Last week, Governor Baker signed legislation (“An Act financing a program for improvements to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and providing relief to employers and workers in the Commonwealth”) that provides relief for employers and employees across the Commonwealth.
Today at 1:00 PM, Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, and I made several announcements pertaining to the state’s reopening process and sector specific guidance.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR RECOVERY
Governor Baker announced the Administration’s $774M comprehensive economic recovery plan, “Partnerships for Recovery”, last week. The plan focuses on getting people back to work, supporting small businesses, fostering innovation, revitalizing downtowns and ensuring housing stability. Partnerships for Recovery begins immediately by directing $115 million in new funding to small businesses and Main Streets hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and for workforce training efforts. Read more about the plan in the press release.
Effective Tuesday, August 11, the Baker-Polito Administration will revise the Executive Order on gatherings to reduce the cap on outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50 individuals. The inside gathering limit will remain at 25 people. Please note: this will now apply to both public and private spaces. Read the revised Executive Order for more details.
Last week, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of free COVID-19 testing sites in eight communities from July 10 to August 14 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This “Stop the Spread” initiative is a data-driven effort to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities that are above the state average in total cases and positive test rate, and have experienced a decline in testing levels since April. The initiative is being launched in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, and New Bedford. Residents of these communities can take advantage of the availability of these new testing ...
The Baker-Polito Administration today announced that on July 6th, Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan will begin and updates on gatherings will be in effect. For the City of Boston, Phase III and the gatherings order will take effect on Monday, July 13th. The Department of Public Health (DPH) also issued updated guidance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Please find the link to MGCC’s small business survey mentioned on Friday. This statewide survey will be used to help MGCC formulate programs that meet the needs of the small business community as we proceed from reopening into economic recovery. Please encourage businesses in your circles to respond to this survey to inform that effort. Click here for survey.
On Friday, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that Step Two of Phase II of the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan, Reopening Massachusetts, begins Monday, 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.
The Administration announced new funding to implement the recommendations of the Food Security Task Force. The Task Force was convened by the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center in response to increased demands for food assistance. The Administration opened applications for the new $36 million Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program to ensure that individuals and families throughout the Commonwealth have access to fresh, local food. The Request for Responses for project proposals is available here with details on eligible businesses and entities. The Administration also released a Notice of Opportunity to onboard new agricultural vendors for the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), which ...
The State is working through inquiries submitted regarding Reopening Massachusetts. Please note that every form containing comments is being reviewed and compiled, but only questions will receive a response. If businesses have reviewed the available guidance and have additional questions, they may submit an inquiry form here. Please share this link with businesses in your communities that have questions about reopening in Phase 1.
Today, Governor Baker announced a four-phased approach to reopening the Massachusetts economy, and published Mandatory Workplace Safety Standards that will apply universally to all workplaces that are open in Phase 1, and are designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission to employees and customers. As the Lt. Governor and I have mentioned on our weekly calls, this phased reopening (driven by public health indicators and guidance) charts a course to allow some businesses, services, and activities to resume, while protecting public health and limiting a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases.
NEW GUIDANCE FOR FULFILLMENT OF REMOTE ORDERS BY RETAIL BUSINESSES
Earlier this week, the Administration provided new guidance for retail businesses. Under this guidance, non-essential businesses are allowed to bring in a small number of employees in order to remotely fulfill online or phone orders, provided they can meet safety protocols. Read the full guidance in the COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs.
Lt. Gov. Polito and I co-chair a Reopening Advisory Board to map out a phased approach to safely reopening our economy. While this document will be finalized by May 18th, the timing and rollout of the plan will be anchored in evidence that the public health threat is being effectively managed in Massachusetts. We would value the input of Chambers of Commerce, business associations, and other groups in this process. To participate, please submit Chamber- or association-level input via this online form. We look forward to reviewing the perspectives of your business communities and regions to inform the reopening ...
Massachusetts Administration’s response to COVID-19, SBA programs for small businesses, technical assistance offered through Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) and SBA Resource Partners, and implementation of unemployment benefits authorized by the CARES Act. Below, please find a list of resources, please feel free to share this content broadly with businesses and individuals in your community.
I’m sharing a call summary below to recap the key points of our discussion and share some important resources related to the Paycheck Protection Program, new guidance on federal unemployment provisions, and the Manufacturing Emergency Response Team (M-ERT) portal. I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of many individuals and offices to implement the Paycheck Protection Program over the past week or so. District Director Bob Nelson and his team at the SBA MA District Office have worked tirelessly, as have many members of our banking community here in Massachusetts. Together, these stakeholders are working hard to operationalize this ...
