News and Community Announcements |
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New Executive Orders from Governor Baker |
Effective Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, all communities in Massachusetts will return to Step 1 and Phase 3 of the Reopening Phase.
This will reduce indoor capacities across a broad range of sectors of the economy and tighten several other workplace restrictions.
The Administration announced the roll-back to respond to an increase in new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations since the Thanksgiving holiday that is straining the health care system in MA.
The return to Step 1 will also require the closure of certain businesses designated as Step 2 industries. These include indoor performance venues and certain high-contact indoor recreational businesses. In addition, capacity limits will be reduced to 40% statewide for most industries, and the limit on outdoor gatherings will be reduced statewide from 100 persons to 50 persons. Additional safety measures will be applied to restaurant dining as well.
These new measures are designed to prevent infection and viral spread, especially in indoor settings. They will create stronger mask compliance, more social distancing, and limits to the time spent with people outside of your immediate household.
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Fairmount Innovation Lab Virtual Shopping Network
SHOP LOCAL. SHOP SMALL.
Join the Fairmont Innovation Lab's (FIL) Shopping Network Event and support our local artists and entrepreneurs every Saturday.
This season you can tune in to the FIL Virtual Shopping Network and learn more about the amazing work our businesses engage in. Click on the image to learn more about this week's artist, DeeJay Mot.
Connect on Saturday by clicking here: to tune in on our YouTube channel.
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Calling on Small Businesses! Congress Needs to Hear from You!
Main Street America is appealing to federal lawmakers on behalf of Main Streets and their small businesses, so they’re seeking participation in a quick text message-based survey. The survey takes 1-2 minutes and can be filled out quickly on your phone. You can either receive the survey by texting the word “survey” to 833-945-1313 or by clicking here (Note that if you click that link on a mobile device, it will pre-populate an opt-in message with the word “survey,” so just hit send with that message on your phone to receive the first survey question.)
Thank you!
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DS4SI is Hiring a Full-Time Creative Civic Engagement Design Lead
At DS4SI, we deeply believe in the right of the public to shape
their surroundings and everyday life. Our civic engagement projects are dedicated to finding creative ways for community members to engage each other in imagining the spaces they want to live, work and play in, and the futures they want to build together.
We aim to create unique opportunities for residents, artists, activists, merchants and others to both imagine and advocate for equitable development and civic life. Our Creative Civic Engagement Design Lead is responsible for the design, development, and documentation of all of our civic engagement projects.
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Boston’s New Digital Platform to Support Main Streets Businesses
GK Market!, is the City of Boston and State's first online multicultural marketplace designed for small businesses. This is a FREE resource to promote goods, services, restaurants, and shops. This resource can benefit your business.
This is the perfect opportunity for a small business that has no digital footprint or presence to develop one. GK Market! a small business owner spoke to other small business owners, and people who serve small business owners (Dudley Square Main Streets, CWE, City of Boston Office of Small Business, Interise, ICIC, Startup Mentors, and MGCC) and asked how best to support small businesses during this time of a pandemic?
Their input and feedback led to the creation of this platform which would give all businesses an equal opportunity to thrive and survive regardless of whether or not they have a digital presence.
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Community Choice
Electricity Program
Earlier this year, the Environment Department talked about the City of
Boston's new Community Choice Electricity Program. Well, it's
finally here! From December 14th - December 21st, the City will be
hosting informational webinars to introduce residents and businesses to the new program and answer any questions that may arise.
As a reminder, this program allows the City of Boston to negotiate electric contracts on behalf of Boston’s residents and businesses. While savings through the program cannot be guaranteed, we will use our collective buying power to provide affordable and renewable electricity to the program's customers. You can learn more about the program here.
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Beginning this week, the Community Preservation Committee will begin
meeting to review the FY21 applications and recommend projects for funding to the Mayor and City Council. Below is a schedule of the CPC public meetings for the FY21 Application Round.
Mon, Dec. 14, 2020 | 12:00 - 2:00pm (if needed)
Break for holidays, 2021 meetings are subject to change:
Tues., Jan. 5, 2021 | 12:00 - 2:00pm
Mon., Jan. 11, 2021 | 5:30 - 7:30pm
Tues., Jan. 19, 2021 | 12:00 - 2:00pm
Tues., Jan. 26, 2021 | 12:00 - 2:00pm (optional, if needed)
Mon., Feb. 1, 2021 | 6:00 - 8:00pm
Sometime in February, Mayor Walsh will file his recommended slate of projects, Recommended applicants, will then attend a City Council Hearing for all, followed by a City Council vote.
All CPC meetings are open to the public. We encourage you to join the
meetings to hear more about the project proposals under consideration
during this round.
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General Information & Updates
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Meal Distribution Sites for Children and Youth: The City of Boston, in partnership with Project Bread, YMCA of Greater Boston, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and other community organizations, will provide free meals to all youth and teens at various locations and times across the City.
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Pharmaluxe Pharmacy Delivers: Contact Pharmaluxe to set up an account for home delivery of prescriptions and other first-aid items. Email: info@pharmaluxerx.com or call 617-238-5224.
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Unemployment Insurance: Obtain updates about unemployment benefits and Coronavirus (COVID-19). Here is additional unemployment information.
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Need Health Insurance Information: The Health Connector enrollment period has been extended.
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Small Business Disaster Loan Assistance: The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering designated states and territories low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here for information.
- Boston Chamber of Commerce
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The Boston Resiliency Fund is the City of Boston’s effort to help coordinate assistance. Click here for more information.
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The official City of Boston Coronavirus Information Page where Mayor Walsh's team, including the Boston Public Health Commission is keeping the most current information and recommendations available for our local situation.
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Coronavirus Resources Page.
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Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Fact Page.
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ISD Guidelines keeping your establishment safe. Click here for the steps you can take.
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Additional Resources
- City of Boston Health Line: 617-534-5050
- Social Media Sites for Mayor Walsh - @Marty_Walsh
- City of Boston - @CityOfBoston
- Boston Public Health Commission - @Healthy Boston
- 311 is the City of Boston information Line and 211 is the Massachusetts/NH Information Line
- For all constituent services, please call 311
- Please follow us on Twitter @EconDevBos
- Facebook @ EconDevBos
- For the Mayor’s Hotline for questions about COVID-19, please call 617-534-5050.
- Text BOSCOVID to 99411 to opt-in to the City of Boston's daily text service for updates and information regarding COVID-19. This is a free service.
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You can support the work of Upham's Corner Main Street by making a donation today.
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Upham's Corner Main Street | 545 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02125
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