SPECIAL EDITION FOCUSING ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 WITH TIPS TO MITIGATE ECONOMIC DAMAGE

#16 | TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2020

IT'S 5 O'CLOCK WITH EVERY TAKE OUT ORDER TAKE OUT BEER, WINE SALES ALLOWED BY LAW One provision of last Friday's HB 4598 bill includes a regulation allowing restaurants with current liquor licenses to sell beer and wine with takeout orders during the social distancing restrictions of COVID-19. Banned from on-premises consumption, this act restores a crucial source of revenue to restaurants and other food establishments. Lasting the length of the state of emergency declared by Gov. Baker last month, each order is restricted to 192 ounces of malt beverage (equivalent to 12 pints) and 1.5 liters of wine (2 standard-size bottles) per transaction. Over the past weeks, the Chamber and Discover Central Mass have compiled a list of restaurants and their COVID-19 status . Start here next time you're craving food cooked by ... someone other than you!

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Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Order Authorizes Use of Electronic Signatures by Attorneys, Self-represented Parties during COVID-19

In light of the ongoing and urgent public health concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, issued the following order regarding e-signatures: Effective Tuesday, April 7 (today) and until further order of the court: In all courts and case types, whenever an attorney or self-represented party is required to sign a document to be served on another party or filed with the court, the attorney or self-represented party may electronically sign, unless the court specifically orders otherwise. The electronic signature can take the form of either a scan of the attorney's or self-represented party's handwritten signature, an electronically inserted image intended to substitute for a signature, or a "/s/ name of signatory" block. The electronic signature shall have the same force and effect as if the attorney or self-represented party had affixed her or his original signature to a paper copy of the document so signed. If the documents include an affidavit signed under the pains of perjury, but the party making service has been unable to secure the affiant's original handwritten signature, or a scanned or photographed copy thereof, due to constraints arising from the coronavirus pandemic, the affidavit may still be served and filed with the court if the affiant has signed the affidavit electronically. Thereafter, steps must be taken to secure the affidavit bearing the affiant's original handwritten signature as soon as practical. If a party has a good faith basis to believe that an electronic signature was not authorized by the attorney, self-represented party, or other person whose signature it purports to be, a challenge may be raised promptly by way of motion. If the motion has merit, the court may, among other things, strike the challenged document and/or direct that it be served or filed again with an original handwritten signature.

FREE Webinar Payroll Protection Program and other aspects of the CARES Act Presented by the SBA Tuesday April 7, 2020  2 - 3:00 PM REGISTER

In partnership with North Central MA, Marlborough, Blackstone Valley, Corridor Nine, and Assabet Valley chambers of commerce.

FREE Webinar   TOMORROW TO GET UP AND RUNNING Easy-To-Use and Affordable Tools to Help You Conduct Business Virtually As more and more businesses are encouraging employees to work remotely, many of them have realized that they don’t have the technology in place to accomplish this quickly or productively.   Join us for this informational webinar, led by Cinch IT’s Rick Porter and InThink’s Kham Inthirath who will review easy-to-use and affordable online meeting platforms including Microsoft Office 365, Zoom, Trello, Google Hangouts, Free-ConferenceCall.com, Skype, Slack, and other popular options.

WHAT YOU NEED TO PARTICIPATE  Computer with a speaker or a telephone Internet Connection A link to the webinar (provided in your registration confirmation) REGISTER

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY The City of Worcester has partnered with the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and the United Way of Central Mass. to aid in local relief efforts of the COVID-19 crisis. A id includes immediate basic needs to be administered by United Way of Central MA and long-term recovery efforts funded by the GWCF . To contribute, please visit links above. Or, text " WORCESTERCOVID19 " to 243725, click on the link you receive and follow the instructions to donate by check or credit card.

‘Teddy Bear Hunt’: Stuffed animal scavenger hunts are making life BEAR-able for bored kids

In homes across the world, stuffed animals have been placed in windows as children out of school due to the pandemic participate in "Teddy Bear Hunts." Read this recent story by Baystate Parent to find out more ... and put those toys to good use!

NOTE | To keep our members up-to-date on available resources and the Chamber response to COVID-19, for the foreseeable future the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce will issue daily emails at noon. These emails contain a variety of information from local, state, and federal loans to the offerings of local businesses and best practices during this uncertain time. As always, we are here to help. Due to the Governor’s stay-at-home advisory for non-essential employees, the Chamber office will be closed through April 7. Staff members will be checking email and voicemail and will respond accordingly. We will continue to monitor the most up-to-date information to best serve our business community. If you need assistance at the office, please email the Chamber . If you need assistance with Certificate of Origin processing, please email Brenda Elmes , office manager.

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We wish you all continued health. Please reach out if the Chamber can be of assistance.