June 24, 2020
Dear Friends ,
Welcome to today’s mid-week edition of our special COVID-19 newsletter. Thankfully, the state’s key public health indicators are continuing their favorable trend. With this week’s official beginning of Step Two of Phase II , Cape Ann’s restaurateurs are now able to begin limited indoor table service while continuing outdoor dining service. Also as of this week, close contact personal services such as nail care (with restrictions) may resume; customers may use retail dressing rooms (by appointment only); and offices may expand to 50 percent staffing capacity.

Please save the date of July 2 (next Thursday) for our next Business Check-In and Information Sharing meeting. We are reaching out to Senator Bruce Tarr and Representatives Ann- Margaret Ferrante and Brad Hill to join us and share the latest news from Beacon Hill. There will be no meeting tomorrow.

As always, 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. Enjoy this beautiful Cape Ann summer day.
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:

  • June 30 Deadline to Apply for Paycheck Protection Program Funds. Time is running out to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to help your small business through the COVID-19 crisis. There is nearly $120 billion still available and the June 30 deadline to apply is fast approaching. For more information and to apply please click here.

  • New Loan Forgiveness Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program Now Available. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, has posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020. In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application. For further information please click here.

  • New EIDL Loan and Grant Applications Still Being Accepted. The SBA earlier this month re-launched the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and EIDL Advance Program. EIDL is now available to all small businesses that did not apply by the previous April 15 cut-off date. In addition, small businesses and non-profits may request, as part of their loan application, an EIDL advance grant of up to $10,000. For more information and to apply, please click here. Overall funds are limited, so it is important to apply as soon as possible.

  • 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 23: The state’s most recent Dashboard of Public Health Indicators continues to trend favorably. The positive test rate is still trending downward, with the 7-day weighted average standing at 1.9% on June 22, a change of -93% since April 15. The 3-day weighted average of patients currently hospitalized has also fallen significantly – down 74% since April 15 – despite a small increase to 953 as of yesterday.
Chamber Updates & Resources:
New Listings:

  • Reopening Cape Ann. As we progress through Phase II, more and more Cape Ann businesses have reopened and expanded operations in accordance with state and local guidelines. We encourage members to update your business hours and operations in your online account so that our Business Directory on www.capeannvacations.com has your most current information. To learn more or for assistance logging into your member account, please contact Olivia Perez-O’Dess (olivia@capeannchamber.com).
  • Job Postings Welcome. We encourage Chamber members to use us as a resource to post job openings. All CACC members have an online account where they can post a job listing. View current job listings including a recent posting for a recent posting for a Full Time Restaurant Manager by Yella on the Water here. For assistance in posting job openings for your business, please contact Olivia Perez-O’Dess at olivia@capeannchamber.com.
Member & Community Updates:

New Listings:

  • CATA Seeking Public Input for Ridership Survey. The Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) is working to continue to provide a vital service to our area by meeting the transportation needs of Cape Ann and the surrounding communities. Regular CATA services have been adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and their dedication to providing safe and reliable transit service continues. This is a critical time for transportation agencies, and CATA is taking this time to plan for the future as they update their Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan. For this 5-year plan, CATA is seeking feedback from the public regarding current services and how these services meet the needs of riders and neighbors. Please take a few minutes to complete this online survey and let CATA know how they can continue to improve. You can access the survey by using this link.

  • Rockport Accepting Applications for Outdoor Display Permits. At their weekly meeting Tuesday, the Rockport Board of Selectmen discussed the process for reviewing and approving applications from local businesses for outdoor display of goods. Permit applications will be given a preliminary review by the town’s Reopening Advisory Group. For further information and guidelines regarding Rockport’s outdoor display bylaw please click here.

  • Gloucester Reads: The Sawyer Free Library is inviting readers of all ages to be a part of something big this summer as it officially launched the first annual Gloucester Reads: Many Readers, One Conversation. This citywide collaborative reading program aims to unite and energize the community around the important issue of climate change through reading, discussion, and action. From Monday, June 22 through Tuesday, September 15, 2020, Gloucester Reads will explore the topic of Addressing Our Climate Crisis with the Hope of Building a Better Future. The inaugural reading program will feature two award-winning books, Falter by Bill McKibben and The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline. From June through September, copies of the books will be available at the Sawyer Free Library in print, eBook, and audiobook formats. For a complete list of Gloucester Reads programs, and for more information on climate change, visit SawyerFreeLibrary.org.

Ongoing: For member and community updates please click here

Education & Training Resources:

New Listings / Upcoming Events:

  • Enterprise Center Webinar Workshop: Employees Returning to Work and COVID-19. Having employees return to work during COVID-19 can be a daunting experience for employers and human resource professionals. Join this webinar workshop on Thursday, June 25 from 2 to 3 pm. Presenters will review the laws that employers must keep in mind as their employees return to work or take time off due to COVID-19. For more information and to register please click here. Questions are encouraged. Please submit them after registering and prior to the webinar workshop by email to lsmythe@enterprisectr.org.
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:
  • Nailgic has opened!  Now that personal care services with close contact have been authorized to reopen in Massachusetts, Gloucester nail care salon Nailgic is once again open for business. Online booking is available and they hope to see everyone soon. Visit their Facebook page for more information. Nailgic is located at 315 Gloucester Crossing.

  • Post and Share Your Events. Please use your online account to post your upcoming events, including virtual events, on our online community calendars. These are valuable resources for Cape Ann residents and visitors alike, and another way to promote your business and the reopening of Cape Ann. If you need assistance in logging in to your online account, please email olivia@capeannchamber.com.  
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 22 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.







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 vince@capeannchamber.com