• Ken Riehl, CEO, [email protected]

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

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

• Washington, D.C. – June 3. Congress Approves Extension, Flexibility for PPP. On Wednesday the United States Senate approved by unanimous consent a bill which, if enacted by the President, would extend the timeframe from 8 to 24 weeks for loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program. The bill had previously been approved by the House of Representatives on a vote of 417 to 1. The bill would also reduce from 75% to 60% the amount that a business must spend on payroll in order to qualify for loan forgiveness. Read the full account in the Wall Street Journal here.

• 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.” To read the full press release please click here. To read the Executive Order please click here. Further updates are expected Saturday. 

• Phase II Guidelines for Retailers: For a pdf summary of mandatory safety protocols and recommended best practices please click here. Download the checklist for retail businesses here.

• Phase II Guidelines for Restaurants: For a pdf summary of mandatory safety protocols and recommended best practices please click here. Download the checklist for restaurants here.

• Phase II Guidelines for Lodging: For a pdf summary of mandatory safety protocols and recommended best practices please click here. Download the checklist for operators of lodging facilities 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.

• COVID-19 Dashboard for June 4: 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).

• 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, takeout and delivery options, retailers, banks and grocery store hours.

• 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 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].

• 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.  

• 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].

• North of Boston CVB Newsletter. This week’s newsletter from the North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau is filled with valuable information for businesses in our region’s visitor-based economy. Highlights include the US Travel Association’s “Travel in the New Normal: Industry Guidance for Promoting the Health and Safety of All Travelers.” To read the complete newsletter, please click here.

• 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.

• 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.

• Lattof’s Farmhouse Kitchen Has Reopened. Featuring their new take-out window, Lattof’s Farmhouse Kitchen, located next the Lattof family’s farm stand on upper Main Street in Rockport, reopened this week. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 7 to 2 and Sunday from 7 to noon. For more information and daily specials please follow them on Facebook.

• Business Transition Academy is hosting a virtual workshop on Thursday, June 18 from noon until 2 p.m. – “Rebuild Your Business with Your Exit in Mind.” Most owners will have to rebuild in some fashion after this crisis. Why not do so and plan your exit strategy at the same time? To learn more please click here. 

• Endicott College and Misselwood Events would like to assist local businesses and nonprofits in gathering and preparing their teams as they reopen under new guidelines. Their hosted Zoom service allows you to concentrate on what you need to share with your team, while they take care of the technology and audience questions. Please reach out to Delia Day at [email protected] or 978-232-2280 for more information and a free 30-minute consultation.

• Vote For Your Favorite Local Businesses in the BONS Best Home Awards.Voting is open through August 1 here. Many of our members, including Cazeault Solar have been nominated in several categories.

• Action Inc. has new short-term rental and mortgage assistance available for renters and homeowners who have recently lost their jobs, been furloughed, or lost significant income due to COVID-19. They have the following new COVID-related assistance available:

• Rental and mortgage assistance for Gloucester residents up to 80% Area Median Income

• Rental assistance for Ipswich residents up to 80% Area Median Income

• Rental and mortgage assistance for Manchester residents up to 100% Area Median Income

• Visit their Client Services page for more information.

• The Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Public Library is pleased to announce its phased reopening plan will begin on the first day of Phase II (Monday, June 8 at the earliest). The plan, approved by the Library director and board, lays out phases that move the library toward a return to a “new normal” for its operations.

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

• COVID-19 Command Center Update: Read MEMA’s June 4 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