• Massachusetts Small Business Emergency Loan Fund: The Baker-Polito Administration yesterday announced economic support for small businesses with a $10 million loan fund to provide financial relief to those that have been affected by COVID-19. Read the full story here.

• 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. 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. 

• On March 17, 2020, Governor Baker announced that he has requested an EIDL disaster declaration to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for all counties in Massachusetts. Approval will enable the SBA to activate the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program which would provide assistance to eligible businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19. Affected small businesses and non-profits should download, complete, and submit the SBA EIDL Worksheet & Instructions to expedite activation of the EIDL program. 

• Unemployment Assistance: The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) and the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), in coordination with the US Department of Labor (USDOL), are taking a series of actions to assist workers and employers. Find more details here. To assist individuals who cannot work due to the impact of COVID-19, the administration is filing emergency legislation that will allow new claims to be paid more quickly by waiving the one week waiting period for unemployment benefits.

• The Chamber office will be open by appointment only, with Chamber staff working remotely from home. All team members are available by email and calls to the Chamber will be forwarded to a member of the Chamber team.

• The Live Facebook drawing for the Irish Sweepstakes has been postponed.

• The Chamber has created a special COVID-19 information and resource page on our website here. Please send business updates to Olivia Perez-O’Dess (olivia@capeannchamber.com) so that we may share these with the Cape Ann community.

• Sam Adams and the Greghill Foundation have started a fund to disperse funds to full time restaurant employees- $1,000 grants.  Here's the link: https://www.thegreghillfoundation.org/restaurantstrong/  

• Our friends and neighbors at the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce have shared some great ideas that we would in turn like to share with you:

• Creative Business Opportunities: It's incredible to see the creative ways our local businesses are serving their customers....

• Curbside pickup, home deliveries and take-out orders for ALL businesses

• Using Zoom video conferencing, FB Live, Instagram Live, GoToMeeting or Skype to engage your customers for workouts, seminars, specials, product info etc.

• Encouraging customers to buy gift certificates for friends, family or those that are unable to shop for themselves

• Shop local businesses online

• Cross promoting whenever possible

• Helping neighbors when you can

• As we learn of more creative ways that you our members are adapting and responding, we will share them on all our Chamber communications channels

• Cape Ann Pharmacy Hours and Operations:

• Walgreens in Rockport: Hours have not changed; Mon - Sat 8am -8pm, Sunday 9am -5pm

• Allen's Pharmacy, Manchester-by-the-Sea: Hours have been reduced. Filling online prescription orders. Call (978) 526-1321 for details.

• CVS Thatcher Rd., Gloucester: Hours have not changed. Open: 8am -10pm. CVS has a Covid-19 hotline 1-888-300-4419.

• CVS Main St, Gloucester: Hours have not changed. Open 8am -9pm CVS has a Covid-19 hotline 1-888-300-4419.

• Walgreens Main St., Gloucester: Hours have not changed. This is a 24 hour store. Store manager having daily conference calls with their corporate office about hours. We will update store hour information as we learn of any changes.

• Please Check our website for the most current additions to this list.

• The Open Door: As the full impact of the coronavirus outbreak continues to unfold, we want to assure you that The Open Door (TOD) is taking extra precautions to ensure the health and safety of our clients and the community. Learn more about steps The Open Door is taking and how you can help here.

• Read the latest update from the City of Gloucester on the Coronavirus here

• Supermarket Hours:

• Market Basket: Unchanged: Mon-Sat 7am - 9pm; Sunday 7am -7pm. No: early hours for seniors.

• Shaw’s Railroad Ave: Hours have been shortened by one hour. Hours are 7am -8pm starting 3/17. No: early hours for seniors.

• Shaw’s Eastern Ave: Hours have been shortened by one hour. Hours are 7am -8pm starting 3/17. Store manager Matt said they are putting a policy in place for seniors but have not finalized this yet.

• Stop & Shop Thatcher Rd: Hours have changed as follows: Open 7:30am - 8pm Seniors hours: 6am -7:30am. These new hours for the seniors will allow them to get the items they need before the other customers.

• Please Check our website for the most current additions to this list.

• Rockport Music & Shalin Liu Performance Center: Starting this week, we will be presenting our Midday Music Series , posting a new video each Tuesday and Friday around noon of some of our favorite highlights from performances at the Shalin Liu Performance Center. You will be able to find the video on our website(starting next week), on our social media pages (Facebook , Instagram , Twitter),  and in email.

• Chelsea Berry will be doing a Facebook Live ‘concert’ from her living room on Saturday, March 21 at 7:30pm.