COVID-19 Update
March 16, 2020
To: Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Members and the Cape Ann Community
As all of us strive to stay abreast of and responsibly respond to the rapidly evolving situation relative to the Coronavirus, the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce, effective immediately, will be implementing the following measures:
- Daily updates via eblasts, as required, with timely and important information
- Use our websites as central repository of information
Our goal is to serve as a trusted resource
in providing our business community and residents consolidated, accurate information and guidance as to the status and recommended business operations during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Chamber operations will continue, but with important modifications, consistent with guidance from the President’s Coronavirus task force, Governor Baker and our local leaders and public health officials. The Chamber’s visitor centers will be closed temporarily and the office will be staffed on a limited basis, with reduced hours (9 am to 3 pm, Monday-Friday). Many of your Chamber team members will be working remotely from home.
Planned near-term Chamber events where more than 25 attendees would be expected have been postponed or cancelled. The Irish Sweepstakes event planned for the Gloucester House will not take place, but the drawing will still take place via a live Facebook event [Wednesday, March 18 at 5:30 pm, TBC]. Details about other Chamber and community events, and additional COVID-19 information and resources will be available soon at
www.capeannchamber.com
.
Meetings of the Chamber Board of Directors, Chamber Committees and Chamber Councils will be held as possible via conference calls.
To the Cape Ann Restaurant Community:
On Sunday, March 15 Governor Baker issued an executive order prohibiting on-premise consumption of food or drink at all Massachusetts restaurants, bars and establishments that offer food or drink. At the same time these businesses “may continue to offer food for take-out and by delivery provided that they follow social distancing protocols that allow individuals to stay 6 feet apart.” The Chamber is seeking information on who will continue operations on a take-out and/ delivery basis. Office Manager Karen Carone will be reaching out to all member restaurateurs. Please let Karen know your status so that we may in turn share your information with the wider Cape Ann community, email:
Karen@capeannchamber.com
To the Cape Ann business and non-profit community:
The MA Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and Baker-Polito Administration are working closely with the U.S. SBA to activate the
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program
which would provide assistance to eligible businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19.
The first step in this process is to meet a minimum threshold of affected businesses within MA.
Affected small businesses and non-profits should download, complete, and submit the SBA EIDL Worksheet (
https://lnkd.in/ewF7VBy
) & Instructions to expedite activation of the EIDL program.
Completed forms can be submitted by email to
Disaster.Recovery@mass.gov
or by fax to (508) 820-1401. If you do fax the form, please include your e mail.
To entire Cape Ann Community:
For the most current information about the federal, state and local response to COVID-19 – including information of particular relevance to employers and employees, we recommend visiting the following official websites:
For information and updates specific to one’s local community, we recommend visiting the following city and town websites for Cape Ann:
All the members of your team here at the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce wish you the very best, as we all pull together to meet and overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
