COVID-19 Resources

Graphic of four-phase plan to reopen Massachusetts

– Massachusetts is in Phase IV, Step 1 of the state’s reopening plan. Step 2 begins May 10.

– Support Massachusetts businesses & attractions: My Local MA

– Find out when you can get vaccinated in Massachusetts

– Workforce GPS “Pathway to Recovery Resources”: Quick Start Action Planner to help workforce system stakeholders plan and prepare for economic recovery.

– COVID-19 Fact Sheets in 35 different languages

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Unemployment Insurance Benefits & Returning to Work: Guide for Employers (access info)
Volunteer opportunities: “MA Responds”
State House News Service Coronavirus Tracker
Mass.gov:
- Mass.Gov (including Mass.Gov/COVID19) available in 13 different languages
- Massachusetts COVID-19 Workforce Measures
- MEMA COVID-19 public resources map: Zoom in on specific regions to find local resources
- Massachusetts unemployment: County-by-county

Coronavirus information & hotline (508-799-1019)
Support “Worcester Together”: Visit webpage or text “worcestercovid19” to 243725.
Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester COVID-19 Community Resources
You, Inc. Family Resource Center: 508-796-1411 (M-F, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM)

Social media: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
MCRWB newsletters: Free training, hot jobs, career development resources, and more
Manufacturing jobs (ReMAke 4.0)

Job Seekers: Register with JobGet! (free)

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): Federal program provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and people with limited work history who can’t work as a direct result of Coronavirus.
- Direct link to file an unemployment claim / 877-626-6800
- Spanish language:
  - Guía de Asistencia para Beneficios de Desempleo por Pandemia
  - Solicitud de contacto del Departamento de Asistencia al Desempleado

Find a job:
- MassHire JobQuest (use Chrome)
  - Virtual Tutorial (courtesy MassHire Metro North) YouTube
- JobGet (free mobile app)

HOT JOBS:
- MA DUA hiring job service representatives (remote work). Read job description and apply.
- Worcester area jobs:
  - REMAKE 4.0
  - City of Worcester
  - Imperial Distributors
  - Commonwealth Corporation (statewide)

Employers!
- Use JobGet to connect quickly with job seekers (referral code ‘mhcentralhire’ (no punctuation) gets you a free six-month trial)
- Help stop the spread of coronavirus in your workplace:
  - Download posters from UMass Memorial Health Care to send inform staff and customers.

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

Small businesses may use grant funds to help address fixed debt, payroll, accounts payable, lost sales, lost opportunities, and other working capital expenses. Apply here.

– U.S. Chamber of Commerce Save Small Business Fund offers $5,000 grants for small businesses:

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
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. Contact: Sandie Cataldo or Brendan Hannen.

– U.S. Small Business Administration:

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program: Up to $2M in low-interest loans to small businesses and nonprofits severely impacted by COVID-19. Small business owners in all U.S. states are eligible to apply for a loan advance of up to $10,000.
- Check your eligibility

Express Bridge Loan Program: SBA Express Lenders may provide expedited SBA-guaranteed bridge loan financing on an emergency basis (up to $25,000) for disaster-related purposes to small businesses who have applied for and are awaiting long-term financing (including EIDL). General info.
- Find an Express Bridge Loan Lender: SBA’s Lender Match Tool
- Names and contact info for all SBA lenders in Massachusetts
Mass Workforce Association COVID-19 Info Sheet (flyer) for businesses to customize, post, and share.
Coronavirus Small Business Issues and Solutions Guide: Small business Q&A

COVID-19 Resources for Job Seekers, Employers & Partners