Priority: Re-opening your business

As businesses throughout the country are opening up, Massachusetts is waiting for Governor Baker’s timeline for reopening. Please find below a number of guidelines, both for small business in general as well as sector specific, that have been developed by leading organizations to assist businesses in the reopening process.

Re-opening guide for small business

The US Chamber created a step-by-step guide to help your company reopen safely and keep employees and customers healthy and informed as restrictions lift across the country. The playbook includes safety and sanitation guidance, communications advice, and other best practices information. It also includes links to other places for additional – detailed – information.

Sector-Specific Guidance

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) have developed a number of sector-specific guides:

• For restaurants: CDC's Reopening Decision Tree for Restaurants and Bars and National Restaurant Association’s Reopening Guidance
• For retailers: National Retail Federation’s Operation Open Doors
• For home service providers: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for At-Home Service Providers 
• For construction businesses: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for Construction Environments 
• For gyms and fitness facilities: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for Gyms and Workout Facilities 
• For office-based businesses: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for General Office Settings 
• For hair and nail salons: AIHA’s Reopening Guidance for Hair and Nail Salons
• For childcare programs: CDC's Reopening Decision Tree for Childcare Programs
• For camps and youth programs: CDC's Reopening Decision Tree for Camps and Youth Programs

Support/Resources for Small Businesses

The Salem Chamber will be providing information on various support programs and resources that are available to the business community during the COVID-19 Outbreak. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.

General Resources

• Salem Together - community resources including volunteering, donations, report a need, food assistance, and more.
• Salem Together Pledge - Business pledge to promote the shared responsibility and commitment made to keep everyone healthy as businesses begin to reopen.
• MA State of Emergency announcement
• CDC COVID-19 Guidelines and Updates
• City of Salem Latest Updates
• Closings and Cancelled events in Salem – contact brittany@salem.org to add your event or business to this list
• Salem Businesses Still Serving Customers – contact brittany@salem.org to add your business to the list
• Online Shopping in Salem (Retail) – contact brittany@salem.org to add your business to the list
• MBTA Updates
• Drive Up Testing – For those with a testing voucher, drive up testing is available at Salem Walmart with an appointment.

 

Resources for Local Businesses and Nonprofits

• CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers
• SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL Program) – federal loan, financial assistance for eligible businesses and nonprofits, up to a $10,000 advance grant to those who apply. If you have previously applied before March 27th, you will need to reapply to receive the advance grant.
• Payroll Protection Program – The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. (Payroll Protection Program funds were reinstated on March 27th, at 10:30AM)
• Empowerment Grant for Small Businesses – Minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and/or immigrant-ownedsmall businesseslocated in gateway communities can apply for a grant of up to $2,500 to cover operating expenses.
  • Frequently Asked Questions Sheet on PPP (Updated April 26, 2020)
• "At-Cost" Restaurant/Retailer eCommerce Solutions from Sperling Interactive - Sperling Interactive has launched an "at-cost" e-commerce solution to assist both retailers and restaurants doing pickup and delivery during the current crisis.  We are able to launch these in less than 24 hours.  The solution also allows for a one time cost instead of paying the ongoing percentage based fees of other solutions on the market.  Please contact Mike Sperling at mike@sperlinginteractive.com or call 978-239-3244 and we can get you up and running ASAP.
• Keep the Doors Open - uses employee-buyouts (resulting in ESOPS, worker cooperatives, other employee trusts, and hybrids) to preserve small businesses and jobs in local communities. With financing for a partial or full buyout, employees become the new generation of owners, while the business owner secures a fair price for the business to support a secure and dignified retirement or other transition.
• Creative Collective COVID-19 Resource and Info Page – includes resources for arts, cultural, and creative individuals and organizations
• Rapid Response – state-level team support to help employers avoid layoffs and navigate state resources
• Nonprofit specific
  • MA Nonprofit Resources re: COVID-19 – includes resources for virtual fundraisers and events
• Restaurant specific
  • Local food donation instructions – for more information, contact Kerry Murphy at kmurphy@salem.com or 978-619-5652
  • Grubhub Economic Relief Effort
  • Toast (POS service) – suspending all software fees for one month for customers and providing access to Toast products that will help with off-premise sales.
• Tip – check your insurance policies for any loss of income riders you may have!
• MEMA Emergency Operations Center Private Sector Hotline – 508-820-2094, staffed Monday – Friday from 8am to 4pm

 

Workforce Resources

• North Shore Workforce Board
• Unemployment in MA during COVID-19
• WorkShare program – alternative for employers looking to avoid layoffs
• Applying for SNAP benefits – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Applying for MassHealth
• MASSCAP Fuel Assistance – aka Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, assistance with heating bills
• Behind You – Support to food service employees
• Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
• Family Child Care Providers Reimbursement