COVID-19 Resource Guide (current as of March 27, 2020)

Dear Metro South Community Members,
The following is an update on how the Metro South Chamber is reacting to the COVID-19 outbreak.
We want to express our deep gratitude to all our members for their partnership and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented situation. In particular, all of us are grateful for the public and private health care institutions, businesses, and employees who are on the front lines.
As of Tuesday, March 24, 2020 Chamber staff will be working remotely and the building will be closed through May 4, 2020 per Governor Baker’s orders. And while precautions are both prudent and necessary, it’s also an opportunity to show the compassion and leadership that the people of Metro South and Massachusetts are known for. Support your neighbors and colleagues, and remember that we’re all in this together. Let’s not let fear overcome our instincts for empathy and humanity.
We will continue to share updates and resources to our member businesses as they become available in the coming weeks. The Metro South Chamber of Commerce is diligently recording updates coming from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Small Business Administration, MOBD, U.S. Chamber, SCORE, and more business resource organizations as we all come together to offer support for our business community.
Below is a list of online resources currently available and being developed. As you know, COVID-19 updates are coming in by the hour. The Metro South Chamber’s goal in this pandemic is to assist our member businesses during a time of economic difficulty.

 

Congress, White House make deal on $2 Trillion stimulus package

Overnight, officials reached an agreement on the massive package that will directly help Americans and rescue the economy. (March 25, 2020)

White House Seeks Help from Manufacturers

The White House is reaching out to U.S. manufacturers to identify their capabilities to help the United States during the COVID-19 crisis. The administration is seeking volunteers who can donate and provide and/or produce within two weeks large-scale quantities of critical supplies to help the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

• Guidance for Businesses and Employers

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• Summary of Congressional Action on Coronavirus Response (published February 27, 2020)
• U.S. Chamber Policy Action
• Coronavirus Response Toolkit
• Guidance for Employers
• Workplace Tips for Employees
• Resource Hub for Small Businesses
• Local/State Policy Tracker
• Workplace Flyer
• Business Response
• Corporate Aid Tracker
• Survey on Business Impact
• Resilience in a Box
• More Resources

Small Business Administration (SBA)

 

• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) overview (March 27, 2020)
  • EIDL Application Checklist
• Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to COVID-19
• Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
  • SBA Offers Statewide Disaster Assistance to Massachusetts Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) APPLY ONLINE
• EIDL Program (Economic Injury Disaster Loan): EIDL offers Massachusetts businesses who are experiencing hardships resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak access to $2M in emergency loan capital with rates capped at 3.75%.

Baker-Polito Administration, MA

• COVID-19 Essential Services FAQs (March 25, 2020)
• Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures and Steps to Ensure Housing Stability to Support COVID-19 Response (March 25, 2020)
• Governor Charlie Baker Orders All Non-Essential Businesses To Cease In Person Operation, Directs the Department of Public Health to Issue Stay at Home Advisory for Two Weeks (issued March 23, 2020)
• Baker-Polito Administration Announces New Health Care Resources, Small Business Relief, Other Efforts To Support COVID-19 Response (issued March 20, 2020)
• Guidance Regarding the Order by the Governor Prohibiting Assemblages of More 25 People (issued March 15, 2020)
• $10 Million Small Business Recovery Loan Fund: administered by Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC), to provide emergency capital up to $75,000 to Masachusetts-based businesses impacted by COVID-19 with under 50 full- and part-time employees, including nonprofits. This fund is being offered with no payments due for the first 6 months, then 30-months of principal and interest payments and no prepayment penalties (annual interest rate of 3.0%)
• Emergency Order (March 15, 2020) limiting gatherings to 25 individuals and prohibiting on-premises consumption of food or drink at bars and restaurants, beginning March 17 and effective through April 6.
  • The Order does NOT APPLY to normal operations at airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, polling locations, grocery or retail stores, pharmacies, or other spaces where 25+ persons may be in transit.
  • The Order does NOT APPLY to typical office environments, government buildings, or factories where large numbers of people are present, but it is unusual for them to be within arm’s length of one another.
• COVID-19 Guidance and Directives
• Information on the Outbreak of COVID-19
• Preparation in Massachusetts
• FAQ

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development

• Updated information regarding unemployment resources
  • Click here to sign up for a virtual town hall via phone or online. A web link to the daily visual presentation can be viewed here.
  • Download the step by step presentation here
• The WorkShare Program, is a tool to help employers avoid layoffs during a downturn.
• The Rapid Response Program, works closely with companies to avert layoffs and keep a skilled workforce engaged in the existing regional economy or industry

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)

• MEMA’s Emergency Operations Center’s Private Sector Hotline will be staffed Monday-Friday, from 8AM-4PM, call (508)-820-2094.

SCORE

• Small Business Disaster Preparedness Resources
• Coronavirus Economic Impact: Will Business Interruption Insurance Help (& What Are My Other Options)?
• How Small Businesses Can Prepare for the Coronavirus
• Crisis Communications Planning Checklist

MSBDC – Prepare for Recovery!

 

Jill Beresford, MSBDC, talks COVID-19 business recovery resources on msbdc.org/semass

Labor & Employment, Municipal, Education, and HR Alerts from Murphy Hesse Toomey & Lehane

• Guidance for Municipalities on Conducting Remote Public Meetings Under the Open Meeting Law and the Relaxed Remote Participation Standards (March 26, 2020)
• Small Business Administration Assistance will be provided to Massachusetts Businesses and Non-Profits Impacted by COVID-19 (March 26, 2020)
• Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Post Your Notice And April 1, 2020 Effective Date (March 25, 2020)
• U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance on COVID-19 and the FLSA: Installment 3 of the MHTL COVID-19 Client Alert (March 20, 2020)
• Sweeping Federal Legislation Passed Related to COVID-19 (March 20, 2020)
• MA Legislature Passes Relief Bill Waiving the One Week Waiting Period for COVID-19 Related Unemployment Claims (March 18, 2020)
• Corporate and Business Alert (March 2020)
• OSHA Strategies for Dealing with COVID-19 in the Workplace: Installment 2 of the MHTL COVID-19 Client Alter (March 16, 2020)
• Strategies for Dealing with COVID-19 in the Workplace: Installment 1 of the MHTL COVID-19 Client Alert (March 11, 2020)

 

How to Work from Home, Effectively

Business doesn’t stop, and neither do we! Now is the perfect time to work on perfecting new ways to connect and work together. New developments call for a new strategy. To that end, we’re refocusing some of our resources to support digital members and community engagement. Be on the lookout for webinars, conference calls, video chats, and more! Below are several resources that are now being widely used, in an effort to keep business moving forward.

ZOOM: Zoom is the top video and web conferencing app. They offer a series of one-minute video introductions to help get you started seamlessly; webinars are also available, and you can request a demo at any time. Their basic (free) package offers 40 minute calls with up to 100 participants. Other packages include unlimited screen time, participants, and more. Forbes: Zoom CEO Eric Yuan is Giving K-12 Schools His Videoconferencing Tools For Free

Free Conference Call: Once you sign up, you will be provided with a Dial-in Number and Access Code for immediate conferencing, and on Online Meeting ID for hosting meetings with Screen Sharing and Video Conferencing. There’s also an app available, making it even more accessible. Simple & easy conference calling right on your mobile device!

Google Remote Work hub: This link includes resources and free tools to help your own teams work smoothly, and to help you stay connected to the communities we serve. Here you’ll find information on how to:

• Work from anywhere: Best practices for effective communication and collaboration while working remotely and meeting via video conferencing.
• Teach from anywhere: Support virtual learning and how workshops from anywhere using collaborative tools.
• Learn from anywhere: Share training content through digital resources to that the people in your community can access online courses and curriculum.

Google has always created a new helpful site for small businesses with additional tips and recommendations to navigate this time of uncertainty for employees and customers.

Other resources:

• Comcast offering ‘Internet Essentials’ package free for low-income customers for 60 days
• Skype for Business

 

Learning from Home

• Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures and Steps to Ensure Housing Stability to Support COVID-19 Response (March 25, 2020)
• Brockton Public Schools
• Follow the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE) for updates!
• Tips for Enabling Distance Learning through Google Suite & Chrome
• Murphy Hesse Toomey & Lehane LLP Education Alert (March 16, 2020)
• Google Museum Views – Take a virtual tour of some of the world’s greatest museums and heritage sites.

 

Restaurant Updates

 

• COVID-19 Restaurant Relief : CARE Act Summary
• Commonwealth Kitchen: Running a Food Business in the face of COVID-19 – Resource Guide

Abington Ale House: Take-Out available 11:30am-7:00pm daily
1235 Bedford Street
Abington, MA 02351
(781) 871-6811

Barrett’s Alehouse: Currently closed.
674 West Center Street
West Bridgewater, MA 02379
(508) 510-4204

Brack’s Grille & Tap: Open for Take-Out & Delivery, check availability.
1280 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 271-7777

Buffalo Wild Wings: Open for Take-out & Delivery
486 Westgate Drive
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 559-1409

Cape Cod Cafe, Inc.: Open for Take-Out
979 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 583-9420

George’s: Open for Take-Out, Monday-Sunday 11am-10:30pm
228 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 588-4231

Good Days Restaurant, Inc.: Open for Take-Out 8am-6pm
99 South Main Street
West Bridgewater, MA 02379
(508) 584-0077

Italian Kitchen: Open for Take-Out
1071 Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 586-2100

JJ’s Caffe: Open for Online Take-Out Orders Only, Tuesday-Sunday, 8am-2pm
610 N. Main Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 510-4227

Joe Angelo’s Cafe & Deli: Open for Take-Out & Delivery, 11am-10pm
11 Crescent Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 588-8331

LongHorn Steakhouse: Open for Take-Out
800 US Road, Route 44
Raynham, MA 02767
(508) 821-9246

McDonald’s: Open for Drive-Thru & Take-Out
664 Crescent Street
Brockton, MA 02302
(508) 586-4594

McGuiggan’s Pub:Open for Take-Out, 4-8pm
546 Washington Street
Whitman, MA 02382
(781) 447-7333

Stonebridge Cafe: Open for Take-Out
1285 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 584-5200

Texas Roudhouse: Open for Take-Out
124 Westgate Drive
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 427-6244

Yamato Japanese Steak House: Currently closed.
510 Westgate Drive
Brockton, MA 02301
(508) 588-8881