Entries by Ryan Murphy

Governor Announces Start of Phase III, Step 2

Lt. Gov. Polito announced today, September 29, 2020 that Gov. Baker signed an Executive Order stating that low risk communities may move to Phase III, Step 2. This is due to good health metrics and will apply to towns with low risk beginning Monday, October 5, 2020. Low risk communities are those that remain on […]

Shirley Meadows on track for full occupancy by year’s end

Article Source: Nashoba Valley Voice Article By: M.E. Jones DEVENS – The senior housing development on Hospital Road that MassDevelopment rolled out a couple of years ago is now fully functional, partially occupied and filling up fast. Construction that began in May 2019 was completed earlier this year. The new community – aptly named Shirley […]

Legislative Update – September 21st – 25th

Article Source: State House News Service Article By: Katie Lannan SEPT. 25, 2020….Sen. Elizabeth Warren has long been a prime target of President Trump’s tweets, and has been known to, on occasion, dish it right back over social media. Sen. Ed Markey’s primary win over Rep. Joe Kennedy III earned him a few acknowledgments – […]

Weekly Download | Housing Numbers Were Up During a Pandemic

  The United States is in the middle of a recession, millions of workers are unemployed, and the real estate market is suddenly booming. Even without being able to accurately predict what is coming next in this COVID-19 environment, home sellers out there have good reasons to feel pretty good about 2020. The State of […]

COVID Operating Standards Updated as of 9/28/2020

We have provided links to web pages and documents related to the updated sector-specific restaurant, retail, and indoor and outdoor workplace safety standards. Please note that these updated standards are effective on Monday, September 28th.   Updated Sector-Specific Workplace Safety Standards Restaurants Safety Standards and Checklist web page for current standards and other information Download Restaurant […]

Jobless Rate Tumbles as Mass. Employers Add Jobs in August

No Longer on Bottom, State Recovery Still Lags Nation Article Source: State House News Service Article By: Chris Lisinski SEPT. 18, 2020…..Massachusetts employers reported adding 51,600 jobs in August, while the statewide unemployment rate dropped nearly 5 percentage points, bucking a two-month trend of the Bay State bearing the highest jobless rate in the country. […]

Chamber member spotlight: Watkin Dental speaks on “new normal”

When COVID-19 hit the United States, one of the specialists that took a hit from the shutdown was the dental care sector. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), Dental practice activity in terms of patient volume and practice employment has rebounded, though these markers are still below pre-COVID-19 levels. In Fitchburg, MA, Watkin Dental […]

State Extends Tax Relief Targeted at Restaurants, Lodging

DOR Will Issue Emergency Regulations Article Source: State House News Service Article Author: Colin A. Young SEPT. 16, 2020…..Small businesses hit hard by the government’s economic shutdown, particularly restaurants and lodgings, will now have until May 2021 to pay some state taxes from March 2020 through April 2021, Gov. Charlie Baker and legislative leaders announced […]