November 4, 2020
News and Community Announcements
DSNI Small Business Relief Fund
DSNI/DNI has grant monies to offer to small business owners in need of funds. We have posted the Small Business Relief Fund on our website.

The requirements for the grant:
  • Business with 20 or fewer employees;
  • Must be located in the DSNI catchment area, including Upham's Corner and Nubian Square;
  • Defined as a Minority Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Disability Owned Business, LGBTQ Owned Business, or a Veteran Owned Business.

The application closes on November 9th. Please spread the word and get this to as many small businesses as possible. The flyer is attached.
Need Seasonal Help?

The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) has a youth
(16 to 24 of age) service program/staffing for local businesses. If you are in need of additional set of hands (young employees at no cost to you) to work at business.

BHA will pay their wages ($15 per hour, 20 hours a week), taxes and other expenses. Business owners need to identify skill sets that are preferred and the youth could possibly begin as early as mid-November until end of December 2020. (Please note that there is potential for more money for January/February and perhaps longer).

If you are interested, please feel free to contact Valeska Daley via email with the name of your business, business address, contact phone number and number employees you would
like to hire of the evening as well as any specific skill set that you would for a youth to have. Click on the image to bring up the flyer.

Join DS4SI on
Wednesdays through November 18th
3:00-6:00 PM EST

What are you doing the day after the election? We are co-creating spaces for dialog, collective healing and radical action. Join us!

SERC Online is free and open to all. We will be here the day after the election. Come for one workshop or stay all afternoon.

We are in the midst of two deadly pandemics--racism and COVID-19. We are facing yet another election that threatens to be stolen, an environment reeling from climate change, as well as a Supreme Court appointment that could devastate rights for women, immigrants, poor people, Black communities and more for generations.

To us at DS4SI, this means we need another Social Emergency Response
Center. We need to build a virtual space where we can again turn to each other for information, collective healing and more. As a virtual space, we will be able to hear from our allies around the world as well, as they share insights into strategies for responding to growing fascism, expanding our capacities for mutual aid, etc.

Join us for our first SERC Online, this Wednesday! ALL are welcome. Bring a friend. Spread the word. Click here to register

Contact us at serc@ds4si.org if you would like to lead a virtual plotting, healing, making or cooking activity for an upcoming SERC, or support the work in another way!
Simpli Safe - Security for
Boston Small Businesses
These are uncertain times, and we know that small businesses are under more pressure than ever to protect their investments and keep their doors open. With our headquarters located in Downtown Crossing, we want to lend a helping hand to our fellow Boston-based businesses, in our neighborhood and beyond.

We are offering up to 250 free systems, plus a year’s worth of free monitoring to help protect small businesses in Boston. Click here for the small business offer.

General Information & Updates

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Unemployment Insurance: Obtain updates about unemployment benefits and Coronavirus (COVID-19). Here is additional unemployment information.
  • Need Health Insurance Information: The Health Connector enrollment period has been extended.
  • 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
  • The Boston Resiliency Fund is the City of Boston’s effort to help coordinate assistance. Click here for more information.
  • 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.
  • The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Coronavirus Resources Page.
  • Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Fact Page.
  • ISD Guidelines keeping your establishment safe. Click here for the steps you can take.
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.
You can support the work of Upham's Corner Main Street by making a donation today.

Upham's Corner Main Street | 545 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA 02125