PHASE II, STEP 2 BEGINS TODAY, JUNE 22ND
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The Governor announced that Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan will begin today, June 22 to allow additional industries to resume operations under sector-specific guidelines.
Businesses and sectors set to begin operating in Step Two of Phase II are subject to compliance with all mandatory safety standards.
On May 18, the Administration released a four-phased plan to reopen the economy based on public health data, spending at least three weeks in each phase. Key public health data, such as new cases and hospitalizations, has been closely monitored and seen a significant decline allowing for Step Two of Phase II to begin on June 22.
The following are eligible to reopen in Step Two of Phase II:
- Indoor table service at restaurants
- Close contact personal services, with restrictions
- Retail dressing rooms, by appointment only
- Offices, at 50% capacity
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COMMONWEALTH PLACES GRANTS |
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MassDevelopment announced $225,000 in funding for a new round of Commonwealth Places grants. This Commonwealth Places COVID-19 Response Round: Resurgent Places funding is being made available specifically to help community partners prepare public space and commercial districts to best serve their population during communities’ economic recovery efforts. Eligible projects may include outdoor seating spaces, sidewalk retail venues, partitions to support social distancing, and more.
Non-profits and community groups are eligible to apply for grant awards of up to $25,000. Up to $10,000 per project may be awarded as an unmatched grant; awards greater than $10,000 must be matched with crowdfunding donations. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 31, 2020. Read more in the Request for Proposals here.
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TAX RELIEF MEASURES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES |
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Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo announced additional administrative tax relief measures for local businesses that have been impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, especially in the restaurant and hospitality sectors.
This tax relief builds upon previous similar tax extensions and includes postponing the collection of regular sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes for small businesses that would be due from March through August, so that they will instead be due in September. Additionally, all penalties and interest that would otherwise apply will be waived.
· Businesses that paid less than $150,000 in regular sales plus meals taxes in the year ending February 29, 2020 will be eligible for relief for sales and meals taxes, and businesses that paid less than $150,000 in room occupancy taxes in the year ending February 29, 2020 will be eligible for relief with respect to room occupancy taxes.
· For businesses with meals tax and room occupancy tax obligations that do not otherwise qualify for this relief, late-file and late-pay penalties will be waived during this period.
The Department of Revenue will issue emergency regulations and a Technical Information Release to implement these administrative relief measures.
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Revised Guidance for Reopening Camps and Child Care Centers |
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The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has decided to encourage, but not mandate, the use of masks for children older than two and to eliminate a requirement that every child undergo a temperature check at the entrance before participating. Staff would still need to wear a mask whenever six feet of distancing is not possible.
The department also dropped the requirement requiring an extra teacher in every preschool room.
The department also dropped a change to teacher ratios that would have required two preschool teachers for every classroom of 10 children. The revised regulations return the requirement to just one teacher for every 10 preschoolers, while noting that, “to the maximum extent possible, more than one adult is recommended.”
The department is now encouraging providers to offer flexible hours and stagger their drop-off and pickup times.
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION UPDATES |
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June 30th is just around the corner – and marks the deadline for when lenders can submit PPP applications to SBA.
- Are self-employed and have no employees; OR
- Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR
- Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19, and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%.
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Build a Better Business Webinar
Position Your Business for Greater Brand Awareness and Profitability in a Post-Pandemic World
June 23, 2020 01:00pm
Get the latest tips from a panel of leading experts in finance, marketing, operations, strategy, HR, and sales from the Greater Boston area.
What will you learn?
- Effective customer relationship approaches for increased sales
- Tools and strategies for increased productivity across your company
- Resources for greater efficiency and higher profit margin
- Methods for evaluating and developing skilled talent
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Build a Better Business
June 23, 1:00 to 2:00 PM
A FREE, one hour webinar with breakout sessions by local industry experts. You’ll learn strategies to perfectly position your business for post-COVID recovery.
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Join New England Chamber of Commerce Executives, Business Leaders, and Policymakers to Discuss the Local and Regional Economic Opportunities of Offshore Wind
June 23, 2020 01:00pm
Offshore wind has a unique opportunity at this moment in time to benefit the US economy and environment. The pipeline of offshore wind projects is estimated to deliver approximately $100 billion in economic investment, more than 80,000 jobs, and provide enough electricity to power millions of homes.
New England stands at the forefront of this new American energy industry with multiple large projects in development that will deliver thousands of megawatts of clean energy to the grid. One developer, Vineyard Wind, has secured projects in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, with its first project Vineyard Wind 1 planning to receive final permits by the end of 2020 and its Connecticut project, Park City Wind, entering the permitting process this year. These projects will not only deliver competitively priced energy to the Massachusetts and Connecticut ratepayers but will also bring thousands of high-paying jobs, considerable economic investment, and demand for a deep, regional supply chain.
Join your chamber colleagues, business executives, and policy makers to learn more about how this emerging industry will deliver economic benefits to the regional, state, and local economies and how businesses can benefit from the vast supply chain needed to support offshore wind developments. Attendees will also get an update on the regulatory status of projects as Vineyard Wind 1 plans to begin construction this year.
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Resiliency Roundtables
June 24, 2020
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
June 26, 2020
1:00 - 2:30 PM
CEO Peer-Advisory Agenda:
90 minutes – Once/month facilitated by Bill Flynn, Catalyst Growth Coach
· Check-in – 15-20 minutes
· Growth Tool review – 10-15 minutes
· Business issues – Accountability partner pairing – 45-50 minutes
· Closing/Action – 5-10 minutes
Free until September – $299/month thereafter – one-year paid commitment
Up to 10 participants per roundtable.
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Managing Stress & Trauma During the Pandemic: A Forum for Women Veterans
Thursday June 25th 10:00 AM
This is a two-part webinar with Charly Oliva, MSW & Belchertown Veteran Service Officer and Lena Vellturo, Longmeadow Veteran Service Officer. Registration link coming soon.
The first session begins at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 25. It will be an interactive, informational webinar on trauma, stress and coping during the pandemic.
The second session begins at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 25. It will be a moderated forum for women veterans to share their experiences.
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Thirty on Thursday: Building a Resilient Growth Framework
Thursday, June 25, 202011:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Now, more than ever, great teams with well executed strategies, and proper cash planning are the exemplars of extraordinary leadership. Building and running a healthy and successful organization has never been more important. This not to miss webinar will provide practical insights and actions from high performing companies that build a culture of innovation, execution and productivity allowing them to survive and thrive even through the most difficult times.
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Please take moment and check out our most recent new members. Support them if you are able by purchasing gift cards, ordering take-out, or scheduling an appointment for a later date. We thank you all! Welcome New BVCC Members! |
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New York Life · Nicola Deary · 75 Quinapoxet Lane, Worcester MA: 01606 · 508-612-5354 nicoladeary@yahoo.com
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Contact info:
Office Phone: (508) 234-9090
Jeannie Hebert, President & CEO
cell #: (508) 981 5782
Liz O’Neil, Programs and Events Coordinator
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Julia Juskavitch, Marketing Coordinator
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BV Chamber Hours
M-F 9:00–4:00
(Closed Fridays 6/15/2020-Labor Day)
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