COVID-19 Resources (Real Time Updates)

UPDATE 5/18: Read and download “Reopening Massachusetts,” the Commonwealth’s four-phase reopening plan:

Graphic of four-phase plan to reopen Massachusetts– Phase 1 – Start: Limited industries resume operations with severe restrictions; strict social-distancing rules remain in effect.

– Phase 2 – Cautious: Additional industries resume operations with restrictions and capacity limits.

– Phase 3 – Vigilant: Additional industries resume operations with guidance.

– Phase 4 – New Normal: Vaccine and/or therapy enables resumption of new normal.

Federal Resources

Commonwealth Resources

Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

City of Worcester Resources

MassHire Central Region Workforce Board Resources

Central Massachusetts Back to Work Day Promotional Flyer

Employers hiring now!

– Central Mass Back to Work Day: Free Virtual Job Fairs, 10AM – noon (Manufacturing); noon – 4:30PM (general)

– Manufacturing jobs through ReMAke 4.0

– “How the Central Mass Workforce Is Changing Now & In the Future”: Worcester Business Journal podcast featuring Executive Director Jeff Turgeon (5/11)

– Unemployment Information webinar

– Social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

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COVID-19 Job Seeker Resources

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COVID-19 Resources for Employers, Businesses, & Partners

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– Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General Launches Small Business Relief Partnership Grant Program:

  • The program offers funds to municipalities and regional planning agencies to help provide financial relief to local small businesses most impacted by closures, policies, or general loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Small businesses may use grant funds to help address fixed debt, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses. Submit applications here. (Small Business Relief Partnership RFP)
– U.S. Chamber of Commerce Save Small Business Fund offers $5,000 grants for small businesses:
  • SSBF grants seek to address small businesses’ immediate needs such as closures and job loss and support their long-term recovery. To qualify, a small business must: 1) Employ between 3 – 20 people, 2) Be located in an economically vulnerable community, and 3) Have been harmed financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.
– NCMDC Offers Emergency Loans:
  • The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Chamber are offering emergency loans of up to $20,000 to small businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19.
  • The loans are in lieu of high-interest credit cards or expensive and unregulated online lenders. The NCMDC still offers its regular loans of up to $150,000 (these take longer to approve).
  • To qualify for the emergency loan, businesses must provide two years of tax returns and demonstrate a direct financial impact of Coronavirus on the business. Inquiries: Sandie Cataldo or Brendan Hannen at the North Central Chamber.

*At an interest rate of 3.75% for small businesses and 2.75% for nonprofits, EIDL can be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills which cannot be paid because of the disaster’s impact. EIDLs will now defer payments for the first twelve months of the loan (a change from the initial loan structure, which allowed payment deferral for four months).

  • Express Bridge Loan Program: Authorizes SBA Express Lenders to provide expedited SBA-guaranteed bridge loan financing on an emergency basis in amounts up to $25,000 for disaster-related purposes to small businesses who have applied for and await long-term financing (including the EIDL). General info.

– Employers:

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