The Chamber’s tourism arm, Visit North Central Massachusetts (VNCM), has developed its annual marketing plan to promote the region. As a result of the pandemic, VNCM plans to strategically shift its marketing resources in FY2021 to focus on helping our regional economy recover quickly and effectively from the disruption. The restaurants, retailers, hoteliers, farms and attractions that comprise our local visitor industry have been among the hardest hit by the disruption caused by this health crisis and will take the longest to recover. Marketing strategies in FY2021 will focus on Shop/Eat/Stay/Explore Local promotional efforts that encourage companies and residents to support local businesses during the recovery. Marketing efforts will also target the regional drive market within a 250-mile radius, including key markets like Boston, Southern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island highlighting our advantages and safety. Data and research from our economic development planning process suggests that we are well positioned to potentially benefit from the new environment and changing consumer demands, given our rural character, affordability and agricultural heritage. The plan was approved by the Board of Directors and submitted to the Mass Office of Travel and Tourism as part of our annual tourism grant submission. We also presented it to members during the Summer to gather input. It was well received by both MOTT and our members, however we are still waiting on state tourism funding in the state budget.
As part of this marketing/recovery plan, we focused our efforts in Q1 with updating our VisitNorthCentral.com website and social media platforms for the “new normal” including developing new locally focused content, developing new messaging, optimizing our site for new searches and utilizing digital and social media channels to promote, connect and engage with consumers. Messaging and themes have been centered around re-opening and supporting our businesses. “When it Matters Most” is being utilized as an overarching theme. It is important that our target audience understands why “spending local” is now more important than ever. Member-focused contests and promotions have also been utilized to drive engagement with messaging focused on the attributes of the region that appeal most to visitors, such as our safety as rural region and abundance of family-oriented activities. As we move into the traditionally busy Fall season and Q2, we plan to ramp up our paid digital advertising to promote the region and local businesses. We plan to focus primarily on digital media for now as it provides the greatest flexibility and allows us to adapt quickly if needed. As we move into the Spring, we will start to leverage some print advertising. Our media buys will be dependent on the final receipt of our grant funding from the state.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 crisis, VNCM’s participation in several travel shows were cancelled including the Discover New England Summit in Maine, the Dream Destinations Showcase in Western Mass, and a major bridal expo in September. We will resume these business development activities that play an important role in promoting the region to groups once it is safe to do so.
COVID-19 hasn’t stopped Chris Urbine, owner of Mattress by Appointment (MBA) in Fitchburg, MA, in his tracks. In fact, he says there has been an influx of new customers since the Baker-Polito’s reopening plan was released back in May 2020.
“People have been home a lot more, which makes them realize ‘I might need a new mattress,’” Urbine states. “They’ve been banging down our doors [in a good way] to get a new mattress!”
Mattress by Appointment is a parent company based out of Greensville, SC. Urbine’s brother started a MBA in Florida. He saw how successful his brother was, and opened a location in Fitchburg, MA this past year. Urbine’s drive was to have a successful business that provided opportunities for him to support his family and lifestyle.
Urbine also mentioned that there hasn’t been a “new” normal when it comes to “the new normal.”
“The ‘new normal’ is what we’ve been doing anyway pre-pandemic,” Urbine said. As the name implies, MBA Fitchburg is open by appointment only. “Customers always have the whole store to themselves to get that one-on-one experience with us. Mattresses have always been sanitized in between appointments. We always planned ahead to have mattresses in the store for customers to take home. Right now, there’s a 6-8 week manufacturing delay, but we order everything ahead of time for customers to take home the same day, so there’s no delay due to COVID-19 manufacturing shortages. The only thing that’s really different is the social distancing and requiring a face covering in the store.”
Video appointments are also available for customers if they do not feel comfortable going in the store. They are a virtual way to shop for a new mattress, while still obtaining a personalized experience with MBA.
“Every day is a holiday at our store,” Chris Urbine, dealer of MBA Fitchburg, exclaimed. “Being open by appointment only and having no employees, we are able to keep the lowest possible prices year-round, so that our customers get the best price without having to sacrifice quality.”
Urbine looks forward to expanding a relationship with an existing vendor to add brand new contemporary, cost effective bed sets and adjustable bases. He expects these to roll out at MBA within the next 4 to 6 weeks and is very excited to share this with his customers looking to get a better mattress for themselves.
Mattress by Appointment is a member of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to meeting their customers, either virtually on video, or in-person. They are located at 28 Ashby State Road, Fitchburg, MA, and you can schedule your appointment by texting or calling 978-400-0393.
The North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation (NCMDC), the economic development arm of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce, has recently been awarded a $946,000 EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
This grant will be used to capitalize and administer a new Revolving Loan Fund to provide loans to coronavirus-impacted small businesses in North Central Massachusetts. This new loan fund will help supplement the NCMDC’s existing efforts to provide support to local businesses and spur investment in the region.
With these funds, the NCMDC will provide fixed rate loans of up to $150,000 to start-up and existing small businesses in the region. The loans will be provided with flexible terms, low fees and interest rates as low as 1% for existing businesses and 5% for start-up businesses. Monthly payments will be deferred for up to one year on the loans, depending on the situation. Each loan offered will be tailored to the needs of the borrower after careful analysis and underwriting. Loan amortization will vary based on use of funds and underwriting with monthly repayment terms up to ten years. At maturity, loans may be extended for up to five years by modifying note terms at market rates and recasting or restructuring payments.
Loans made by the NCMDC can be used for working capital; operating expenses and costs; leasehold improvements; machinery and equipment; furniture and fixtures; start-up costs for a new business; purchasing or expanding real estate related to the business; and the refinancing of existing business debt. To be eligible, a loan applicant must be a for-profit enterprise; be located in one of the NCMDC service communities; create or retain at least one job for each $20,000 of funds provided; and show economic injury or funding needed for re-opening and recovery as a result of COVID-19. In addition, start-up businesses are required to provide a 10% equity injection.
“This infusion of capital will reinforce our lending capacity and allow us to continue to support the economic recovery of North Central Massachusetts with low interest loans.” said Roy M. Nascimento, President & CEO of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Development Corporation. “We are appreciative of the Economic Development Administration for their confidence in us. These funds will go a long way in helping many vulnerable small businesses regain their footing from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
For more information or to inquire about a loan, please contact Sandie Cataldo, Economic Development Manager at 978.353.7600 or email .
“Hire the best talent for the best compensation plan – the people that work best with your company and your culture – regardless of where they live,” advises business consultant Cameron Herold, co-author of The Miracle Morning for Entrepreneurs. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
Cameron Herold advises businesses to focus on hiring the best talent and offering the best compensation plan. According to the business expert, you should recruit employees who will work best with your company and culture regardless of where they live. They should be able to fit into the business culture and work with minimal help and supervision.
Train employees to do job interviews
One of the mistakes that most businesses make when it comes to hiring is failing to train employees to do job interviews. Today, companies are competing for top talent, making it essential to create a recruitment process that will help you attract the best employees. The interviewers will know how to ask the right questions and understand the importance of job relevance during the interviews.
Work with freelance recruiters
When looking to hire remote talent, you should cast your net wide. Working with freelance recruiters can help you find employees with the capabilities you need during tough times. The recruitment specialist will play a big role in outsourcing talent, effectively making the hiring process fast and easy. You can also make use of social media to reach a wider audience.
Help candidates self-decide if they fit in the setup
Since remote working is not for everyone, you should actively help candidates to determine if they fit in the setup. During the recruitment process, we suggest that you give the candidates an insider look into what working remotely involves. Sharing an insider perspective will not only prepare them for their work environment but also help you make the most of the skills they offer.
Offer a paid work trial
Once you have identified the best candidate for the job, you can offer a paid work trial before making an offer. This period will give you a chance to see how skilled they are, whether they fit into your business, and how well they can learn. We recommend that you give candidates actual work during the trial process and provide flexible work schedules.
Running a business and guiding your team through uncertain times is a huge challenge. Growing your business when it is slow, will be even more challenging. You will need to boost revenue and ensure that all your employees are protected from tough times. As a chamber of commerce, we believe that only true leadership can help navigate a crisis. Business leaders can use these tips to help their companies survive and thrive.
This has been Part 6 of 6 in the series How to Grow When It’s Slow, inspired by author and speaker Cameron Herold. For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
(North Central, MA) –The next edition of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s popular Good Morning North Central program is scheduled for Friday, September 18, 2020 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Due to COVID-19 and restrictions around large-scale events, the September program will take place online. The September edition is sponsored by Unitil.
The Good Morning North Central series is a high-profile, fast-paced and educational morning program geared towards executives, senior managers, professionals and business owners. Each of the programs has a business-oriented focus and features popular speakers to present on topics of interest to local businesses.
The featured speakers for the month of September are the Honorable Michael Nicholson, Mayor of Gardner and Andrew E. Lelling, United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
Michael Nicholson was elected the 20th mayor of the City of Gardner following a special election on June 30, 2020. Prior to being elected Mayor, Nicholson served as the Administrator for the Town of Rutland and previously as the Executive Aide to Former Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst with Bachelors’ degrees in both History and Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Policy. He is currently a candidate for a Juris Doctor degree at Suffolk University Law School.
Andrew E. Lelling was sworn in as U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts on December 21, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Lelling served as a federal prosecutor for over 15 years, first in the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department and later at the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Massachusetts. He was the lead prosecutor in a number of complex fraud, immigration and international drug trafficking investigations. In addition, Mr. Lelling has prosecuted major drug trafficking organizations, domestic branches of Mexican drug cartels, and global drug traffickers based in Eastern Europe.
Before joining the Justice Department, Mr. Lelling was a senior litigation associate at Goodwin Procter in Boston and a litigation associate at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae in New York. Mr. Lelling graduated cum laude from University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Arts in Literature & Rhetoric from Binghamton University in 1991.
The cost is just $10 for Chamber members/$25 non-members. Virtual attendees can engage with the chance to submit questions for our guests. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, o visita www.northcentralmass.com.
How to Grow When It’s Slow: Change Your Business for The Better
“Companies are getting good at ripping off the band-aid and making decisions quickly and swiftly,” reports Cameron Herold, business expert and author of Meetings Suck. “That’s a good skill to have now that they’ve all benefited from making those tough decisions confronted with real facts.”
We got to eavesdrop on business expert Cameron Herold in a recent Real Estate Rockstars Radio interview. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
There are tons of lessons that companies and business leaders can learn from a crisis. We see this period as an opportunity for retooling businesses and making them better. Cameron Herold offers the following tips that we think can help you thrive.
Create a more empathetic workplace
One of the most important lessons that you can learn during tough times is empathy. After a crisis has passed, there should be a shift in your business culture. Both the management and employees should appreciate each team member’s contribution to the running of the organization. There should be more humanity, with colleagues looking out for and seeking to understand each other more. This will create a sense of belonging and make employees feel valued and appreciated.
Make tough decisions swiftly
For any business to grow when it is slow, the management has to make a lot of tough decisions. The changes that such events bring require that businesses adapt quickly to survive. Considering the fast-changing world in which businesses operate, the ability to make decisions quickly is an asset that will deliver great benefits. Herold says that these are skills that will stay with people beyond the crisis. When decisions are made based on data, there is a good chance they will make your business better.
Focus on innovation
Making your business better will also involve focusing on innovation and investing in technology systems that facilitate mobile working. Most crises will create barriers to business, making it necessary to develop better approaches and new ways of thinking. Greater innovation will create an environment for employees to explore, exercise creativity, and develop problem-solving skills. In the end, it will be important to ensure that all employees are comfortable with technology.
Improve leadership
Leadership will be instrumental in guiding the team through tough times and improving business operations going forward. In uncertain times, business leaders will adopt the most effective behaviors and attitudes. These include communicating clearly, thinking long-term, staying calm and strong, taking decisive action, and demonstrating empathy. If you want to make your business better, you should demonstrate the true leadership character that a crisis reveals. You should make these values part of your business culture to ensure sustainable growth in the long term.
Renewed career opportunities
The adjustments that are made during a crisis will create work that allows for more diversity. The use of technology will also make work more flexible as employees work remotely. Business leaders will encourage engagement to ensure that all employees play their part in overcoming the crisis. Depending on how the process is handled, there will be numerous career opportunities for staff as the management broadens the definition of responsibilities, reassesses critical jobs, and motivates employees.
For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
And stay tuned for the next article in the 6-part series How to Grow When It’s Slow on the topic of remote hiring.
Article by: Matt Murphy
Fuente del artículo: State House News Service
AUG. 25, 2020…..Gov. Charlie Baker visited a bicycle shop in Belmont on Tuesday, admitting after a tour that he and his wife, Lauren, have “kicked the idea around for awhile” of buying themselves bikes.
Baker insisted, “No, I wasn’t shopping,” but suggested he might take his own advice this weekend and go out to get himself two new wheels during the the state’s annual sales tax holiday weekend.
“I think it would be great if everybody who’s looking to buy pretty much anything that they’ve been putting off or that they might do at some point down the road to find a way to go out and make that happen,” Baker said Tuesday, after touring the award-winning WheelWorks bike shop, co-owned by Clint Paige.
The official reason for Baker’s visit was to draw attention to the upcoming tax-free weekend and announce a $2 million ad campaign that will run through the end of the year, encouraging residents to shop, dine out and travel at local stores and destinations.
For the fourteenth time since 2004, the state will give shoppers buying from Massachusetts retailers this weekend a break from the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax on all purchases under $2,500.
Baker said the holiday weekend, which became a permanent fixture on the August calendar in 2018, is important every year, but especially this year as small businesses look to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions imposed throughout the spring and early summer.
“We would urge you all to get out and shop and shop safely,” Baker said.
Paige said he’s been lucky to have a product that people wanted to use during the pandemic, but he said other retailers and the food industry have not been as lucky.
“So do whatever you can, residents here in Massachusetts, to recognize the fact that there’s a lot of people out there that are still hurting. Do what you can to come up this weekend and come out over the next several months to support these businesses that are not doing quite as well,” Paige said.
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said the administration plans to use $500,000 from the budget of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and $1.5 million from the federal coronavirus relief fund to run print, television, radio and online ads through the end of the year. The campaign begins Friday.
The state will also utilize billboards and social media to spread the message, and plans to consult with regional tourism councils on marketing strategies. MOTT is run by Executive Director Keiko Orrall, a former state legislator from Lakeville and Republican National committeewoman who is in Charlotte this week for the Republican National Convention.
The “My Local MA” campaign can also be accessed online at www.findmylocalma.com, with links to local resources and chambers of commerce to find out where to shop and stay locally.
“The goal of this campaign is to continually remind people that where you shop, dine and travel matters,” Polito said.
Massachusetts Retailers Association President Jon Hurst visited WheelWorks with Baker, and said that while 100 percent of RAM’s members are now open, 50 percent are operating at reduced capacity. He said that could mean businesses doing only curbside or delivery business, or limiting the number of people in their stores at any given time.
“We need to remind people that they need to shop like jobs depend on it, because, frankly, they do,” Hurst said.
Massachusetts is one of 16 states that plan to hold a sales tax holiday this year, according to Hurst. The Legislature previously voted every year whether to authorize the August sales tax holiday, but in 2018 Baker signed a law making it permanent.
Baker said that the tax-free shopping weekend, which is typically pegged to the return to school, costs the state between $20 million and $25 million in forgone tax revenue. In a year when the state still doesn’t have an annual budget in place and is worried about a big mismatch between spending and revenues, and with school beginning remotely for many students, Baker did not offer an estimate for how much this year’s holiday could cost.
Hurst said that 20 percent of his member businesses have reported doing better than last year, while 80 percent have seen a downturn in business in 2020.
Baker said that while businesses like WheelWorks have benefited from people wanting to get outside and be active during the pandemic, other sectors of the economy, including the tourism and entertainment industries, are paying “an incredibly painful steep price for COVID and for a lot of the restrictions and the rules and the guidelines that we put in place.”
“A tax break is always good for the taxpayer, obviously, but this year in particular we really want everybody to think about taking advantage of the chance that this provides for you to go shop in locally-owned, locally-operated business in your community,” Baker said.
How to Grow When It’s Slow: What Not to Do Right Now
Cameron Herold is a top business consultant, speaker, and author of Double Double – How to Double Your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years or Less.
We got to take a peek into a conversation business expert Cameron Herold had with one of his clients via a recent podcast interview on Real Estate Rockstars Radio. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
Cameron asked his client, “What revenue ideas have you come up with?”
“We haven’t had time for that,” she replied.
“So what marketing have you been doing in the last 10 days,” Cameron asked?
“We haven’t had time for that,” she repeated.
“You’ve never gone two weeks without doing sales and marketing and business development in your history,” Cameron explained. “Why would you stop now?”
This series has been offering ideas on what you can do to grow your business, it seems appropriate that we share some suggestions for what NOT to do. For example, don’t stop marketing!
There is a lot that business leaders can do to ensure their company grows when it is slow. However, some mistakes could prove costly in the long run. Inspired by Cameron, here are some things we would discourage during a crisis:
Don’t Change Your Strategic Plan
Crises can send business leaders into a frenzy as they take measures to protect the company and employees. To avoid making mistakes, you should look at the areas where you can cut costs while at the same time remaining focused on the future. When the ground starts shaking, avoid the temptation to change your strategic plan immediately. It would be necessary to think, consult, and discuss the business’s future with the relevant stakeholders to help you grow both during and after the crisis.
Don’t Lie to Achieve Short-Term Goals
It can be difficult to deal with the pressure that comes with a crisis and slow growth. Companies will do everything in their power to ensure they get paid for their products and services. You should be careful not to lie to achieve short-term revenue targets. When managing a crisis, it is important that you think long-term. Having a long-term plan will allow you to do your sales and marketing while at the same time mitigating risks and losses.
Don’t Put Unreasonable Pressure on Teams to Deliver Results
Some managers will double sales goals or ask employees to deliver higher numbers to the company in tough times. However, it is important to understand that the employees are trying to adapt to changes as well. Crises present a challenging working environment that may make it difficult for many employees to deliver the expected results. It should not feel as though business leaders are out of touch and tone-deaf. Managers should set realistic targets that will encourage employees to deliver.
Don’t Give Bad Behavior A Pass
When trying to navigate the tough environment and lead your team forward, you should remember that this is a stressful time. Your employees may be under pressure both at work and at home. However, this is not to say that bad behavior should be condoned in the workplace. An angry outburst at work can erode trust and ruin relationships between colleagues. Whenever you notice any bad behavior, you should not give it a pass. Instead, call out the bad behavior to ensure it does not undermine focus and hard work.
Don’t Be Slow to Adapt
Most crises will lead to a change in interests and habits, which can cause a shift in the competitive landscape, making it necessary to respond quickly to the changes. When circumstances appear to be dire, keeping a competitive edge can be very challenging. However, you will have to adapt quickly if you want to pursue new markets and opportunities. Failure to do this may see you falling behind on the competition and struggling to recover when the crisis fades.
For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
And stay tuned for the next article in the 6-part series How to Grow When It’s Slow on the topic of how to change your business for the better.
How to Grow When It’s Slow: What Your Team Needs Right Now
“To really grow quickly,” says business expert Cameron Herold, “You have to be slightly more than a business, slightly less than a religion.”
Cameron explains further that, when you add publicity to a great culture, you attract more of the talented people who will fit your culture as you grow.
“The culture is what was going to allow us to bring those people into the organization quickly,” he adds.
Cameron Herold is a top business consultant, speaker, and author of Vivid Vision. We caught up with him via a recent podcast interview he did for Real Estate Rockstars Radio. He’s the mastermind behind hundreds of companies’ exponential growth and teaches today’s most dynamic business leaders.
Business leaders play a critical role in getting companies through slow growth periods. A crisis is characterized by enormous pressures and challenges that make it necessary for organizations to learn quickly in the fast-moving environment. Inspired by experts like Cameron, we’ve compiled a few suggestions for your business.
Demonstrate true leadership
Employees, customers, and suppliers will be looking to the management for direction when there is a crisis. Business leaders will need to stay connected with reality without focusing too much on the crisis. Instead, the leaders should clearly define the future so that staff can fit into the plan. Difficult and uncertain situations will require leaders who can remain calm, focused, energetic, and confident. A confident leadership will inspire the confidence of the different stakeholders, making it easier to navigate the tough times.
Transparent communication
The natural reaction for many people during a crisis will be fear and anxiety. Business leaders have to understand this and take steps to reassure stakeholders by maintaining transparent communication at all times. Employees will want to know the measures that have been put in place to ensure a secure work environment. Investors and customers will also want their concerns to be addressed proactively. Sometimes explicit communication will mean admitting to stakeholders that you are afraid or do not know something.
Encourage collaboration
When responding to a crisis, you will not have all the answers. You should consider calling on the capabilities of your employees and team members to help overcome the uncertainty. Leaders can bring talents together through task forces, and sub-taskforces with clearly defined roles. Continuous engagement with employees in this manner will reduce rumors and fear-mongering. Your staff will also have confidence in you and rely on your leadership for direction, creating a calm environment in which meaningful progress can be achieved.
Accelerate digital transformation
Businesses are continuously pursuing digital transformation programs to improve the efficiency of their operations. However, a crisis that causes major disruptions across many industries will make this transformation an urgent priority. Business leaders will have to accelerate the process to ensure that they find new ways of working and creating value through technology. Considering that employees will work remotely when it is slow, digital transformation will help address the current and future needs of your business.
Proper financial management
For any business to grow when it is slow, leadership teams will have to make tough decisions to cut costs. In essence, cash is king at a time of crisis, making it essential to focus on the company’s short-term and long-term financial health. It would be important to consult widely and make smart decisions that will place your business on the growth path. Prudent financial management will enable you to conserve the available resources and keep your business running.
Have a clear vision
Leadership teams should learn important lessons from any crisis and make the necessary adjustment to ensure the business is prepared for other crises in the future. These adjustments will also help to develop a clear vision that will be shared with the employees. The vision should describe every aspect of the business, painting a picture of where the leadership wants to take the company in the coming years. As you do this, you should not lose sight of other risks that could pose a threat to your business.
For information about how to become a better business owner or operator, check out the Second In Command Podcast at CameronHerold.com/podcast.
And stay tuned for the next article in the 6-part series How to Grow When It’s Slow on the topic of what not to do right now.
Article Source: The Statehouse News Service
Article Author: Matt Murphy
AUG. 14, 2020…..Apologies to Pink Floyd, but experts agree kids do need some education. The nagging question is how best to provide it.
Learning is supposed to resume in a matter of weeks, but tension abounds between the state, districts, teachers’ unions, and parents about whether it’s safe to return to the classroom and whether remote learning is an acceptable substitute.
The state’s two major unions – the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers – want school buildings to remain shuttered, at least to start the year. But Gov. Charlie Baker said he “can’t imagine” why most kids wouldn’t be returning to school given the current status of the virus in Massachusetts.
After creeping up and ringing some alarm bells, the statewide positive test rate is back down around 1.5 percent, which is the lowest it’s been since widespread testing began.
Baker has preached local control throughout much of the pandemic, and rolled out a new rubric this week for people, including school administrators, to make decisions based on what’s happening in their own communities, not just across the state.
But he also made clear where he comes down on the question of remote versus in-person schooling. He’s had less to say about fall athletics, though his administration also warned this week that sports like football and basketball are inherently more risky than tennis.
Gov. Charlie Baker looked up at a television screen displaying the state’s new color-coded COVID-19 infection rate map during a Tuesday news conference. [Sam Doran/SHNS]
The administration deployed another “stoplight” system to track each city and town’s progress in controlling COVID-19. The new color-coded maps of Massachusetts municipalities shade cities and towns “red,” “yellow,” or “green” based on the prevalence and spread of the coronavirus.
The colors correlate to average new daily cases reported over the previous two weeks, with “green” towns reporting fewer than four daily cases per 100,000 people, and “red” towns reporting more than eight new cases a day for every 100,000 people.
A fourth category – white – means a municipality has had fewer than five new cases reported in total over the past two weeks.
“If you’re in a green or a white community, I can’t imagine a good reason not to go back, whether it’s full-time or some sort of a hybrid, because for all intents and purposes you meet all the benchmarks that are being used across the country and across New England to make decisions about whether it’s safe to go back to school,” Baker said.
The governor said that unlike remote learning in the spring, the start of a new school year means students starting new grades with teachers they don’t know, and vice versa. Learning to read, he has said, is not a virtual exercise.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education formalized the governor’s position when it told the 305 green and yellow communities that the state expected them to prioritize in-person learning, though there’s no consequence for disobedience.
For 46 other communities, that is not their situation.
In these higher-risk communities, the state has put together an inter-agency task force to offer assistance with testing, contact tracing and enforcement of public and private gathering size limits.
The state said it will also help, if asked, with public awareness campaigns to remind people to stay focused.
“We’re making progress and have made progress in our fight, but we’re seeing the effects of too many people letting their guard down and simply relaxing, get in the way of some of our continued move forward,” Baker said.
Eleven municipalities have been put in the most at-risk “red” category, including Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Revere, Fall River, Granby, Holyoke, Hull, Lawrence, Saugus and Salem. Those cities and towns, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said, should begin the year with remote instruction.
Solving the school conundrum is not easy, but there was no controversy over what should happen with the Democratic National Convention next week, which was supposed to take place in Milwaukee before the pandemic.
The DNC will be fully remote. Not even Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will be there in person.
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren scored a Wednesday night speaking role at the virtual DNC, but it was not the time slot many of her supporters may have been hoping to see. Biden this week announced California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, making the daughter of Indian and Jamaican parents the first Black woman to run on a major party presidential ticket. She will give her acceptance speech on Wednesday night.
In picking Harris, Biden passed over Warren who was on the list of women the former vice president vetted for the job. But given the pressure on Biden to pick a woman of color, the outcome was not unexpected.
“I don’t worry about where she ends up or her influence on what happens during a Biden presidency. She’s already proven they work together well, and she’ll be a number one player wherever she is,” said Gus Bickford, chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
Some have Warren ticketed for the Treasury if Biden can topple President Donald Trump in November, while others think she could be more powerful in the Senate, especially if Democrats can regain control of that body.
Regardless, there were probably more than a few eager Democrats who had to put their ambitions on ice, at least for now, as they wait to see whether a Senate seat opens up before 2024.
The competition for the state’s other Senate seat heated up, with U.S. Sen. Edward Markey and U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III squaring off in their second-to-last debate before the Sept. 1 primary.
Polling has shown the race to be tight, and after refusing to sign a pledge to keep outside money out of their race, Markey is now hammering Kennedy over the support he is receiving from a new super PAC that may, or may not, be funded in part by Kennedy’s father, who himself was a congressman.
Markey has also benefited from super PAC spending, which Kennedy’s team is all too willing to point out.
Things may be getting uglier in the Senate race, but not as ugly as they got this week out west where UMass College Democrats accused Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, who is gay, of inappropriately contacting students through social media channels. Morse denies taking advantage of his position as a UMass lecturer to meet men, but says he won’t apologize for using dating apps in his personal life.
Some LGBTQ lawmakers like Sen. Julian Cyr have come to Morse’s defense, suggesting a double standard in the face of unsubstantiated claims. Some reports have even suggested it may have been an orchestrated attempt to hurt Morse’s campaign against U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who has denied any involvement.
The truth may be a bit blurred, but it’s clear it’s crunch time for a lot of campaigns as early voting is underway.
Dave Cavell, the one-time speechwriter in the Obama White House who advised Attorney General Maura Healey before leaving her office to run for Congress, saw his time running out.
Cavell suspended his campaign in the Fourth Congressional District, and endorsed Jesse Mermell. In doing so, Cavell not only talked up Mermell’s progressive credentials, but said he it was a strategic move to avoid further splintering the vote in what’s now an eight-person field in a way that could make it easier for Newton City Councilor Jake Auchincloss to win.
Auchincloss has become the crowded field’s favorite punching bag after the Boston Globe’s editorial board endorsed his campaign, despite some controversial comments he’s made in the past on social media.
For instance, his rivals view his free-speech comparison between the Confederate Flag and Black Lives Matter banners as disqualifying. He has since called those comments a mistake.
Cavell, however, was only the tip of the iceberg, because after he exited the race his former, and much better known, boss Healey also endorsed Mermell.
The attention on the campaign trail this week is what August is usually like in an even-numbered year, even though this is no usual year and the Legislature extended its session beyond the traditional July 31 recess date.
Legislative leaders suggested they would call lawmakers back into session this month if and when any of the conference committees negotiating policing, climate change, telehealth, economic development and transportation spending bills reached a deal.
So far, that hasn’t happened.
Also this past week:
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Vacationland voters should not be able to decide the fate of a transmission line needed to bring Canadian hydropower from Quebec to Massachusetts.
Rep. Shawn Dooley, a Norfolk Republican, used Facebook as a platform to rail against “King Charles” and what he sees as the governor’s trampling of the Constitution through executive orders aimed at controlling COVID-19, namely the conditions placed on travelers visiting from places like Rhode Island.
Supreme Judicial Court Justice Barbara Lenk decided to postpone her planned retirement from August to December when she actually bumps up against the mandatory retirement age of 70, giving Baker more time to seek out qualified, and diverse, applicants for his sixth nomination to the top court.
STORY OF THE WEEK: To Zoom or not to Zoom, that is the superintendent’s question.
SONG OF THE WEEK: No matter how students return this fall, they can always be true to their school
