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Roots Natural Foods Launches Online Market
Sitting home, rained in and looking for some amazing groceries to be delivered to your door this week? Roots has you covered!
As the state ramps up safety measures for grocery store workers, Roots urges everyone to choose curbside and delivery when possible.
Delivery or Curbside options are available with online shopping, however, Roots is accepting your orders via email for curbside pick up as well.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE
- All orders are next day (Tues-Sat)
- Roots has been very lucky to work with local, regional and national distributions. Their order team will call you with alternate products if some of your items are not in stock.
- If you don’t see something you want or like.. please inform the team
SHOP NOW
WACHUSETT BREWING COMPANY LAUNCHES GLORY AMERICAN IPA TO SUPPORT LOCAL UNITED WAY CHARITIES
New beer will support United Way COVID-19 Funds across Central Massachusetts communities
“During these difficult days, we are humbled to partner with Wachusett Brewing and United Way to offer some assistance to our local communities”, said Jamie Salois, of Atlas Distributing. “We are so grateful to both Wachusett and United Way for their continued work in the community we serve every day.”
“We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Atlas Distributing and United Way” said Christian McMahan, President of Wachusett Brewing Company. “We work in these communities, our employees and their families live in these communities, and we want to do everything we can to help support these communities when they need it the most. These are crazy times, if we can find a way to do some good through of all of this, that’s exactly what we will do”
“We could not be more grateful”, says Tim Garvin, President & CEO of United Way of Central Massachusetts. “Atlas and Wachusett both have a long history of philanthropy in Central Massachusetts and to do something like this during this crisis is incredible.”
“We are proud to partner with Wachusett Brewing Company on this important initiative to support our community during this unprecedented time” added Kory Eng, President of United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
Glory American IPA is an approachable and modern expression of the IPA style that is double dry-hopped with Galaxy, Citra and Azacca hops. It will be released in 6pks the week of April 13th.
For more information about Wachusett Brewing Company, visit www.wachusettbrew.com
For more information about Atlas Distributing, visit www.atlasdistributing.com
About Wachusett Brewing Company
Celebrating 25 years in 2019, WBC produces a diverse, award-winning line of beers ranging from their best-selling Blueberry Ale to their highly-rated Wally New England IPA series. WBC was named of the top 50 largest craft breweries in the US in 2019.
About Atlas Distributing
Atlas Distributing, Inc. is a family owned and operated, full-service beer and beverage distribution company servicing licensed and non-licensed customers throughout the central Massachusetts market. Atlas has proudly served customers, consumers, and the community since 1933. The Atlas Team is proud, honored, and humbled to be serving this community for over 86 years!
Launch of FRA Grant for Fitchburg’s Small Business Community
In view of the current state of the local economy due to the coronavirus, the FRA has developed the Emergency Economic Resiliency 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 new website and Facebook page starting Monday, April 13, 2020 and review will continue until the funding runs out.
NEW FILING GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS – PFML UPDATE
Since the summer of 2019, the Department of Family and Medical Leave (DFML) and the Division of Insurance (DOI) have engaged the public by holding a series of PMFL private plan standards listening and drafting sessions.
On April 3, 2020, the DOI released Filing Guidance 2020 – A: Paid Family and Medical Leave. Previously, insurance carriers issued an Insurance Declaration Document (IDD) to employers as proof of satisfying PFML insurance requirements. Coverage through private insurance is required to commence no later than January 1, 2021 (for medical leave insurance) and July 1, 2021 (for family leave insurance). Employers that qualify for an exemption are exempt from remitting contributions to the Family and Employment Security Trust Fund.
This new Filing Guidance includes a Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Policy Template, which outlines the standard provisions that PFML private insurance policies must contain in order to meet the exemption requirements of M.G.L. c. 175M, § 11. The guidance documents are the result of a collaboration between the DOI, the DFML, and life and accident insurance stakeholders to ensure consistency in PFML insurance products offered in the Massachusetts employer marketplace.
Private Plan Updated Guidance:
- Insurance carriers will submit their policy forms to the DOI for review on or before June 3, 2020.
- After the DOI reviews the policy forms using a PFML Policy Forms Checklist, insurance carriers will issue policies to their employer policyholders.
- Previously approved exemption applicants will be required to verify the use of an approved policy during their renewal period. The DFML will request policy form numbers from employers at the time of exemption renewal and will update its website to describe these procedures at a later date.
- Employers that have secured PFML private insurance coverage but have not filed an application for an exemption must complete a Request for Exemption using the Department of Revenue’s web-based filing system, MassTaxConnect. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and specific deadlines and timelines are explained further on our website.
- For employers filing for a new exemption who have not yet received a policy form number from an insurance carrier, please submit an IDD signed by both a representative of the employer and a representative of the insurance carrier confirming sufficient PFML private plan insurance coverage.
- For those employers filing for a new exemption that were issued a policy form number from its insurance carrier prior to filing the Request for Exemption, please submit an IDD with the policy form number listed on the document or provide the policy form number when submitting the exemption application on MassTaxConnect.
- The DOI does not regulate self-insured employers. Self-insured employers should not make submissions to the DOI. However, employers seeking a self-insured exemption may use the standards listed in the PFML Policy Template to ensure that their self-administered PFML private plans comply with the PFML statute and regulations.
For more information please contact Public Affairs Manager, Christopher McDermott, at or VISIT HERE.
Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse Launches Essentials Delivery Service
Comeketo Brazilian Steakhouse of Leominster has launched Comeketo Essentials Online Pop Market – delivering essential products straight to your door. Be their first 10 shoppers & get a $10 gift card for a dine in experience when they reopen to the public! SHOP NOW
UNITIL DONATES $225,000 TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS IN NEED
Donations part of multi-tiered approach to provide customers with financial assistance
Unitil has created the Unitil Customer Assistance & Recovery Effort (U-CARE) Fund and has donated $150,000 directly to Community Action Programs (CAPs) working locally in Unitil’s service territories to provide direct utility assistance to residential customers impacted by COVID-19 related job loss or reduced wages. The remaining $75,000 will be donated to COVID-19 based programs at agencies, such as the United Way, to combat food insecurity, homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse, while also supporting first responders where we can.
“As an organization, we care deeply about the well-being of our customers,” Unitil CEO and President Tom Meissner said. “The creation of this fund is part of a comprehensive plan designed to give families and businesses as much support as possible as the economic impact of the fight against this virus comes into focus.”
On top of the donations, Unitil has made the following commitments to its customers:
- Unitil customers will not have to worry about losing service while staying safe and caring for loved ones during this crisis. Until further notice, all shutoff and collection activities have been suspended.
- Unitil recognizes flexibility and understanding is required as we work together to protect both the local businesses that drive our economy and our loved ones most at risk from this disease. All late payment or non-payment fees are currently being waived.
- Unitil’s customer service team will work with you to set up a personalized payment plan designed to spread costs out over time.
- Unitil is working closely with federal and local assistance agencies. Our customer service team can discuss a wide array of assistance programs, including those available through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which may be able to help.
Unitil urges all customers with financial challenges to reach out to their local CAP Agency or our own representatives at 1-888-301-7700 so we can provide assistance to get families through this ongoing crisis.
About Unitil Corporation
Unitil Corporation provides energy for life by safely and reliably delivering natural gas and electricity in New England. We are committed to the communities we serve and to developing people, business practices and technologies that lead to dependable, more efficient energy. Unitil Corporation is a public utility holding company with operations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Together, Unitil’s operating utilities serve approximately 106,000 electric customers and 83,600 natural gas customers. For more information about our people, technologies and community involvement please visit unitil.com.
An Updated Message From the Chamber President
Dear Member,
I wanted to provide you with another update on the Chamber’s efforts to support local businesses and our communities during the Coronavirus crisis. We understand the tremendous impact that this health crisis is having on our members and communities and have focused all of our efforts and resources on helping you navigate this unprecedented challenge. At the same time, we are looking ahead and preparing post-crisis recovery efforts to help you recover quickly and get back to business once this has passed, and it will pass!
CARES Act: Last week Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020 (CARES). Among its many provisions, the CARES Act will include $377B in loans and loan forgiveness for small businesses. The Act also includes tax relief measures and various grant programs for impacted industries. Click here for a summary of those aspects of the legislation most relevant to our region. More information will be made available in the days and weeks to come as the federal government works out the details. We encourage you to check our website for updates and for upcoming webinars on the CARES Act;
Emergency Loans: Unfortunately, we have seen very strong interest in our Emergency Loan Program. Our team has been working hard to keep up with the requests and move them through the process quickly. To assist businesses, we have reduced our interest rate and have eliminated the closing fee on these emergency loans. We are also structuring the loans with favorable terms. If you need a small loan to get you through this period until stimulus money kicks in, then please contact Sandie Cataldo at or Brendan Hannen . We are in the process of recapitalizing our fund to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of local businesses. Also, for those of you that may require a larger loan, the SBA Disaster Loan Program can now provide up to $10 million dollars;
Video Message: If you have not seen it, then I would encourage you to view a special video we premiered on March 22 on the Chamber’s Facebook page. You can click here to view it. This short video with its message of hope, community and resiliency was developed by our team in an effort to inspire people and raise spirts. The video has already been shared over 330 times and has had over 37,000 views and growing on Facebook! That doesn’t include the video views on our other social media platforms (YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn) and the Chamber website. Special thanks to member and motivational speaker Maria Milagros for narrating the video;
Chamber Office: The Chamber is deemed an essential business under the guidelines announced by Governor Baker last week. However, as a safety precaution, we have closed the office temporarily and will limit access to the public. We will be available by appointment at the office to provide services that need to be made in person, such as certificates of export for our manufacturers and insurance related matters. We will also be performing loan closings at the office related to our Emergency Loan Program. Except for these instances, staff will work remotely per the protocols that we have in place. Please contact us if you need to schedule an appointment;
Equipment Donations: All four of our hospital systems – Health Alliance, Heywood, Nashoba Medical and Emerson – reached out to us and requested help securing additional personal protective equipment (PPE). We have been proactive in our outreach to businesses to secure donations and we have also reached out to most of the region’s manufacturers to inquire if they can modify their production to assist with producing these products. We have received a tremendous response. Thank you to all of you that reached out. It has been very inspiring to see our members rally together to offer any help they could during this time of crisis. Please contact us for more information on how to donate items or if your company is interested in producing PPE items. The state also just established an online portal for PPE donations and procurement that can be found here;
Webinars: We have already conducted several webinars to help businesses, with several more in the works. The webinars were recorded and are available on our website to view. We also have a webinar this week that will review the CARES Act and another scheduled for next week on applying for the new Payroll Protection Program and other grants/loans through the SBA. I encourage you to check out our website and social media for updates;
Coronavirus Information & Resources: Our Coronavirus Information Page is continuously updated with the latest guidance from local, state and federal authorities. We are committed to keeping our members and the public informed and will continue posting throughout this crisis on our various social media platforms as information becomes available. If you have not done so yet, please follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram;
Jobs Board: We have been updating our WorkNorthCentral.com online jobs board to help recently displaced workers find new jobs opportunities, as well as help those employers that need immediate help because their needs have changed due to the crisis;
Advocacy & Support: We have been in regular communication with our local, state and federal officials to help with efforts and stay updated on the government’s response. We also continue to collect survey responses from businesses on the impact to their operations. This input from members will be helpful as we communicate with policy leaders, and will help set the stage for recovery efforts;
Finally, I want to extend my thanks to all of those members and their dedicated employees, across all sectors, who are in many cases risking their own safety to respond to this national and global pandemic. These include our health care institutions on the front line, our manufacturers who are playing an important role in the supply chain, our markets and farms who are working to keep people fed, and many more. Stay strong. We will get through this, together.
Roy Nascimento, IOM, CCE
President & CEO
Town of Clinton announces Small Business Resiliency Program as part of COVID-19 Emergency Response
At a special meeting on Thursday, March 26, the Clinton Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to make $150,000 available from the town’s Community Development Fund to create a Small Business Resiliency Program to assist Clinton’s small businesses absorb financial impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 State of Emergency.
Loans of up to $5,000 are available, subject to the availability of funds. Requests for larger amounts may be considered on a case- by-case basis.
“Small businesses, which are historically sensitive to interruptions of cash flow, have been meaningfully affected by the ongoing State of Emergency,” said Clinton Community and Economic Development Director Philip Duffy. “The intent of this program is to get this money out quickly. It’s likely that larger assistance from the federal government will be arriving at some point. In the meantime, we want to address the needs of some of our businesses that are under stress right now, to make sure they’re still here when this is all over.”
Businesses located in Clinton, as evidenced by a commercial lease or mortgage, or Clinton businesses that, in addition to the owner, withhold payroll taxes for at least one employee are eligible.
Small Business Resiliency assistance targets financial impacts of COVID-19 from March 10 to April 30, 2020, including:
- Difficulty in meeting monthly fixed costs as a result of COVID-19
- Loss of business, as demonstrated by either:
- a greater than 50-percent reduction in gross receipts, or
- a greater than 50-percent reduction in full- or part-time staffing
- Certain increased expenses that result from COVID-19
If approved, eligible Clinton businesses can use this funding for such things as:
- Employee payroll and benefits
- Rent and other fixed costs
- Loss of inventory
- Unusual expense related to COVID-19 response
For a loan application and more information, including criteria for consideration and loan terms, GO HERE.
Questions about the program should be directed to:
Phillip Duffy
Director, Community and Economic Development Office
242 Church Street Clinton, MA 01510
978-365-4113
ROLLSTONE BANK & TRUST DONATES $19,000 ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS TO AID IN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
The money will be earmarked for meeting critical needs of some of the most vulnerable members of the community, including children and the elderly.
“This is a time when we all must pull together, and we at Rollstone are determined to do our part,” said Martin F. Connors Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust, “We are an integral part of the community and we are compelled to support those who need it most.”
Connors reached out to leaders from across the region to identify gaps in critical services and found that the need varies from town to town. Funds for the City of Leominster will help provide internet access to students so they can continue learning remotely, while the Fitchburg Public Schools will use their grant to provide meals to students and families. Additional funding will also be provided to Montachusett Opportunity Council (MOC), Loaves & Fishes, Townsend Ecumenical Outreach (TEO), and the Gardner Community Action Committee (CAC) for food as well as personal care and other essential items. Connors said he hopes Rollstone’s donations will help improve the lives of many people across the area.
The Rollstone Charitable Foundation is also accepting donations from other individuals and organizations that wish to support the community effort. Donations can be sent to Rollstone Charitable Foundation, 24 Monument Square, Leominster, MA 01453. Checks should have “COVID-19 Relief Fund” in the memo line of the check.
“I encourage anyone who can to donate to this effort,” Connors said.
About Rollstone Bank & Trust
At Rollstone Bank & Trust, we deliver personalized service that goes above & beyond. Our dedication to providing our customers with superior bank and wealth management solutions, along with the support they need to prosper at work and at home, has enabled us to build one of the most trusted banks in the region. With branches located throughout central Massachusetts, customers have peace of mind knowing we are FDIC & DIF insured, and never far from home. Rollstone Bank & Trust – it’s where you matter most.