Entries by Ryan Murphy

Pandemic Relief Stimulus Bill Breakdown

Here’s what is in the new stimulus bill On Monday, December 21, 2020, the Senate approved a massive emergency economic relief package, government funding, and tax cuts designed to counter the effects of the pandemic and stimulate economic growth. The legislation, introduced as a 5,593-page bill, was passed with a 92 to 6 vote following […]

Guide to Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Loans

What Small Businesses Need to Know About the New Pandemic Relief Package – Changes to PPP and More As part of an end-of-year pandemic relief package, Congress has passed several changes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and created a “Second Draw” PPP for small businesses who have exhausted their initial loan. Other changes impact […]

COVID Update: Coronavirus Operating Rules Tightened Starting Saturday

Today at 1:00pm, Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito announced updates to gathering sizes and capacity levels across a series of industries in order to prevent the continued spread of COVID-19. The measures announced today will go into effect on Saturday, December 26 and will remain in effect until Sunday, January 10, unless the data at that time […]

State House News Service Weekly Roundup

Article Source: State House News Service Article By: Matt Murphy The Beginning of the End   DEC. 18, 2020…..One step forward, two steps back. Or in the case of Speaker Bob DeLeo, one foot out the door. The week before Christmas began with a COVID-19 vaccine arriving at Massachusetts hospitals in a cloud of dry […]

How To Turn Social Media Into Business Media

Wondering how transform social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter into powerful marketing tools for your business? If you’re like most small-to-medium business owners, you know that your clients, customers, and prospects are already spending a significant amount of their day browsing through their social media feeds, but did you know exactly how much […]

Mass. Home Sales Soar During Second Surge

Article Source: State House News Service Article By: Michael P. Norton Buyers Pay Record November Median Price of $460,000 DEC. 15, 2020…..Low interest rates and the work from home shift are contributing to a continuing “frenzy” of home-buying in Massachusetts and sales activity and prices both set new records in November. Sales rose nearly 25 […]

Heywood Hospital Nationally Recognized with an ‘A’ for the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Gardner, MA – December 14, 2020 – Heywood Hospital was awarded an ‘A’ in the Fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing Heywood Hospital’s achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety […]

Is Your Business Among The Top 100 Most Searched For Local Businesses?

Thanks to the internet, consumer behavior has dramatically shifted over the past decade – especially when it comes to searching for local businesses. According to a recent survey by BrightLocal, 97 percent of consumers searched online for a local business in 2017, with 54 percent searching at least once per month, and 12 percent searching daily […]

Chamber Member Spotlight: Simply Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry brings “out of the box” methods to Central MA

Dr. Sam Alkhoury, DMD is the self-proclaimed “market disrupter” when it comes to his field and specialty with orthodontics. Dr. Alkhoury started his business in 2005 and hasn’t looked back since. In 2007, he was awarded #1 Orthodontist in Worcester two years in a row. He developed and implemented a unique approach to orthodontics and […]