March 23, 2020
To: Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Members and the Cape Ann Community
News & Resources for the Cape Ann Business & Non-Profit Community




  • Emergency unemployment legislation has been enacted waiving the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits.

  • Cape Ann Emergency Relief Fund: In partnership with the City of Gloucester and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, and working with local municipalities, Action Inc. is launching the Cape Ann Emergency Relief Fund to allow us to help hourly workers impacted by the crisis. Your support will help food service, retail, hospitality, childcare and other hourly workers struggling with lost income.

Chamber Updates:
We Welcome Bridget to Our Chamber Team

We are very pleased to welcome Bridget Jaramillo as our new Events Director, starting today, March 23. Bridget comes to us with a wealth of events experience and local knowledge, having led marketing and events at Cruiseport for seven years, and additional experience at Big Brothers Big Sisters, and most recently Vinwood Catering. Bridget lives in Rockport with her husband and three sons. We are excited to introduce Bridget to you, and know that her experience and highly professional demeanor will serve you and our Cape Ann Community well. Please feel free to reach-out to Bridget to welcome her to our Cape Ann Chamber community, here: [email protected] .

  • In accordance with today’s emergency order by the Governor the Chamber office will be closed for the next two weeks, with Chamber staff continuing to work remotely from home. All team members are available by email, calls to the Chamber will be forwarded and voice mail messages will be responded to by a member of the Chamber team.


  • The Chamber has built a special COVID-19 information and resource page on our website here. The page is updated regularly. Please send business updates to Olivia Perez-O’Dess ([email protected]).

  • Please help us provide up to date information to our members and the community as to the business impacts of COVID-19 by completing this survey today.
Member & Community Updates:

Cape Ann Business Operations (Please check our website for the most current information) :

  • Supermarket, Pharmacy & Convenience Store Information: Click here.

  • Bank Information: Click here.

  • Food Take-out and Delivery Information: Click here.

Community Services:

  • The Open Door: The Open Door is making every effort to keep programs operating during this COVID-19 (Coronavirus) event, with some adjustments. Please check their Facebook page for updates. The Gloucester Food Pantry remains open Monday–Friday, 10 AM–5 PM, for curbside pick-up only.

  • Action Inc. continues to provide services via phone appointments and email. Action’s Emergency Shelter remains open and operational. All Main Office and Energy Office services will be available Monday – Friday 9am-5pm. If you have general inquiries or questions, please call 978-282-1000 or [email protected]. You can also live chat with team members at actioninc.org


Helping and Supporting One Another:

  • Dreamtime Wellness goes "Virtual." Read the full notice here.

  • Cape Ann Museum: The museum is offering lectures on their Vimeo page, currently featuring lectures from their Judith Sargent Murray lecture series. Learn more about the museum's Fitz Henry Lane collection by discovering Fitz Henry Lane Online—a freely-accessible interactive and interdisciplinary online resource created by the Cape Ann Museum. For children and educators and families visit the museum’s Education page and learn about Timeship, the museum’s publication about real Cape Ann people from all time periods, distributed to appropriate grade levels throughout the community free of charge.

  • Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) COVID-19 Response Fund for Non-Profits: The fund will help nonprofits across Essex County that are struggling to meet the dramatic increase in community needs due to the COVID-19 health crisis. Find more information here.

  • Joanne MacInnis, RN, President of Aberdeen Home Care, will be live on North Shore 104.9FM at 8:45 each morning, with up to the minute information about COVID-19. Tune in!

  • The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department is offering pick-up and delivery services for residents identified as higher risk of serious health complications should they contract the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) or for those who are self-quarantined. This includes the delivery of groceries, prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines and vital supplies. Manchester residents are asked to call 978-526-1212 to set up deliveries and for all non-emergency matters.

  • Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM): Read today’s blog “Glimmers of Hope in the Age of COVID-19” here.


  • Sam Adams and the Greghill Foundation have started a fund to disperse funds to full time restaurant employees- $1,000 grants. Find the details 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: 






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 wish you the very best, as we all pull together to meet and overcome the challenges of COVID-19.