing: For member and community updates please click here

Education & Training Resources:

New Listings / Upcoming Events:

  • HR Webinar - “Human Resources & Employee Management in the Covid-19 Re-opening of Cape Ann.” The City of Gloucester and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce invite all to participate in this Q&A webinar on Tomorrow, June 16 at 7:30am. Reopening and understanding the State/Federal regulations can be overwhelming while running a business. We are collaborating to come back strong and this webinar is designed to provide information on employee management through the reopening and forward. This special webinar presented by Integrated HR will cover:

  • Documenting the process for bringing employees back (or not);

  • Public health considerations now and going forward;

  • Unemployment - compensation and benefits considerations;

  • The employee’s perspective on returning;

  • Employee illness or exposure protocols;

  • Federal funding programs' intersection with payroll and unemployment; and

  • Employer resources for employees.

  • To register for this this webinar please click here; to view the recent HR presentation by Laurie Labrie of Integrated HR click here.

  • SBA Virtual Town Hall on PPP: “We Are Strong Together.” Join the SBA Regional Administrator Ashley D. Bell Esq., for a special event this Tuesday, June 16 at 6pm, about COVID-19 resources for entrepreneurs in underserved communities across New England. This is a virtual Town Hall for African American entrepreneurs. PPP offers a tremendous opportunity for small businesses, sole proprietors, LLCs, independent contracts, and faith-based non-profits to get the funding that they need to rebuild their communities. This event will feature elected officials, community leaders, lenders, non-profit organizations, and faith leaders who are able to help small businesses get through the crisis and thrive on the other side of it. For more information and to register please click here.

Ongoing: For listings of education and training resources please click here

Community Services & Resources:

Ongoing: For listings of community services and resources please click here
Members Helping Members & the Community:

New Listings:

  • Hammond Castle Museum Offers Special Invitation to Cape Ann’s High School Graduates. Although the museum and museum grounds are currently closed to the public, Hammond Castle is offering one-hour appointments from 10am to 7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout June. Access to the grounds for photos will be free but reservations are required. For more information and to book your reservation, please call us at 978-283-2080.

  • Second Glance to Reopen June 24. They’ve worked hard to clean, organize and reorient the space for your safety. Lots of new things including a new Donation Center by appointment only. Schedule your time now at www.foodpantry.org. Shopping hours will be Wednesday – Saturday, from 9am to 5pm.

  • “All On The Line” is Moving to Prime Time! Gloucester Charter Connection Captain Johnny Johnson’s new show on Discovery Channel – “All On The Line”– is moving to prime time, right after “Deadliest Catch”, starting this Tuesday, June 16 at 9pm, with a double episode.
Ongoing: For additional listings of members helping members and the community please click here .

As we learn of more creative ways that our members and our communities are adapting and responding, we will share them through all our Chamber communications channels.
Informational Resources:

For the most current information about the federal, state and local response to COVID-19 – including information of particular relevance to employers and employees – we recommend visiting the following websites: 

  • COVID-19 Command Center Update: Read MEMA’s June 11 Command Center report here.


  • 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.







For information and updates specific to one’s local community, we recommend visiting the following city and town websites for Cape Ann:





Our goal as always is to serve as a trusted resource in providing our business community and residents with helpful information and guidance during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The members of your team here at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce are here for you, as we all pull together to meet and overcome the challenges of COVID-19.
We at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a big thank you to our supporting sponsors.

If you are interested in promoting with the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and sponsoring this newsletter, please contact Vince Mainetti at [email protected]