The Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority (FRA) is pleased to announce the launch of a second funding round known as the FRA Reopening Grant Program for local businesses within the city of Fitchburg affected by the impact of the pandemic.
In response to the extreme vulnerability Fitchburg businesses have faced with the Governor’s phased approach to reopening, the FRA has developed the Reopening Grant consisting of an award of up to $2,500 to eligible grantees having a physical space within the Fitchburg business community. Funding is limited but the FRA hopes to provide relief to approximately 40 businesses that have been significantly vulnerable during this unprecedented time.
Applications for the grants will be available online through the FRA’s website y Facebook page starting Monday, July 27, 2020 and review will continue until the funding runs out.
(Acton, MA) July 23, 2020 – No running shoes? No problem! You’ll be a winner every time and get a medal as soon as you cross the Starting Line at Habitat for Humanity North Central MA’s Second Annual “0.0 Race” scheduled for Thursday, August 6ta, 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Bull Spit Brewing Company, 339 7 Bridge Road, Lancaster, MA.
Join us at the expanded, socially distanced, outdoor seating area. Masks are required (and will be available) and your entrance fee will help Habitat NCM to get started on building three more homes! Registration is just $25.00 and includes admission to the event, a race bag and a commemorative medal. Individuals can register for the event at [ncmhabitat.org]ncmhabitat.org.
Located at Kalon Farm, the Bull Spit Brewing Company uses only the freshest of ingredients partnered with the experience of a Master Brewer to craft outstanding beers. Also on tap, event goers can jam out to the fun folk sounds of Groton-based band Snow Crow. A variety of wines will also be available for purchase in the venue’s outdoor area.
The event will include door prizes, a raffle, a beer & wine pull, and tasty street grub from Bull Spit Brewery’s food truck — all served up in a socially distanced manner. Masks are required to attend and share in the camaraderie.
Habitat for Humanity NCM would like to extend a very special thanks to this year’s Race Sponsors Aubuchon Hardware y Middlesex Bank.
Habitat for Humanity North Central MA
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families.Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture. Habitat NCM builds strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter in 25 towns and cities in North Central Massachusetts, including Acton, Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Leominster, Maynard, Pepperell, Princeton, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Townsend, and Westminster.
Ayer, MA – Sarah Linskey recently joined Nashoba Valley Medical Center’s (NVMC) medical staff as the hospital’s new clinical audiologist. In this position, Linskey will offer patients audiological examinations to diagnose and treat various hearing conditions.
“We are pleased to welcome Sarah to our medical team,” said Korry Dow, president of Nashoba Valley Medical Center. “Her addition to the medical staff expands our audiology services and continues to meet the growing needs of our community.”
Prior to joining Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Linskey worked at Arrigg Eye and Ear Associates in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications disorders from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Doctor of Audiology degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Linskey is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and American Academy of Audiology.
About Nashoba Valley Medical Center Nashoba Valley Medical Center (NVMC) offers community-based primary care and specialty
services. NVMC was awarded its fourth consecutive A, the highest grade possible, in hospital safety by The Leapfrog Group for the Spring 2018 assessment period. The hospital was a recipient of the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and was named to Leapfrog’s annual list of Top Hospitals in 2014. Areas of clinical strength include emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, geriatric psychiatry, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, physical therapy and general surgery. NVMC also offers a comprehensive Center for Pain Management, Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Travel Clinic and Occupational Health Services. Nashoba Valley Medical Center is part of Steward Health Care, the largest private, tax-
paying physician-led hospital operator in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nashobamed.org.
Navigating the CDC, WHO, DPH, EPA, FDA, OSHA and State of Massachusetts regulations can be overwhelming. We have complied the best combination of recommendations from these trusted sources to get your business operating with safety and health as a top priority.
Join us for a 4-webinar series (1 hour each) that bullet point out what you need to do. In partnership with Fitchburg State, the Safety Trainers will deliver this information in a manageable and organized system for you to take immediate action on implementing controls, training and updating your policies to protect your business and your employees.
Who should attend? Anyone in your organization who is now part of a team or is responsible for managing health and safety in your workplace. This will help you to get your business and employees back to work making everyone’s safety and health a top priority.
Webinar #1 – 1 hour – July 27, 2020
Navigating the alphabet soup of regulations. You will learn all areas of your business where you will need to make changes and considerations for new rules, new equipment, new processes and adapt the factors you consider in decision making.
Webinar #2 – 1 hour – July 28, 2020
Who will be your COVID-19 Safety and Health Coordinator? Where should you begin when setting up the COVID-19 Coordinator, Emergency Response Team and/or Safety Committee to Manage COVID-19 Best Practices, Changes in Regulation and Implementation? We will walk you through the areas of consideration and SIGNS, SIGNS, and SIGNS.
Webinar #3 – 1 hour – July 29, 2020
New Rules. New Procedures. Which ones should I apply to our business?
Engineering and Administrative Controls to all areas of your operations will be the key to keeping your staff safe and your business open. Learn the Hierarchy of Controls Methodology. In this series, we will give you several options to consider in many areas of your business to include but not limited to:
Signage and Communication
Record Keeping and Resources
Updating Sick Policy and Return to Work Criteria
Facility Layout, Flow of Materials and People, Entrance and Exits, Parking, Common Spaces
Pre-Qualifying and Safety Policy for Visitor, Vendor, Third Party for Hire Relationships
Housekeeping to include trash, sanitation and disinfecting procedures
Personal Protective Equipment implementation
Training
Webinar #4 – 1 hour – July 30, 2020
I Didn’t Know I Needed to Do All of That to Disinfect and Clean Safely?
Using OSHA, CDC, EPA and FDA to make changes to your housekeeping process to include trash, sanitation, laundry and disinfecting, HazCom Policy, Hazardous Chemicals, personal protective equipment use and training. We will answer questions like; Do I need N95 respirators? Will a cloth mask work? Handwashing vs. Antibacterial agents? Do I need a flammable storage cabinet for hand sanitizer and isopropyl alcohol? How do I get an EPA approved disinfectant for COVID-19? Where can I buy PPE?
LEOMINSTER, MA – Leominster Credit Union held their annual Election of Board Officers for 2020-2021 at their April meeting.
Giulio G. Greco, Chairman of the Board. Greco has previously served as Chairman from 1994-1998 and again from 2008-2011. Greco was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) during the Awards of Excellence held at the 2019 Annual Convention. Greco has served on the Board since 1978.
Michael J. Sauvageau, Vice Chair. Sauvageau has been on the Board since 2007 and most recently held the position of Chairman from 2016-2020. Sauvageau serves on LCU’s Executive, Audit and Compensation Committees.
Nancy L. Graves, Treasurer. Graves serves on the Executive, Credit, Investment, and Advisory Committees. She has served on the LCU Board of Directors since 2004.
Joyce A. LaFleur, Assistant Treasurer. LaFleur serves on the Executive, Audit, Investment, and Advisory Committees. LaFleur has served on the Board since 2007.
Joseph V. Quintal, Clerk. Quintal serves on Executive, Audit, Compensation, Investment and Advisory Committees. Quintal has served on the Board since 2006.
Joining the officers on the 2020-2021 Board of Directors are, Amedeo E. Bilotta, Bruce J. Bollivar, Robert J. DelleChiaie, Joyce G. Leger, Henry C. Kulik, Jr., and Richard A. Sheppard.
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 50,000 members and more than $700 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Clinton, Holden, North Leominster, Sterling and Worcester with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24 hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.
Front Row (L-R): Guilio G. Greco, Chairman of the Board; Michael J. Sauvageau, Vice Chairman. Back Row (L-R) Joyce A. LaFleur, Assistant Treasurer; Nancy L. Graves, Treasurer; Joseph V. Quintal, Clerk
Oxford, Massachusetts,26 de junio de 2020—bankHometown ha aprobado más de 700 préstamos del Programa de Protección de Nóminas (PPP) por un total aproximado de $68 millones, lo que ha permitido a cientos de empresas locales de la región central de Massachusetts y el noreste de Connecticut mantener a más de 7,500 empleados en nómina.
El programa ha ayudado a pequeñas empresas como Cleartech Group, cliente de bankHometown, una empresa de gestión y consultoría de TI con sede en Leominster que presta servicios a pequeñas y medianas empresas en todo el centro de Massachusetts.
(En la foto, de izquierda a derecha) El presidente y propietario de Cleartech Group, Tony Fields, junto con el presidente y CEO de bankHometown, Robert J. Morton, la vicepresidenta y oficial de préstamos comerciales, Christina DiRusso, y la vicepresidenta asistente y oficial de sucursal de la oficina de Leominster, Donna Daigle.
El presidente y propietario Tony Fields dijo que cuando comenzó el cierre en marzo, rápidamente dejó de lado el plan de crecimiento de su empresa y tomó algunas decisiones difíciles, como despedir a dos empleados, para garantizar que su empresa pudiera seguir apoyando a sus clientes. Dijo que el enfoque de Cleartech se centró en ayudar a los dueños de negocios a “abrazar la nueva normalidad” implementando la infraestructura y la seguridad adecuadas necesarias para que los empleados trabajen desde casa.
“Inicialmente, fue un shock para nosotros. Luego se convirtió rápidamente en un esfuerzo humanitario para conectar a nuestros clientes, de modo que pudieran operar de forma remota tanto como fuera posible y lo más rápido posible”, dijo Fields. “Gran parte de nuestro valor reside en trabajar con los clientes in situ, pero tuvimos que pasar a un entorno totalmente virtual nosotros mismos y luego poner en marcha a los clientes de forma remota con personal reducido. En cuestión de dos semanas, pasamos del modo de crecimiento al modo de supervivencia”.”
Fields dijo que la financiación de los PPP alivió un “increíble sentimiento de incertidumbre” para él y sus nueve empleados, y le permitió sentirse positivo no solo sobre la capacidad de su propia empresa para capear la tormenta, sino también sobre la supervivencia de las pequeñas empresas que su compañía apoya.
“Cuando salió el PPP, nos dio a todos la esperanza de que había una luz al final del túnel”, dijo. “Fue como si se hubiera construido un puente para que atravesáramos esto con confianza”.”
El Programa de Protección de Nóminas (PPP) de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas (SBA) es un programa de estímulo para pequeñas empresas incluido en la Ley de Ayuda, Alivio y Seguridad Económica por el Coronavirus (CARES) del gobierno federal, por un monto de $2.2 billones. Inicialmente, el PPP proporcionó $349 mil millones para que las entidades crediticias de la SBA, como el banco Hometown, financiaran préstamos a las empresas por orden de llegada, con el fin de garantizar ocho semanas de nóminas y otros gastos para ayudar a las empresas a mantenerse a flote. Los fondos se agotaron en menos de dos semanas, pero el Congreso asignó una capacidad de financiamiento adicional de $320 mil millones. Para ser elegibles, las empresas deben tener 500 empleados o menos y demostrar que se han visto afectadas negativamente por el coronavirus. Si se utilizan para la nómina y otros gastos elegibles, los préstamos son condonables.
(En la foto, de izquierda a derecha) El Presidente y CEO de bankHometown, Robert J. Morton; la Directora Ejecutiva de Athol-Orange Community Television, Carol Courville; la Vicepresidenta y Oficial de Préstamos Comerciales de bankHometown, Christina DiRusso, y el Vicepresidente Adjunto y Oficial de Sucursal de la oficina de Athol, Marc Ostberg.
El programa también ayudó a Athol-Orange Community Television (AOTV), una estación pública sin fines de lucro con sede en Athol y cliente de bankHometown. La directora ejecutiva, Carol Courville, dijo que AOTV tuvo más suerte que la mayoría de las organizaciones sin fines de lucro al poder depender de los fondos de las suscripciones de cable, pero que ella y su junta directiva vieron rápidamente el potencial del efecto negativo a largo plazo de la pandemia en forma de cancelación de eventos de recaudación de fondos y otros patrocinios.
“Sabíamos que no íbamos a poder recaudar los fondos necesarios para continuar nuestra misión, y eso nos afectó mucho”, dijo Courville. “Supimos de inmediato que esto sería largo y que podríamos tener problemas presupuestarios que durarían hasta bien entrado el otoño y el resto del año”.”
Courville dijo que conseguir fondos del PPP fue un alivio inmenso, tanto mental como emocionalmente, para ella y sus empleados (uno a tiempo completo y tres a tiempo parcial), quienes pudieron entonces trabajar desde casa para crear la programación de la estación sin preocuparse por posibles despidos.
“Quitarle esa carga a los empleados les dio seguridad y eso fue oro puro”, dijo. “No tuvieron que preocuparse por recaudar fondos o perder sus trabajos mientras cambiaban por completo la forma en que brindábamos servicios y nos adaptábamos rápidamente a la nueva tecnología para producir reuniones gubernamentales y otros programas. Hubiera sido abrumador”.”
Los equipos de préstamos comerciales de bankHometown trabajaron incansablemente para presentar solicitudes en nombre de cientos de sus clientes de pequeñas empresas, como Cleartech y AOTV, sabiendo que para muchos propietarios de negocios, el tiempo era crítico.
“Estos son tiempos difíciles y entendemos la situación financiera que enfrentan nuestros clientes y el impacto negativo que puede tener en sus negocios, el personal y la comunidad”, dijo el presidente y director ejecutivo de bankHometown, Robert J. Morton. “Nos movimos rápidamente para poner estos fondos en manos de nuestros clientes para que pudieran cumplir con todas sus obligaciones. Como banco comunitario, esto es lo que hacemos y estoy orgulloso de nuestra capacidad para ayudar a las organizaciones locales’, afirmó.
A pesar de los informes nacionales que indican que algunos fondos del PPP se destinaron a empresas más grandes, aproximadamente el 60 por ciento de los préstamos del PPP tramitados por el banco Hometown fueron por un monto inferior a $50,000 y más del 90 por ciento fueron por un monto inferior a $250,000, lo que indica que, a nivel local, el programa ha beneficiado a las pequeñas empresas para las que fue diseñado.
Courville atribuye al Vicepresidente y Oficial de Préstamos Comerciales de bankHometown, Christina DiRusso, así como al Vicepresidente Asistente y Oficial de Sucursal de la oficina de Athol del banco, Marc Ostberg, el haber ayudado a AOTV a conseguir su salvavidas económico rápidamente en la primera ronda del PPP, cuando colegas de otros pequeños negocios tenían problemas para obtener una respuesta de bancos más grandes.
“Christina me devolvió la llamada el primer día y me lo hizo fácil. Me guió a través de todo el proceso de solicitud, que en realidad fue diseñado para empresas y no para organizaciones sin fines de lucro —recuerda Courville—. Por eso fue tan importante trabajar con un banco local como bankHometown. Hizo una gran diferencia saber que podías hablar con alguien. Ellos lo hicieron posible.”
“No podríamos haber seguido a flote si se nos hubiera acabado el dinero”, añadió. “Así que solo quiero agradecer a bankHometown”.”
Fields dijo que no se dio cuenta de lo inusual que era su sólida relación comercial con DiRusso de bankHometown y con la vicepresidenta adjunta y directora de sucursal de la oficina de Leominster, Donna Daigle, hasta que escuchó a sus colegas en un foro global de emprendedores expresar su frustración al conseguir que sus bancos los ayudaran con su solicitud de PPP o incluso les devolvieran las llamadas.
“Con el PPP, siempre estuve informado y sabía cuál era mi situación, así que asumí que así era como se hacían las cosas, esa era la norma”, dijo. “Pero mis compañeros emprendedores estaban batallando con el proceso y experimentaron al menos dos semanas de ansiedad innecesaria que yo nunca sentí. Fue entonces cuando me di cuenta de lo especial que fue mi relación con bankHometown”.”
Fields dijo que fue aprobado y tuvo los fondos en mano rápidamente, mientras que más de la mitad de los emprendedores con los que conecta todavía luchaban por aplicar, demostrando que una relación bancaria local es clave para sostener los pequeños negocios.
“Te respaldan y son parte de tu negocio. Son un defensor que trabaja para ti”, dijo. “Ahora más que nunca, soy un entusiasta de bankHometown”.”
Sobre bankHometown
Fundado en 1889, bankHometown tiene su sede en Oxford, Massachusetts, y cuenta con $1.0 mil millones en activos y 15 sucursales ubicadas en todo el centro de Massachusetts y el noreste de Connecticut. A través de su programa de patrocinio y donaciones caritativas, bankHometown y la Fundación Comunitaria Hometown Bank apoyan a organizaciones sin fines de lucro y causas en los condados de Worcester y Windham. En 2019, el banco y la fundación donaron más de $328,000 a casi 270 organizaciones. En los últimos cuatro años, el programa ha donado más de $1.1 millones. Para obtener más información, visite bankhometown.com.
Effort will mobilize sewing-enthusiast “Rosies” and corporate partners to join AIS in creating and sponsoring donations of high quality, reusable face masks
(Leominster, MA) – May 28, 2020 – AIS has partnered with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts as it continues its philanthropic initiative, Sew the Masks. The program’s goal to create and donate up to 1,000,000 high quality, washable and reusable face masks for first responders and others at high risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic remains.
The Sew the Masks campaign is mobilizing AIS sewing professionals as well as private, individual sewing enthusiasts – known as “Rosies” – to create high-quality masks from AIS-sourced materials and donate them to healthcare providers, first responders, essential workers and others at risk in the fight against COVID-19.
“No healthcare worker, first responder or other front-line employee should be worried about access to personal protective equipment such as masks. Yet we continue to see mask shortages among the people most at risk of infection,” said Bruce Platzman, CEO of AIS. “We strongly believe that high quality, comfortable, washable and reusable masks can make a big impact. And we are actively recruiting sewing enthusiasts across the country – along with corporate partners—to join this effort. Collaborate with AIS and the United Way and let’s collectively donate one million facemasks to those most in need.”
The Sew the Mask program has four simple steps:
Volunteer sewing enthusiasts – “The Rosies” – request a kit to sew 50 masks at www.sewthemasks.com. These kits ship directly from AIS with easy-to-follow instructions, precut materials and return packaging.
Completed masks are returned in the provided packaging to AIS within 25-30 days.
AIS performs a quality check on every completed mask, and then ships boxes of masks to corporate sponsors and partners for distribution and donation within their own communities.
For every 10 facemasks a corporate sponsor donates, AIS will ensure a mask is donated to the United Way—providing this essential PPE for workers within their nationwide charitable network.
“We are proud to partner with AIS to provide these high-quality masks to those most in need. We think this initiative is an effective and creative way to rally the public, to create opportunities for volunteers to support their local community from the safety of their own homes, and for local businesses to engage in a meaningful effort to promote public safety during this unprecedented crises,” Kory Eng, President and CEO of the United Way of North Central Massachusetts shared.
AIS also allocated a production line of its employees in early April on the manufacturing floor to make these masks, featuring antimicrobial covers that repel moisture and a non-treated, comfortable inner layer filter of polypropylene. AIS masks are already helping protect healthcare workers at UMass Medical Center and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as well as first responders around Massachusetts and others.
“Our company has donated thousands of these masks already to hospitals and first responders across Massachusetts. But the need is so great, we could never do alone what we can do with others. We are pleased to partner with the United Way of North Central Massachusetts, joining together as part of coordinated effort,” said Platzman. “We think there are many potential ‘Rosies’ out there ready to donate their skills and time to ensure high-quality PPE is there when these essential players need it. And we’re seeing many caring corporate citizens in New England and around the country wanting to partner with us to sponsor the effort to coordinate mask donations in their communities and across the United Way’s vast network.”
One of the illustrations featured in the original Rosie campaign artwork is a representation of a real life “Rosie”, MJ, who works at AIS as in shipping. She has a deep compassion to help those around her. AIS was inspired by her effervescent energy, self-less dedication to others, and roll up your sleeves attitude as a role model for the program. Illustrations created by Lindsey Platzman.
For more information, to become a “Rosie” or to learn about corporate partnerships and sponsorship of mask creation and donations, visit www.sewthemasks.com.
ABOUT AIS
AIS, headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, is a leading manufacturer of commercial office furniture and boasts one of the most impressive stories of growth and success in the furniture industry. Founded in 1989, the company is known for offering market-relevant, feature-rich product lines that entice designers and support the diverse needs of end-users while offering exceptional value. AIS is an innovator that leads the industry in
sustainable, lean manufacturing, lead-time performance and manufacturing flexibility. AIS has permanent showrooms at its Leominster headquarters and also in Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. With locations across the U.S., AIS has more than 800 employees and over 1 million square feet of office, showroom and factory space. Sales for 2019 were $225 million. For more information, visit www.ais-inc.com.
When volatility strikes, do you take your money and run? Unfortunately, this might do more harm than good. Join me for a workshop that explores time tested ways to tackle volatility.
Hosted by: Paul Chlebecek, Edward Jones
Presenter: James Ignazio, MFS Investment Management
Important Zoom Details:
Date and time: Tuesday June 9th at 5:00 PM ET
To join by one-tap mobile or phone if you have no computer, call +19292056099,,723083. You will need the following meeting ID and password: Meeting ID: 723 083 4201 Password: 299836
When you join the conference, you will be prompted to enter your name and email address. To protect your privacy, we recommend entering only your initials, as this information (but not your email address) will display during the conference.
I hope you can join us for this virtual event. You are welcome to share the registration link with others.
ECi Stores Joins Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight, a Partnership with the NRF Foundation to Help Small Businesses Weather COVID-19
Leominster, MA- ECi Stores, including Cutie Patuties and Cutiques, has been selected for Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight, a partnership with the NRF Foundation to help 20 small businesses navigate the unprecedented turmoil created by the pandemic.
Qurate Retail Group, a multiplatform retailer that includes QVC, HSN, Zulily, and several other brands, is using its production resources, television broadcasts, and digital platforms to help ECi Stores share its story with millions of consumers nationwide. ECi Stores’ story began appearing on QVC’s and HSN’s websites and social pages on May 11 and the company will be highlighted on air on QVC and HSN on June 4, 2020.
Zulily is promoting the campaign on its website, email, and social, and ECi Stores can also tap Qurate Retail Group team members for advice on solving a business issue related to COVID-19 through a virtual mentoring initiative.
“ECi Stores is excited for this opportunity to learn from Qurate Retail Group in how to reach customers in their homes, and provide services and products they can benefit from” said Neil Abramson, Owner of ECi Stores.
ECi Stores, including Cutie Patuties Consignment, and Cutiques, have been strong community leaders since 1998. ECi Stores is North Central Massachusetts’ favorite stores for gently worn clothing, shoes, accessories, home décor and furniture. ECi Stores has grown with their customers, from a small storefront with only the Abramsons as staff, to now employing a team of over 20. Many customers have become friends, consistently shopping while their families have grown up, and now have second generation shoppers.
Qurate Retail Group has a long tradition of helping small business owners and entrepreneurs launch and grow their brands through the incredible power of storytelling and shopping discovery. QVC, HSN, and Zulily provide compelling platforms, with unmatched reach, that enable small businesses to speak directly to millions of consumers in their homes.
“We have a special relationship with the small business community, which generates so much of the innovation that drives our economy and has played a special role in the growth of our business,” said Mike George, President and CEO, Qurate Retail, Inc. “Ordinarily, the companies in our Small Business Spotlight would not be on QVC, HSN, or Zulily, because they are not part of our vendor family. Our aim with this initiative is to help rally the public around these vital businesses, so they can come through this crisis and continue to anchor their local communities for many years to come.”
The Small Business Spotlight runs from May 11 through June 6 and is part of Qurate Retail Group’s $29 million COVID-19 global relief efforts.
“From national relief efforts to local giving, the retail industry has stepped up in extraordinary ways to serve communities large and small throughout the health crisis,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “The Small Business Spotlight lends support to local, small businesses that are the lifeblood of our national economy. We’re honored to work with Qurate Retail Group to share their world-class expertise and multiple platforms with these small business owners during such a critical time.”
For additional information on ECi Stores, Neil Abramson, or visit ECistores.com. To learn more about Qurate Retail Group’s Small Business Spotlight, visit QVC.com and HSN.com.
ABOUT ECI STORES
ECI Stores have four unique consignments stores known for offering the largest selection of high quality gently-used products. Cutie Patuties specializes in children’s clothing; Q specializes in teen and young adult styles; CP & Company specializes in misses, petites and plus sizes for ladies clothing and accessories and Cutiques ETC offers home decor and furniture to make your house a home.
To learn more visit, http://www.ecistores.com
Contact: Neil Abramson
About Qurate Retail Group
Qurate Retail GroupSM comprises eight leading retail brands – QVC®, HSN®, Zulily®, Ballard Designs®, Frontgate®, Garnet Hill®, Grandin Road®, and RyllaceTM – all dedicated to providing a Third Way to Shop®, beyond transactional ecommerce or traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Globally, Qurate Retail Group is #1 in video commerce, reaching approximately 380 million homes worldwide via 15 television networks and multiple ecommerce sites, social pages, mobile apps, print catalogs, and in-store destinations. Qurate Retail Group is among the top 10 ecommerce retailers in North America (according to Internet Retailer) and is a leader in mobile commerce and social commerce. Qurate Retail Group combines the best of retail, media, and social to curate products, experiences, conversations, and communities for millions of highly discerning shoppers – bringing joy, inspiration, and humanity to shopping. Qurate Retail Group also curates large audiences, across multiple platforms, for thousands of brand vendors. Headquartered in West Chester, PA, Qurate Retail Group has 25,000 team members in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, Japan, Italy, Poland, and China. For more information, visit www.qurateretailgroup.com, follow @QurateRetailGrp on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, or follow Qurate Retail Group on YouTube or LinkedIn.
Qurate Retail, Inc. (NASDAQ: QRTEA, QRTEB) includes the Qurate Retail Group portfolio of brands as well as other minority interests and green energy investments.
About NRF Foundation
The NRF Foundation builds the bridge between a growing industry with hundreds of thousands of open positions and job seekers around the country. Through education, training, scholarships and experiences for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds, we help more people take their first steps toward promising careers. The NRF Foundation is the educational arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters. www.NRFFoundation.org
