June 3, 2020
Dear Friends ,
Welcome to today’s edition of our special COVID-19 newsletter. As our state’s key public health indicators continue to trend positively, our retail, lodging and restaurant sectors are preparing to resume or expand business operations in hopeful anticipation of Phase 2 of Reopening Massachusetts. Today’s issue includes detailed, sector-specific information from the state’s Reopening Massachusetts webpage , as well as local news and updates from Cape Ann communities and businesses.

And please plan to join us again tomorrow , Thursday, June 4 at 10 a.m. for our weekly Business Check-In and Information Sharing session.  Please register in advance . To register for this Zoom meeting please click here .  

Enjoy another beautiful June day 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:

  • Boston – June 1. Governor Baker Issues Executive Order in Advance of Phase II. On Monday, Governor Charlie Baker issued an Executive Order that “provides a detailed list of businesses and activities that fall into Phases II, III, and IV of the Commonwealth’s Re-Opening Plan. The Order also permits all Phase II enterprises, including retail, to begin preparations to safely resume operation in advance of the start of the second phase. In addition to the retail sector, the Executive Order details further requirements for the safe resumption of amateur youth and adult sports and outdoor dining.” To read the full press release please click here. To read the Executive Order please click here.

  • Phase II Guidelines for Retailers: For a preview of mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for retail businesses, please click here.

  • Phase II Guidelines for Restaurants: For a preview of mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for restaurants please click here.

  • Phase II Guidelines for Lodging: For a preview of mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for operators of lodging facilities 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.


  • 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


  • 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.


  • 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 June 2: 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 1,657 (as of June 2).
Chamber Updates & Resources:

  • 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 olivia@capeannchamber.com.

  • 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.  
Member & Community Updates:

New Listings:


  • 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.

Ongoing: For member and community updates please click here

Education & Training Resources:

New Listings / Upcoming Events:

  • SCORE Webinar on PPP Loan Forgiveness. This webinar, on Wednesday, June 10, from 11 a.m. to noon, will provide small businesses a simple 10 step approach to complete the lengthy forgiveness application.  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:

  • ARTS ABOUND Has Us Covered for Father’s Day. Keep your dad (and everyone else) a bit safer with colorful, washable, reversible, hand-sewn, custom-made face masks. $15 each. Their other locally-made products include whimsical fish mugs, ocean-inspired pottery, cutting boards, hand-sewn BBQ aprons, local photography, and so much more. Support area artists! Curbside pickup or shipping. Email artsaboundmagnolia@gmail.com or visit them online for details. ARTS ABOUND is located at 21C Lexington Avenue in Magnolia.

  • Hammond Castle Offers Bonus Gift Certificates. From now until their opening day, for every $25 dollar gift certificate purchased, they will give an additional $5 bonus gift certificate. For every $50 gift certificate purchased, they’ll give an additional $10 bonus gift certificate. For more information, click here or call 978-283-2080.

  • Top Dog of Rockport on Bearskin Neck continues to offer online service for take-out/ pick-up while they prepare for expanded service in Phase II. When Phase II begins customers will also be able to place orders at the front door and online and walk around back to pick up food. Top Dog will have disposable menus and extra trash barrels in place. For more information, including Top Dog’s health and sanitation measures, please follow them on Facebook here.

  • 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 karen@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.
Information 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: 

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

  • COVID-19 Command Center Update: Read MEMA’s June 2 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 vince@capeannchamber.com