May 4, 2020
Dear Friends ,

As another work week begins we are pleased to offer you today’s newsletter with Cape Ann news and business updates. With Mother’s Day coming on Sunday, May 10, we encourage you to support our local businesses as you celebrate the Moms in your life.   We have created a special Mother’s Day Flyer with links to Cape Ann shops and eateries. Many are offering Mother’s Day gifts and specials, as well as curbside pick-up and delivery.

Please join us on Tuesday, May 5 at 10am for a free “How to Network Virtually” Webinar , presented by professional speaker and author Matt Ward. Learn to activate a virtual networking strategy. For more information and to register please click here .

And join us on Thursday, May 7 at 10am for our weekly virtual check-in. Share what you are doing with your business and learn from fellow business members and local officials how they are managing through COVID-19. Please use this Zoom link to join the meeting.

Enjoy this beautiful spring day here on Cape Ann, and May the Fourth be with you!

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 Issues Mandatory Face Covering Order. On Friday, Governor Baker issued an Order effective Wednesday, May 6, 2020 requiring face masks or cloth face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible. This applies to both indoor and outdoor spaces. Exceptions include children under the age of 2 and those unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition. Full details are outlined in the May 1 Order.

  • Boston – Governor Appoints Reopening Advisory Board. “This group is charged with advising the administration on strategies to reopen the economy in phases based on health and safety metrics.” Read the full statement, including the composition of this 17-member group, here. The Advisory Board’s report is due on 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. 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. For comprehensive information on Massachusetts Unemployment Assistance programs please 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 yesterday 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:
  • ArtWeek at Home Continues. As an official ArtWeek partner, the Chamber invites all to participate in ArtWeek at Home. ArtWeek hosts and partners from Cape Ann and across the state are posting virtual events and offerings through May 10. Search #ArtWeekAtHome to be amazed and inspired! To learn more please visit here.

  • The Chamber’s special COVID-19 information and resource page - including information and updates about Cape Ann’s businesses and their operations – continues to be updated daily. Please send your business information and updates to Olivia Perez-O’Dess ([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.  
Member & Community Updates:

New Listings:

  • Town of Essex updates public health advisories. To read the May 2 update from the Essex Board of Health, click here.

  • Manchester Historical Museum is now offering virtual tours of the museum and almost 20 lectures and online exhibits on their website. They also offer weekly art and history postings on their Facebook page.


  • Town of Rockport issues public health order requiring the wearing of face coverings in public areas in Rockport. Effective immediately, all individuals over the age of 4 are required wear a face covering or mask in public outside of their personal property. To read the full order click here.

Ongoing: For listings of Member & Community Updates please click here .

Education & Training Resources:

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

Community Services & Resources:

New Listings:

  • Effective Today CATA is modifying its weekday bus schedule to accommodate changes in customer travel patterns, provide more consistent service, and sustain appropriate social distancing. Saturday service will run on a regular Saturday schedule, with exception of the Mall Bus. The modified weekly schedule is available by visiting www.canntran.com.

  • Gloucester Education Foundation has partnered with local teachers and volunteers to organize an effort to manufacture 100 face shields a day using 3-D printers at Gloucester High School and O’Maley Innovation Middle School. These shields are free to anyone in need, to protect front line and essential business workers against the coronavirus.  

  • If you or an organization you know is in need of face shields, please contact [email protected] to place an order. To support the project, donate to their GoFundMe Campaign


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

New Listings:

  • The Art of David Arsenault is open 24/7 online. Visitors can purchase original oils, giclee prints and other items from the artist’s website. You may also buy from the gallery’s Facebook page. You can also find the gallery on Instagram. Contact the artist by email or by phone at 518-466-9093.

  • The Cabot Offers Virtual Independent Films. The Cabot is partnering with a number of independent film producers for virtual screenings of many films, including WBCN and the American Revolution (May 1 - May 14); The Booksellers; Pahokee and many more. For information and to purchase tickets please visit here. Most of the revenue from these film screenings goes directly to The Cabot, to help them with operating costs.

  • Cape Ann Cosmos continues to keep Cape Ann updated on virtual events happening on Cape Ann, and shares a fun new art challenge by The Getty Art Museum. To stay in the know on all things art, science & entertainment, subscribe to their monthly newsletter. Visit here for more information.

  • Rockport Music’s Mid-Day Music Series Continues. For the latest offerings in this free series of recent live performances at the Shalin Liu Performance Center, please click here.

  • Rusty & Ingrid Screen Prints is here to help you let the Moms in your life know that you are thinking of them. Find meaningful, decorative, handmade artwork at their online store. Include a personalized message and they will thoughtfully wrap your gift and ship it to her in time for Mother's Day. They are currently offering 10% off at their online store and free shipping in the United States. Order by today, May 4th to have it delivered in time for Mother's Day. Visit here for all the details.
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) provides helpful information and resources for Massachusetts businesses. Read their latest blog post 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.

  • MEMA: Read MEMA’s May 3 update 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.