 |
| Toys for Tots Festival => July 24 |
"The Small Business Administration on Friday released a database disclosing the recipients of Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants.Massachusetts businesses received $993 million, more than all but five other states in the country. A total of 2,556 businesses here were awarded grants, out of some 6,867 applicants, and the average award was $388,000, the highest in the country."
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - 5:30 PM
a. Online Application https://restaurants.sba.gov/requests/borrower/login/c. Restaurant Revitalization Funding Program Guide https://www.sba.gov/document/support-restaurant-revitalization-funding-program-guide
Please find the agenda and links for the upcoming Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting posted here https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/edc_agenda_for_may_12.pdf
 |
| Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - May 12 |
The American Rescue Plan Act established the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to provide funding to help restaurants and other eligible businesses keep their doors open. This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location.
Eligible entities who have experienced pandemic-related revenue loss include:
Learn more about on their website here https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund
 |
| SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund |
"Thank you to all who registered and attended yesterday’s informative session on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund with Dan Martiniello from the SBA. ….and the Chamber is here to help you!
Attached is Dan’s presentation. And if you want to watch or listen, the video link is below. Dan also provided links to help make life easier for you as well. These links are below. If you need further assistance or direction, please feel free to contact you local Chamber and we will direct you to the right people to help you!
RRF Registration Link: SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund::<https://restaurants.sba.gov/requests/borrower/login/? next=/>
RRF Sample Application: SBA Form 3172 Restaurant Revitalization Funding Application (Sample only)<https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/SBA% 20Form%203172%20RRF%20Applicat ion%204.20.21-508.pdf>
RRF Program Guide Updated 4/28/21: Restaurant Revitalization Funding Program Guide as of April 28, 2021 (sba.gov)<https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/Re staurant%20Revitalization%20Fu nd%20Program%20Guide%20as%20of %204.28.21-508_0.pdf>
RRF FAQs: Restaurant Revitalization Fund Knowledge Base – SBA Restaurant Program (zendesk.com)<https://ussbaforgiveness.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/ categories/360005965311- Restaurant-Revitalization- Fund-Knowledge-Base>
RRF Website Informational Landing Page on SBA.gov: Restaurant Revitalization Fund (sba.gov)<https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-1 9-relief-options/restaurant-re vitalization-fund>
Video of Info Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wdoCyMa_3E&t=4s"
A round up of three articles from Pantherbook:
" Student Spotlight: Olivia Quinn"
"Introducing…Olivia Quinn!
Olivia is a junior at Franklin High School in Franklin MA, and is the Hockomock League (Kelly Rex division) MVP! She’s also been named a Boston Herald AND Boston Globe All Scholastic! Congratulations Olivia!"
Continue reading the article online: https://franklinpanthers.us/top-stories/2021/04/15/student-spotlight-olivia-quinn/
"Restaurant Review: Franklin Nutrition is the Latest Up-and-Coming Café "
"Have you heard about Franklin’s newest café destination? Look no further than Franklin Nutrition.
Franklin Nutrition is run by a family business with Josh Zicherman, Yianna Zicherman, Josh and Yianna’s daughter, Tatyianna Zicherman, and Tatyianna’s husband, Frank Ansah."
"Girls softball tryouts for Franklin High School are right around the corner! With the pandemic still in place, there will be some modifications made to assure a successful and healthy season.
As of right now, softball is considered a moderate risk sport. Players are expected to wear face masks and social distance as much as possible."
Continue reading the article online: https://franklinpanthers.us/sports/2021/04/14/spring-softball-season/
"April is our last month of #projectenvoy, a community driven project, designed to support local restaurants who in-turn will donate some of their proceeds to The Franklin Food Pantry.What restaurant are you looking forward to trying?"
 |
| Franklin Food Pantry: #ProjectEnvoy calendar for April 2021 |
FM #484 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 484 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Dan Feerick. Dan is part of the Franklin Interfaith Council - Food Security Team. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
We talk about: Project Envoy
The link to the Project Envoy page is included in the show notes. Our conversation runs about 16 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Dan Feerick. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/092329d4-2258-4922-b2d3-39aecb79a991
--------------
Link to Project Envoy page = https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/project-envoy/
Link to March calendar = https://149356006.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/0001-1-300x232.jpg
Hashtag your social post with #ProjectEnvoy #noonegoeshungryFranklin
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
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?
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
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"
 |
| Project Envoy March calendar |
"CDC links restaurant dining to a rise in cases"
"Even as officials in Texas and Mississippi lifted statewide mask mandates, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday offered fresh evidence of the importance of face coverings, reporting that mask-wearing mandates were linked to fewer infections with the coronavirus and COVID-19 deaths in counties across the United States.
Federal researchers also found that counties opening restaurants for on-premises dining — indoors or outdoors — saw a rise in daily infections about six weeks later, and an increase in COVID-19 death rates about two months later.
The study does not prove cause and effect, but the findings square with other research showing that masks prevent infection and that indoor spaces foster the spread of the virus through aerosols, tiny respiratory particles that linger in the air.
“You have decreases in cases and deaths when you wear masks, and you have increases in cases and deaths when you have in-person restaurant dining,” Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, said Friday. “And so we would advocate for policies, certainly while we’re at this plateau of a high number of cases, that would listen to that public health science.”
"After a year of hunkering down, the country is about to bask in the biggest boom in nearly four decades. But the scars of the pandemic linger.
By summer, most American adults should be vaccinated, and life is expected to return to something approaching normal as people eat in restaurants, hop on a plane, or catch a game at Fenway Park. Getting out of the house for work and recreation will swell the economy, juiced by another big federal stimulus program and trillions of dollars in savings that consumers are eager to spend.
Yet that rosy outlook isn’t reflected in the sentiments of many local employers who would benefit greatly from a post-pandemic resurgence. Hammered by COVID-19 shutdowns, they remain wary after earlier forecasts about the trajectory of the disease proved too optimistic.
Instead of the rapid rebound projected by economists, these employers — from small business owners to big institutions such as hospitals and universities — expect a more gradual recovery marked by fits and starts. So they’re ramping up slowly and delaying hiring decisions until the picture is clearer."
"Franklin restaurants and local people in need are both getting some community support during the pandemic as a result of a new initiative.
Through the Project Envoy campaign, residents are encouraged to patronize participating local restaurants — either through indoor dining or takeout meals. In turn, the restaurants are donating some of the proceeds from those sales to the Franklin Food Pantry.
A program of the Franklin Interfaith Council’s Food Security Team, Project Envoy began Feb. 1 and will continue through April 30. Organizers said the initiative is intended to provide a boost to local restaurants and to help families who have had difficulty meeting their food needs during COVID-19."
 |
| Boston Globe: "Project Envoy supports Franklin restaurants, residents in need" |
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
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?
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"
 |
| "Talk Franklin" features vaccine distribution readiness, Davis Thayer, stormwater, "Hearts of Kindness" and #Project Envoy |
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
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?
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"
 |
| A Franklin Treasure - Elizabeth's Bagels (audio) |
Another local business has joined the #ThinkFranklinFirst gift card program! We welcome Lotus Lash to the list of participating businesses!
Gift cards can be purchased at Dean Bank right in Downtown Franklin or online at www.franklingiftcard.com#LocalBusiness #LocaSupport #ItMatters #ShopLocal #SpendLocal
 |
| Another business on the #thinkfranklinfirst gift card listing to visit |
"Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the Baker administration is increasing the temporary capacity limits for a variety of businesses such as stores, gyms, and restaurants.
The state Department of Public Health informed cities and towns on Thursday that the 25-percent capacity restrictions, put in place after Christmas, would be increased to 40 percent on Monday because of recent improvements in COVID-19 data. The change includes an increase in allowed office capacity, to 40 percent, though few offices will fill to that level anytime soon with so many people still working out of their homes.
“We know that these restrictions have been and continue to be enormously difficult for large and small businesses, their employees, and for individuals everywhere,” Governor Charlie Baker said during an afternoon briefing Thursday. “But we’re making progress in this battle against COVID and everyone’s hard work and preparation is now making it possible for us to continue to step back to what we might call a new normal.”
 |
| Franklin has dropped down to Yellow (from Red) for the first time since December |
