INFORMATIONAL GUIDE DURING CORONAVIRUS

Resources for Businesses

Phase 3 of Re-Opening
Governor Baker has announced that part 1 of Phase 3 will begin Monday, July 6th, with mandated health protocols. (Boston will start 7/13). The sectors that will be allowed to admit visitors include museums and historic sites, movie theaters, outdoor performance venues and gyms.
Learn More About MA Phase 3 Protocols HERE

Berkshire County Small Business Recovery Fund
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission was recently awarded a $45,000 grant from the MA Attorney General’s Office to establish a relief program for small businesses (10 employees or fewer). Grants up to $3,000 per business are available to reimburse expenses incurred since March 23rd. Read more about eligibility requirements and apply HERE.

-NEW-INDOOR DINING STARTS MONDAY, 6/22 SEE MA REGULATIONS HERE

Town of Lenox – Outdoor Dining Regulations

Town of Lenox – Outdoor Dining/Alcohol Serving Application

FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: -NEW- Grant Application for C-19 operating expense relief

View our Page 2 for a Full List of PHASE 2 Reopening Protocols for Businesses

Re-Opening: Check this page for the next MA regulations to be announced for Businesses

Survey – Please Respond: for $10,000 Micro-Enterprise Grant Program, Thursday, May 28 at 6 pm.

Baker-Polito Announces Phased Re-opening & Requirements for Businesses

Navigating the Payroll Protection Act resource from Eagle Bay Advisors

Small Business Survival Guide to Combat COVID-19 from Fin Impact

From Downtown Pittsfield: Downtown Stories: Info from the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center

 

1Berkshire is offering a Virtual Town Hall series

New (as of 04 26 20) information and resources for the Payroll Protection Program
 from Mike Kennealy, Secretary, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development:

As discussed, Congress has set aside $60 billion in the second round of funding of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to be administered by small lenders and community banks.

Using SBA data, HED has published this list of institutions that provided loans to Massachusetts companies in the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program. The list also includes all entities that appeared on the SBA’s approved lenders list, which was last updated on April 13, 2020. Lenders on this list are categorized by asset level, so businesses can easily identify which institutions will be eligible for the $60 billion carveout. We have also noted which of these lenders are state chartered institutions.

The SBA will accept PPP applications from lenders beginning Monday, April 27th at 10:30 am. It is critically important that the small businesses in our communities work with their lender to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program as soon as possible.

Gov. Baker Signs Law Halting Evictions and Foreclosures During Covid

Last week, Governor Baker signed a bill establishing a moratorium on non-essential evictions and residential foreclosures. This law provides temporary protections for both residential tenants and small businesses that are unable to pay rent, in an effort to stabilize homes and commercial spaces during the COVID-19 crisis. The law also prohibits proceedings on residential foreclosures during the COVID-19 crisis.

For Businesses: Town of Lenox Defers Late Fees & Interest on May 1st Tax Bills

Update from Finance Committee

There is a US Chamber of Commerce webinar that happens every Friday at noon ET.  You will have to download an app for Microsoft Meeting so you may want to do that on your phone an hour before, you can register at:

https://events.inc.com/nationaltownhallevents-4/524150?cid=cem%3A633%3As00%3ATownhall4_incemail

LISC Small Business Recovery Grant Program for Massachusetts [APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED]
Deadline was April 24.
https://www.lisc.org/boston/covid-19/small-business-recovery-grant-program/

EIDL loans: you can queue with the SBA to request progress  on your application:

disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

If you filed March 30th or later, most of us in our area have not heard any response from SBA about EIDL application. Two Lenox businesses did get their SBA loans approved who filed around March 15 and completed the 4 forms.

We are waiting for the federal government to resupply the EIDL program as funds are low to gone.

Payroll Protection Program: PPP (see above update, as well)

Funds seem low or gone with this program today.

Those of us that did file a few weeks ago got confirmations from our banks about funds for PPP that may be in their system this next week.

The conf call I was on today suggested that EIDL funds not used for payroll would not be subtracted from PPP forgiven payments; but that still is cloudy with the process.

If you are a sole proprietor or single member LLC and took no 2019 payroll, you can still apply for PPP using your 2019 IRS Schedule C for your business. Banks are treating this application somewhat differently so talk to your bank manager.

Info on the CARE BillProtection for Small Businesses-Guide from SafeHome.org

Learn more about how the program works and how to apply at the Small Business Administration.

Payroll Protection Program

Local Finance Consultant offering
assistance at no charge.

For SBA application questions – Oren Cass, orencass@gmail.com

Application for Paycheck Protection Program

Loans will be handled by banks that lend to small businesses, so get in touch with your current lender or contact one of the local banks listed below.

Lee Bank

Please contact you loan officer. Lee Bank is working hard to support the needs of our business clients affected by COVID-19. Please contact your commercial loan officer for more information on disaster relief options that may be available.

450 Pittsfield Lenox Road. Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: (413) 499-9922
www.leebank.com

Greylock Federal Credit Union

Vanessa Collins, Branch Manager
vcollins@greylock.org
68 Main St. Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: (413) 637-4999

Adams Community Bank

Dave Eisenberg, VP Commercial Lending
deisenberg@adamscommunity.com
Phone: (413) 496-4589
7 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: (413) 637-0017
www.adamscommunity.com

Berkshire Bank

Rebecca Sorrentino, AVP/Branch Officer
rsorrentino@berkshirebank.com
www.berkshirebank.com

  • 25 Main Street, Lenox, MA 01240
    P (413) 445-3427 • F (413) 637-4170
  • 2 Depot Street, West Stockbridge, MA 01266
    P (413) 232-7918 • F (413) 232-4492

Local Business Support

Cultural Sector Resources from Mass Cultural Council

FROM 1BERKSHIRE:
Non-profits, Freelancers, Arts & Others