Dear Friends
,
As springtime continues to unfold all around us this week we are pleased to you today’s edition of our special COVID-19 newsletter. With
Mother’s Day
now just around the corner, we encourage you to support our local businesses as you celebrate the Moms in your life. Our special
Mother’s Day Flyer
has updated links to Cape Ann shops and eateries. Many are offering Mother’s Day gifts, gift cards and specials, as well as curbside pick-up and delivery.
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Please join us this
Friday, May 8
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 May day here on Cape Ann.
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:
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News & Business Resources:
- Boston –Mandatory Face Covering Order Takes Effect Today. The statewide order requires the wearing of 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. Read details of the Governor’s order here.
- Boston –Reopening Advisory Board Seeks Input. The Massachusetts Reopening Advisory Board appointed last week by Governor Baker is inviting comments and recommendations from business owners and local official as they develop their report. If you would like to submit comments to the advisory board, please click on this link, which was shared with us by Senator Bruce Tarr. For further information, including the composition of this 17-member group, please click 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.
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- 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.
- 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.
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Member & Community Updates:
New Listings:
- 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.
- North of Boston CVB Presents Industry Sector Roundtable Discussions in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week. Today’s session will bring together Attractions, Restaurants & Retail; Thursday’s: Tours; and Friday’s: Arts & Culture. All will begin at 4pm and last about one hour. North of Boston CVB members are invited to participate in any or all sessions.
Ongoing:
For listings of
Member & Community Updates
please click
here
.
Education & Training Resources:
New Listings:
- Virtual Networking Webinar Replay. If you missed yesterday’s virtual networking webinar with Matt Ward - or if you would like to review some of his key networking tips - please click here.
Ongoing:
For listings of
education and training resources
please click
here
.
Community Services & Resources:
New Listings:
- CATA has modified 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.
Ongoing:
For listings of
community services and resources
please click
here
.
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Members Helping Members & the Community:
New Listings:
- Nor’east Cleaners offers free home and office pick-up and delivery to 20+ towns. Stores are open in East Gloucester and Manchester - Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays 9am - 4pm; Saturdays 9am - 2pm. 24/7 drop boxes at all locations for contact-free drop off. Contact them online or download the Nor'east Cleaners App.
- Essen in Manchester is now Laughing Gull Café. Although the cafe has been closed, they have been doing weekly fresh produce box and pantry staple pick-up and delivery for the past three weeks, on Fridays. Their offerings can be purchased on their online store and picked up between 4 and 6pm each Friday. To read an update on their operations click here.
- 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.
- This Sunday is Mother’s Day. Here is a sampling of Cape Ann dining options and offers for this special day:
- Windward Grille in Essex will be open and taking orders from noon to 6pm. They will have their regular dinner menu all day, available on their website.
- Woodman’s of Essex is also offering a Gift Card Mother’s Day Special. For more information please click here.
- For a list of additional options to celebrate Mother’s Day and support local eateries, click here.
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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.
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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.
- COVID-19 Command Center Update: Read MEMA’s May 5 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.
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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 [email protected]
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