May 15, 2020
Dear Friends ,
As this work week winds down toward the weekend we note some encouraging signs, even as all of us strive together to meet the challenges of the coronavirus and overcome them. More and more Cape Ann restaurants are opening and offering take-out, delivery and curbside service. And our communities are following the lead of the Governor in crafting plans and guidelines for the phased reopening of our Cape Ann economy. With promising forecasts of fair skies and warmer days ahead, we are pleased to offer you today’s weekend edition of our special COVID-19 newsletter.

Sincerely,

Your Chamber Team
As always, we are here to support you with information about disaster loans, unemployment assistance and business and community resources. Please call 978 283-1601 or email us as follows:

        

News & Business Resources:


  • Boston – Governor Baker Presents Four-Phase Plan for Reopening Massachusetts Economy: “The Massachusetts economy will be reopened using a four-phase approach, based on public health guidance. Businesses and activities with a lower risk of COVID-19 transmission will open in earlier phases. Public health metrics will determine when the first phase of reopening begins, as well as when it is safe to move into later phases. If public health metrics worsen, the state may need to return to an earlier phase.” For an overview of the plan, please click here.

  • Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards. The Department of Public Health (DPH) and the COVID-19 Command Center have developed new Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards in consultation with the Reopening Advisory Board. These new standards will apply universally to all workplaces that are open in Phase 1, and are designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission to employees and customers during the first phase of reopening, and are applicable to all sectors and industries. For details please click here.

  • Boston –Governor Files $1B Supplemental Budget to Help Cover COVID-19 Costs.  The bill would authorize spending for personal protective equipment, rate adjustments for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, incentive pay for state workers on the front lines and other expenses. The bill also sets aside money for the state’s field hospitals and the contact tracing program. Read a full summary of the proposed bill here.

  • Boston –Community Tracing Collaborative Update. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, along with Partners In Health, has created the COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC). The program focuses on reaching out to the close contacts of confirmed positive COVID-19 patients to help others who have been potentially exposed to the virus. Calls will use the prefix 833 and 857 and your phone will say the call is from “MA COVID Team.” Calls will be made daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. When the MA COVID Team calls, you can do your part by answering the phone and providing helpful information that will help flatten and reduce the curve in Massachusetts. To learn more about the Community Tracing Collaborative please click here. If you are interested in becoming a Contact Tracer for the CTC please click here.

  • Boston –Reopening Advisory Board Seeks Input. The Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board appointed by Governor Baker is inviting comments and recommendations from business owners and local official as they develop their report. To submit comments to the advisory board, please click on this link. For further information, including the composition of this 17-member group, please click here. The Advisory Board’s report is due on Monday, May 18.

  • Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Continues. For further information about PPP and EIDL loans and other SBA loan and debt relief programs please click here.

  • Massachusetts Unemployment Assistance. For comprehensive information on the Commonwealth’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs please click here. For DUA customer service please call 877-626-6800.

  • The Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is now accepting and processing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) applications from those who are self-employed, independent contractors or part of the gig economy. For further information and to apply click here.

  • Daily and Cumulative Data on Massachusetts COVID-19 cases and testing, and weekly data on confirmed cases by city/town and residents subject to COVID-19 quarantine is now available here.

  • Guidelines for Opening Up America Again. The President’s Coronavirus Task Force recently announced a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Read all the details here. To download a pdf of the Guidelines click here.
Chamber Updates & Resources:
  • Irish Sweepstakes Update. The Irish Sweepstakes drawing is coming soon as a Facebook event – watch our Facebook page and our website for the link. We have six tickets left to be sold – don’t miss your opportunity for $10,000, and 11 other chances to win cash prizes! Contact Ken at ken@capeannchamber.com for your lucky ticket.


  • 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: please click here .

New Listings:

  • Gloucester’s Reopening Task Force has now held several sub-committee meetings. The group is charged by Mayor Sefatia Romeo-Theken with “advising City Administration on strategies to slowly reopen the Gloucester economy in phases based on health and safety metrics.” Several sub-committees have been formed, including Business Groups which is being chaired by Chamber CEO Ken Riehl. To provide comments and feedback for the city's reopening task force please email reopening@gloucester-ma.gov.

  • Gloucester’s Small Business Grant Application Deadline Extended. The City’s grant program to provide relief to small local businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will provide grant funding of up to $10,000 to qualified businesses in Gloucester.  Applications are due by 5PM today, May 15.  Business owners with questions regarding the program, eligibility or application process can email: grants@gloucester-ma.gov.ng

Ongoing: For additional member and community updates please click here

Education & Training Resources:

New Listings / Upcoming Events:

  • NEW from the YMCA. The YMCA Distance Learning program offers virtual personalized support with school assignments, reading stories and fun educational activities for children in grades K-5. Y staff who have experience working with school-age youth will help your child(ren) complete school assignments and play fun games with learning as a goal. Operating on a by-appointment schedule through online bookings, the Y will provide 1 hour blocks of online distance learning to support students and their families. For more information, contact Rachel Quinn at quinnr@northshoreymca.org. Register Here

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

 Community Services & Resources:

New Listings / Upcoming Events:

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

New Listings:

  • Brothers Brew Coffee Shop Reopens. Brothers Brew reopened this week offering breakfast items only from 7 am to noon. Ordering is available in person or by phone (978-546-3775). Online ordering is now available through the Toast Takeout app on Apple and Android. You can also place your order here. They will be offering curbside pick-up soon to complement the online ordering system. When getting carry-out, Brothers Brew reminds us to use the social distancing markers upon entering and to please remember the state requirement that masks need to be worn inside their establishment.

  • Seaport Grille and 1606 Restaurant Now Open for Take-Out. Beauport Hospitality Group is happy to share that both Seaport Grille and 1606 at Beauport Hotel have begun curbside takeout service. For further information - including hours and menu offerings - please click here for Seaport Grille and here for 1606 Restaurant.

  • For a full list of eateries offering take-out, curbside pick-up and other safe options please click here.

  • Rockport Music’s Midday Music Series Continues. In today’s concert, Marc Cohn is performing "One Safe Place," a tune that also features the great Mark Erelli on guitar and vocals. From the January 12, 2020 show at the Shalin Liu Performance.

  • Zoom Art With Lydia - Cape Ann Art Haven is offering and hour of creating and connecting for ages 5-11. No fancy materials needed. Mon, Wed, Fri from 2:30-3:30. Email traci@arthaven.org to join, drop ins welcome. The classes are relaxed, fun and Free!

  • MassPay Offers Reopening Checklist. This helpful compendium of best practices covers workplace safety, communications, HR policies and more, all designed to help ensure “a safe and effective return to the office.” Download the complete checklist here.

  • Congratulations Paper House! Rockport’s iconic Paper House on Pigeon Hill Street has made Trip Advisor’s list of “19 of America’s Coolest Roadside Attractions.” See the story here.
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 May 14 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