Vaccine call center to be set up; Gov Baker press conf link on small grant awards

 

"AMID GROWING frustration with the state’s process for arranging COVID-19 vaccination appointments, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday that his administration intends to set up a call center next week for those who need additional help.

On Wednesday, people 75 and over who are not living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities started making appointments for vaccinations. Baker said 45,000 appointments were made over the last two days but the demand far outpaced supply. An estimated 500,000 people over 75 are eligible to obtain the two-dose vaccination, but he said the state has been receiving only 80,000 doses a week, a number bumping up to 100,000 next week."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-setting-up-vaccine-call-center/

Maura Healey (@MassAGO):

"First, it was unemployment. The Department of Unemployment had no live call center.
Then, it was workplace safety.
After that, evictions. No system.
We've tried to help those frustrated constituents all year. The vaccine call center should have happened yesterday. "

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MassAGO/status/1354882824109752329

Gov Baker Press Conf Link - https://youtu.be/z0IpZCRvFME

Press Release on Small Business Grants

https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-awards-over-45-million-in-grants-to-1100-new-small-businesses

Town of Franklin, MA: new grant program for MA businesses

"A new grant program is available for Massachusetts businesses from @MassGCC. Applications open tomorrow at noon.  Find details here https://t.co/mY1d6or3gg"

@FranklinDowntwn @franklinculture

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1344330442313527296?s=03

Town of Franklin, MA:  new grant program for MA businesses

"A Christmas miracle, or clever budgetary legerdemain"

The Boston Globe has the following:

"One moment, Governor Charlie Baker is asking people to lobby their legislators for some relatively modest funding as the state’s well of small-business relief funds runs dry.

The next: Baker unveils $668 million for grants, in particular to help several sectors hit hard by COVID-19 such as restaurants, retail stores, gyms, and hair salons.

The sharp turnabout last week surprised many small-business advocates — not to mention the budget writers in the Legislature.

A Christmas miracle, or clever budgetary legerdemain on the part of Baker’s Administration & Finance team?

Maybe a bit of both."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/30/business/baker-pulled-650m-small-business-aid-seemingly-out-nowhere-heres-how/

FM #425 Fresh Start Market - 12/16/20 (audio)

FM #425 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 425 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Fresh Start Market co-owner Bonnie Corso. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the social distancing requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about how Bonnie and her husband Mark have spent many years developing the market which will open in the near future here in Franklin. They will be located in the Liquor World Plaza, in the space where the Shiva Market had been.

We talk about the timeline how they came to bring this to reality. How they used the Market Study developed by MAPC for Franklin to confirm three was an opportunity here. 

By way of disclosure: I did purchase a brick on their wall to help share the Franklin Matters Name. I did also contribute as an investor in their venture. We talk about this and how they will be part of the community in bringing a ‘farm to table’ approach to grab and go meals.

While I do believe in what they are doing, this radio program is part of my overall effort to share newsworthy goodness in Franklin. This happens to be a very good example of the stories I think are newsworthy.

Our conversation runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H13TRRHS

 
--------------
Follow Fresh Start Market on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/FreshStartMkt/ 
On Instagram   https://www.instagram.com/fresh_start.market/ 
Their investment opportunity page on MainVest  https://mainvest.com/b/fresh-start-market-franklin 
`
EDC Meeting with the MAPC Market Study presented and discussed
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-322-edc-mapc-market-study-73030-audio.html

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Finian, their pet parrot, provided some background commentary during our remote recording session. Here is a cropped photo of Finian shared on the Fresh Start Market Instagram page  https://www.instagram.com/p/CJIEFN7gQ29/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Finian, their pet parrot, provided some background commentary during our remote recording session

$668M available to support businesses in MA

 

"The Commonwealth has made an additional $668M available to support businesses. @MassGCC   will target a portion of these funds to sectors experiencing the most significant economic hardship & loss of revenue due to #COVID19MA. #MAbiz"

Details: http://ow.ly/P72Z50CVyHy

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MassEOHED/status/1343612866801315846

Go direct to grant info:  https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/sector-specific-relief-grant-program-massachusetts-businesses

 

$668M available to support businesses in MA

Boston Globe: "Baker’s $50 million effort to help small businesses is wildly oversubscribed"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Governor Charlie Baker’s two new grant programs to help small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic have been swamped by applications, essentially ensuring there won’t be enough money to go around for everyone who sought the help.

Working through the quasipublic Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp., the Baker administration unveiled two programs in October offering a combined $50.8 million in grants, aimed at helping small businesses endure what’s expected to be a tough winter.

One program, backed by $40 million, offers grants of up to $75,000 for businesses with as many as 50 employees; the other, with $10.8 million, provides grants of up to $25,000 for businesses with five or fewer workers. The latter program also requires that the owners who apply have below-average incomes.

Mass. Growth Capital stopped accepting applications last week. At that point, state officials said, more than 10,000 applications had been received for the two programs, which are being funded by federal dollars. About 37 percent were for the program to help businesses with five or fewer employees, although a few businesses applied to both programs."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/11/25/business/bakers-50-million-effort-help-small-businesses-is-wildly-oversubscribed/

 

Community Compact Connector: Small Business Grants are now open!

COVID-19 Small Business Grants: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made $50.8 million in grants available to support small businesses, microenterprises, and their employees, families and communities. Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC) will be administering these funds to businesses experiencing economic hardship and a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

These funds were appropriated through the Commonwealth’s Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) as well as the CARES Act of 2020 and are divided into two programs, Small Business Grants for 5 or fewer employees and Small Business Grants for 50 or fewer employees.

The application opens at 12:00PM on 10/22/2020 and will close at 12:00PM on 11/12/2020. For more information click here https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/covid-19-grants-massachusetts-small-businesses.

To stay informed regarding both existing and upcoming grant opportunities, please bookmark the Community Compact Connector website https://www.mass.gov/community-compact-connector. 

COVID-19 Small Business Grants

Micro-Enterprise Grant Program Overview and Application

Small business owners may qualify

1. The business must qualify as a microenterprise (a for-profitbusiness that has 5 or fewer employees, including the owner(s).(Note 5 employees means actual people, whether full-or part-time NOT Full-Time-Equivalents (FTEs) that has been adversely affected by Covid-19. The business can be a sole-proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or LLC.;
2. The business must have a physical establishment in one of the participating towns:

• Bellingham 
• Foxboro
• Franklin
• Medfield
• Walpole
• Wrentham

1. The business must be currently in operation and have must have been established prior to January 1, 2019;
   

Additional qualifications can be found in the following information regarding the Micro-Enterprise Grant Program attached here:

Program Overview & Instructions 

Preliminary Application 

Micro-Enterprise Grant Program Overview and Application

Business Listening & Networking Sessions Scheduled

"The Franklin (MA) Town Council Economic Development subcommittee invites business owners, key community stakeholders, and citizens to a series of a Business Listening & Networking Sessions."

Please find the flyer and RSVP link here https://t.co/hcbqrS6xpz https://t.co/Ffr74x1rFq

You can get a copy of the flyer here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xV_-aylOsYilUpwhXta-8f2fSxAQqYRG/view?usp=sharing

The Market Study can be found here
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._final_town_of_franklin_market_study_1.pdf

 

Business Listening & Networking Sessions Scheduled

Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development: Updates

 August 7, 2020

Good evening,

Today, the Administration announced new initiatives to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other important updates on the Commonwealth’s reopening. You can read details in the press release, while key components are highlighted below. I’ve also included resources and reminders on SBA programs for your reference.

REVISED GATHERINGS ORDER

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.

PHASE III STEP 2 POSTPONED INDEFINITELY

Due to the recent increase in positive cases, Step 2 of Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan has been postponed indefinitely. Refer to the Order Authorizing the Reopening of Phase III Enterprises for a list of businesses in Phase III Step 2.

CHANGE TO RESTAURANT SECTOR-SPECIFIC PROTOCOLS

Restaurant protocols have been updated to state that alcoholic beverages may only be served for on-site consumption if accompanied by orders for food prepared on-site.

CROSS-AGENCY COVID ENFORCEMENT AND INTERVENTION TEAM

The Administration also announced a targeted cross-agency COVID Enforcement and Intervention Team that will be responsible for ramping up enforcement statewide and coordinating local intervention efforts at the local level in higher risk COVID-19 communities. Read more in the press release.

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION UPDATES AND RESOURCES

• As you know, tomorrow (August 8) is the deadline for Paycheck Protection Program applications. 
• The SBA released a PPP Forgiveness FAQ to support borrowers seeking loan forgiveness this week.
• The SBA Massachusetts District Office also released its Small Business Resource Guide, available online with tools and information to supports businesses in both business-as-usual and pandemic-related support.
• A reminder that SCORE, MSBDC, the Center for Women & Enterprise, and others offer virtual counseling and workshops to support small businesses; find an SBA Resource Partner here.
• If you have not done so already, sign up for Massachusetts District Office email updates, including information about upcoming sessions, here. (The August bulletin with scheduled events for the month is available here.)

From the beginning, we’ve said that every step of the Commonwealth’s reopening will be grounded in positive public health trends. As announced today, we’ve reached what, unchecked, could be an inflection point in the reopening and recovery process – and we all need to buckle down to hold the ground we’ve covered together.

Best,

Mike

Mike Kennealy

Secretary

Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

One Ashburton Place, Room 2101

Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development: Updates 

Get into Government Contracting! MEET THE PTACs on 8/6!

Massachusetts District Office - July 2020 The federal government contracts with small businesses to buy products and services.  The SBA works with federal agencies in order to award 23 percent of prime government contract dollars to eligible small businesses. It also offers counseling and help to small business contractors.  >learn more New updates were announced recently for the Woman Owned Small Business and HUBZone certification programs - and we want you to know the Massachusetts District Office and resource partners are available to answer any of your questions and support you in seeking government contracts.   We're inviting you to join us for a series of events to help you find out if government contracting is a viable business development activity for your small business.  Thursday, August 6th at 4 pm   SBA MA Deputy District Director Peter Kontakos and Lead Business Opportunity Specialist Nadine Boone will be joined by representatives from the Procurement Technical Assistance Centers to help you get connected with FREE one-on-one government contracting counseling.  REGISTER https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-procurement-technical-assistance-centers-ptac-tickets-115343258792? Friday, August 7th at 10 am Join Sandra Ledbetter, Government Sales Advisor at MA Small Business Development Center and Nadine Boone, Lead Business Opportunity Specialist for an overview on how to do business with the federal government. SBA Certifications to be discussed: Women–Owned Small Business Service Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Business 8(a) Business Development Program/Small Disadvantaged Business HUB Zone Program REGISTER https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opening-doors-to-federal-government-contracting-tickets-114473934620? SBA Massachusetts District Office 10 Causeway Street, RM265 Boston, MA, 02222  Phone: (617) 565-5590 www.sba.gov/ma

All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance

---

MassInc: Small Businesses requested to reply to Recovery Survey

Statewide Small Business Recovery Survey

Having trouble viewing this? Click Here. www.msbdc.org/semass Dear Business Owner, The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center has partnered with the MassINC Polling Group and others to conduct an important statewide survey about how the coronavirus has impacted small businesses in Massachusetts. We are asking for your input to ensure that economic recovery programs and policies are informed by your current needs. This survey is for small businesses with 500 employees or less. It's available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and Mandarin. It should take less than 10 minutes of your time. Your answers will be analyzed together with other responses and will never be used to identify you personally. This survey will be open for a short period of time, so please respond as soon as possible. Thank you very much for participating in this important initiative. Please feel free to share this survey with other Massachusetts business owners to ensure wide representation. Survey link = https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5668957/MASmallBiz   Take Survey Now

MA Small Business Development Center Network Southeast Regional Office | 200 Pocasset Street, Fall River, MA 02721 Sent by amfenton@msbdc.umass.edu in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

Town of Franklin - Health Department: Poster for Essential Businesses

The Health Department is providing this downloadable poster for essential businesses. Find it here and on our website. https://t.co/tsqPt2qsHP https://t.co/v2jAYFyeyQ

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HvedTroaWbPdDkRDd4U8C1s32PiP2RIg/view?usp=sharing





Shared from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1255914783204872194?s=03

Town of Franklin - Health Department: Poster for Essential Businesses

Webinars for Small Business Owners

Having trouble viewing this? Click Here. www.msbdc.org/semass NEED INDIVIDUAL HELP FOR YOUR SMALL BUSINESS? Let our MSBDC business advisors help you navigate the SBA Debt Relief Programs. Please complete our "Request for Counseling" confidentiality form and someone will call you to schedule a telephone appointment with an advisor. https://www.msbdc.org/semass/rfc.html  Online Request for Counseling Form WEBINARS FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS PPP & Debt Relief Program with the MSBDC Southeast Regional Office Wednesday, April 29, 2020 2:00 p.m. Ili Spahiu, Assistant District Director for Lender Relations in the U.S. Small Business Administration's MA District Office, will provide SBA Covid-19 Updates for Economic Relief Programs. Cliff Robbins, Sr. Business Advisor, MA Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) will discuss the benefits of utilizing the free services of the MSBDC. https://clients.msbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=110400005 REGISTER Get the latest info on supporting your business with Laurie Driscoll, South Eastern Economic Development (SEED), and Jill Beresford, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center at the next ZOOM meeting. Friday, May 1, 10 a.m. Use this link and Meeting ID to enter the live Zoom meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/316252883​​​​​​​ Meeting ID: 316-252-883 Contact Pam @ pdziura@cranberrycountry.org with questions. COVID-19 Recovery Update with City, State and Federal Officials Friday, May 1, 2020 2:00 to 3:00 pm Join us for a COVID-19 Economic recovery call update with the Metro South Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Office of Business Development, Mayor of Brockton Robert F. Sullivan, and special guest Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Register online. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C_dkP-SBRTGOEnjWOKElAw  Contact Lexi at areinertson@metrosouthchamber.com with questions. REGISTER MA Small Business Development Center Network Southeast Regional Office | 200 Pocasset Street, Fall River, MA 02721 Sent by amfenton@msbdc.umass.edu in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!

The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of contents
https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Webinars-for-Small-Business-Owners.html?soid=1101853174121&aid=jHXrqBJSzeA