Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures and Steps to Ensure Housing Stability To Support COVID-19 Response

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Extension of School and Non-Emergency Child Care Program Closures and Steps to Ensure Housing Stability To Support COVID-19 Response

All schools, child care programs will remain closed through May 4

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today announced new actions to support the ongoing COVID-19 response, including extending the closure of all public and private schools and non-emergency child care programs and steps to protect homeowners and low-income tenants from eviction and foreclosure. The Department of Public Health (DPH) also issued an order relative to pharmacies and grocery stores.

Schools and Non-Emergency Child Care Programs: Governor Charlie Baker issued an emergency order extending the closure of all public and private schools, and all non-emergency childcare programs, until May 4 in an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth.

• This order expands on previous orders issued on March 15 and March 18 suspending normal educational operations at schools and non-emergency child care programs until April 6, and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) established a process to approve Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs to serve vulnerable children and families of first responders and essential workers.

• This closure extends one week beyond scheduled spring vacation week on most school district calendars.

• The order does not apply to residential special education schools.

• This extension will allow school administrators and educators added planning time to ensure students can complete course requirements, as well as provide teachers with time to expand remote learning opportunities.

Read the Orders here: K-12 School Order | Early Education School Order

Remote Learning and Education: During this time, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting that educators continue to develop and assemble high-quality educational materials to provide students with effective remote learning resources through the month of April. The Department is also creating a model for districts to use and modify in collaboration with local stakeholders to fit their school district’s needs, and will continue to work with schools to identify best practices for implementing effective remote learning.  

Remote learning encompasses a wide variety of learning methods, including both analog and online. While technology is an excellent tool, districts should also consider ways students can continue to learn offline.

This could include exploring nature, activities to support students’ local communities (with appropriate social distancing) and engaging in hands-on projects and artistic creations that stem from students’ experiences.

Additionally, through a new partnership between DESE and WGBH, educational resources will be posted on the department’s website, and middle and high school students can access WGBH and WGBY educational programming on WGBH and WGBY on the WORLD channel from noon to 5 p.m.

Housing Stability for Vulnerable Populations: The Baker-Polito Administration announced steps to keep vulnerable families in their homes, preserve the health and safety of low-income renters and homeowners, and prevent homelessness due to reduced or lost income. These steps include the following:

• DHCD is moving to temporarily suspend terminations of federal and state rental vouchers under their purview.

• MassHousing is transferring $5 million to the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for a COVID-19 Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) fund to assist families facing rent insecurity.

• The Division of Banks (DOB) has issued new guidance to Massachusetts financial institutions and lenders urging them to provide relief for borrowers and will advocate for a 60-day stay on behalf of all homeowners facing imminent foreclosure on their homes.

• DHCD is issuing guidance recommending that all owners of state aided low-income housing, including Local Housing Authorities and private owners, suspend both pending non-essential evictions and the filing of any new non-essential evictions.

• Affordable housing operators are urged to suspend non-essential evictions for loss of income or employment circumstances resulting in a tenant’s inability to make rent.

• This guidance urges operators to establish reasonable payment plans, notify Section 8 or public housing residents about interim income recertification to adjust rent payments, and to consider offering relief funding for residents ineligible for income reassessment.

Read the DHCD Guidance Here:

Guidance to owners of state aided low-income housing

Guidance to affordable housing operators

Notices and guidance regarding federal and state rental assistance programs:

• Guidance for Administering MRVP
• Guidance for Administering ARVP
• Initial policies and procedures for federal rental assistance administered by DHCD

Read the DOB Guidance Here.

Pharmacies and Grocery Stores: Today, DPH issued a new order to support pharmacies and grocery stores and their employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This order will require grocery stores and pharmacies to:

• Provide at least one hour per day of shopping for adults over 60-years-old.

• Offer sanitation options, such as hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, as available, to clean shopping carts and points of frequent contact.

• Appropriate social distancing policies, including a marked “Social Distancing Line,” beginning six feet away from all checkout counters.

• Close any self-serve food stations.

• Instruct store employees who are ill to stay home, and for stores to accommodate employees who fall in the high-risk category with alternative assignments to limit exposure.

Read the Order Here.

The Administration will continue to update the public on further developments and individuals are encouraged to consult both the Department of Public Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites for the most up to date information.

The latest information and guidance regarding COVID-19 is always available at mass.gov/COVID19.

AG HEALEY CALLS ON AMAZON AND WHOLE FOODS TO IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE PAID LEAVE TO EMPLOYEES DURING COVID-19 EMERGENCY

AG HEALEY CALLS ON AMAZON AND WHOLE FOODS TO IMMEDIATELY IMPROVE PAID LEAVE TO EMPLOYEES DURING COVID-19 EMERGENCY

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today led a group of 15 attorneys general in calling on Amazon and Whole Foods to strengthen paid sick and family leave to their employees during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

In the letter, the attorneys general ask the companies to provide paid sick and family leave as smaller businesses are required to do under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Families First Act), which was enacted by Congress on March 19 to ensure paid leave for workers during this crisis.

“Amazon and Whole Foods need to provide their entire workforce with adequate paid leave so they can care for themselves and their families during this pandemic,” said AG Healey. “These companies must act quickly to minimize the risk of transmission in their stores and warehouses.”

            The attorneys general write that the recent offer from Whole Foods, and its owner Amazon to provide two weeks of paid leave to employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed in quarantine is far less than what the Families First Act requires.

Under the Families First Act, employers with fewer than 500 employees must provide two weeks of fully paid time off to full- and part-time workers to self-quarantine, seek preventative care, or receive treatment for COVID-19; two weeks paid time off at two-thirds their regular pay for full- and part-time workers to care for family members; and 12 weeks of job-protected leave, including 10 weeks of paid leave at no less than two-thirds of their usual rate of pay (capped at $200 per day) to take care of their children if their school or daycare closes.

                                                                                                    

In the letter, the attorneys general urge Amazon and Whole Foods to adopt the requirements in the Families First Act for smaller employers and additionally to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers who must stay at home to care for children due to school closures or for themselves and family members if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, , diagnosed with COVID-19 or quarantined. Finally, the attorneys general ask Amazon not to overlook their delivery drivers who are classified as independent contractors and to provide additional money to their Emergency Fund for those workers so that they also receive comparable benefits as their other employees. 

Grocery stores such as Whole Foods remain one of the few places where people are regularly congregating in close quarters, and the attorneys general write that it is especially important to ensure these stores do everything possible to minimize the risk of infection. Additionally, with consumers relying more than ever on online shopping, Amazon warehouses are a significant site for possible transmission of the virus both from worker to worker and to the general public. 

AG Healey’s Fair Labor Division is responsible for enforcing state laws regulating the payment of wages, including minimum wage, overtime and earned sick time laws. Call the AG’s Fair Labor hotline at 617-727-3465 for more information on the state’s earned sick time laws, or file a complaint online if you think your rights have been violated. Read the AG’s FAQs on employee rights and employer obligations during the COVID-19 emergency and visit the AG’s COVID-19 resource page for information about how the AG’s Office can help during this crisis. 

AG Healey led today’s effort and was joined by the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)宣佈波士頓防災基金募款額超標逾2000萬美元

波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)宣佈波士頓防災基金募款額超標逾2000萬美元

(以下為谷哥翻譯，以及英文原文)

市長沃爾什宣布波士頓防災基金的目標資金超過2000萬美元

基金將向八個為波士頓居民提供食物和醫療保健系統支持的組織提供540萬美元的緊急贈款

波士頓-2020年3月25日，星期三-市長馬丁·沃爾什（Martin J.Walsh）市長在回應持續發生的COVID-19大流行首次啟動不到10天后，宣布波士頓抗災力基金已超過其籌集2000萬美元的目標。該基金於上週一成立，旨在為急救人員，重症監護提供者和波士頓家庭提供基本服務，這些人的健康和福祉最直接受到COVID-19的影響。該基金將繼續接受希望捐款並提供支持的個人，組織和慈善夥伴的捐款，並將100％的捐款獎勵給當地組織。

為了滿足緊急需求，該基金今天將向八個為居民提供重要支持的地方組織立即提供540萬美元的即時贈款支持，包括獲得食物和支持為波士頓居民服務的醫療系統。

沃爾什市長說：“看到波士頓在這一危機時期團結起來的人民和組織的慷慨，我感到無比自豪。” “這些贈款將使我們社區中的本地組織能夠提供關鍵服務並擴大其業務規模，以滿足波士頓最脆弱居民的需求。”

波士頓防災基金為滿足居民最迫切的需求而設定的三個優先重點是：（1）確保波士頓的孩子，家庭和老人有食物，（2）支持急救人員，一線工人和醫護人員促進公共衛生，以及（3）向波士頓學生提供遠程學習技術。

如今，以下組織將獲得大量贈款，以擴大其能力，為波士頓的孩子，家庭和老人在家中或紐約市附近的接餐場所提供食物：

•大波士頓食品銀行：大波士頓食品銀行將擴大其能力，繼續向波士頓有需要的人們接收和分發健康食品。

•Ethos：Ethos通過其“隨餐用餐”計劃每天定期為居家和孤立的長者提供8,000多頓飯，並將在大流行期間提高其送貨上門的能力。

•關於新鮮/新鮮卡車：新鮮卡車將與Katsiroubas兄弟，基督教青年會和食物獲取辦公室合作交付新鮮農產品和食品。

•社區服務：社區服務為慢性病和重症患者及其家人提供醫學定制的，營養豐富的便餐，並將在大流行期間擴大向這些人群的食物提供。

•麵包計劃：麵包計劃的FoodSource熱線是全州範圍內希望獲取食物資源的人的資源，在大流行期間，呼叫數量增加了四倍。這筆贈款將支持增加撥打電話所需的人員，並指導波士頓居民獲得所需的服務。

以下組織將與波士頓公共衛生委員會合作，獲得重大撥款，以擴大醫療保健系統的能力，以服務那些特別脆弱和復雜需求的人們：

•波士頓無家可歸者醫療保健：BHCHP已迅速將重點轉移到包括新的篩查和測試計劃，創建隔離單位以及操作由波士頓市在薩福克建設公司的支持下創建的新醫療帳篷。

•波士頓醫療中心：BMC將利用該贈款為患者提供更多的護理，增加對醫療提供者和醫護人員的支持，並在他們在其他臨時設施中運營時維持安全，有效和高效的醫院運營。

•Pine Street Inn：Pine Street Inn每天為2,000名無家可歸的男女提供全面的服務。在這種大流行期間，Pine Street Inn的工作人員正在增加其設施的清潔工作，並與波士頓公共衛生委員會合作，為那些無家可歸的人提供隔離場所。

此外，得益於該基金的200萬美元贈款以及350萬美元的城市資源，波士頓公立學校上週得以為學生購買了20,000冊Chromebook，這些圖書現在按年級分配給全區的學生3-12歲在家中無法使用計算機的人。

自成立以來，該基金已從1,800多個捐助者那裡籌集了超過2000萬美元，其中Berkshire Partners，Michelle和Bob Atchinson，美國銀行，Bain Capital，Paul和Sandy Edgerly，John＆Cyndy Fish / Suffolk，Gross Family Foundation，John Hancock，Liberty Mutual，Partners HealthCare和Vertex基金會。

此外，得益於該基金的200萬美元贈款以及350萬美元的城市資源，波士頓公立學校上週得以為學生購買了20,000冊Chromebook，這些圖書現在按年級分配給全區的學生3-12歲在家中無法使用計算機的人。

自成立以來，該基金已從1,800多個捐助者那裡籌集了超過2000萬美元，其中Berkshire Partners，Michelle和Bob Atchinson，美國銀行，Bain Capital，Paul和Sandy Edgerly，John＆Cyndy Fish / Suffolk，Gross Family Foundation，John Hancock，Liberty Mutual，Partners HealthCare和Vertex基金會。

此外，還成立了一個指導委員會，為波士頓彈性基金提供直接的監督和資金建議。這個由三人組成的委員會包括小傑克·康納斯（Jack Connors），Partners HealthCare總裁兼首席執行官MD.Anne Klibanski，以及Vertex董事長，總裁兼首席執行官Jeffrey Leiden。古德溫·羅（Goodwin Law）是該基金會的無償法律顧問。

波士頓彈性基金籌劃指導委員會成員杰弗裡·萊頓博士說：“在這場危機中，全市人民需要立即的支持，以滿足他們的最基本需求。” “我們的目標是將公眾和我們的慈善團體的慷慨大方引導給能夠立即採取行動來滿足這些需求的組織。”

  

隨著冠狀病毒大流行的影響迅速發展並且可能持續很長時間，紐約市和指導委員會將與非營利合作夥伴和服務提供商緊密合作，以了解他們的需求將如何變化。結果，隨著波士頓居民需求的發展，該基金的優先次序可能會發生變化。未來的大部分贈款將在4月和5月提供，並且鼓勵組織完成一份意向書，以考慮將來的贈款。有關該基金的最新信息將發佈在boston.gov/resiliency-fund上。

波士頓彈性基金位於波士頓慈善信託基金內，該信託基金是由波士頓市財政部管理的現有501（c）（3）指定信託基金。有關如何進行捐贈的更多信息，請訪問：boston.gov/resiliency-fund。有關一般查詢，請發送電子郵件至brf@boston.gov。

要了解更多有關服務於波士頓非營利組織的其他基金的信息，請訪問馬薩諸塞州慈善基金會的資源頁面。此外，波士頓基金會的COVID-19應急基金和聯合之路的COVID-19家庭支持基金正在努力，將資源快速分配給受冠狀病毒爆發嚴重影響的大波士頓地區的組織和個人。

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND SURPASSES $20 MILLION GOAL

Fund will award $5.4 million in emergency grants to eight organizations that provide food access and healthcare system support for Boston residents

BOSTON - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - Less than 10 days after it was first launched in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that the  Boston Resiliency Fund has surpassed its goal of raising $20 million. The Fund was established last Monday as a means to provide essential services to first responders, critical care providers and Boston families whose health and well-being are most immediately impacted by COVID-19. The Fund will continue accepting donations from individuals, organizations and philanthropic partners who wish to contribute and offer their support, and 100 percent of donations will be awarded to local organizations.  To meet the emergency needs, the Fund today will distribute $5.4 million in immediate grant support to eight local organizations that provide critical support to residents, including access to food and support for healthcare systems that serve Boston residents.  "I am incredibly proud to see the generosity of the people and organizations of Boston who have come together during this time of crisis to support one another," said Mayor Walsh. "These grants will allow the local organizations in our community to provide critical services and scale up their operations to meet the needs of Boston's most vulnerable residents." The three initial priorities set for the Boston Resiliency Fund to meet the most immediate needs of residents are: (1) ensuring Boston's children, families and seniors have access to food, (2) supporting first responders, front-line workers, and healthcare workers to promote public health, and (3) provide technology to Boston students for remote learning. Today, the following organizations will receive major grants to expand their capacity to provide Boston's children, families and seniors with access to food at home or at pick-up meal sites around the City:  Greater Boston Food Bank: The Greater Boston Food Bank will expand its capacity to continue receiving and distributing healthy food to those in need in Boston.  Ethos: Ethos regularly delivers over 8,000 meals to homebound and isolated elders each day through its Meals on Wheels program, and will increase its capacity to do home delivery during the pandemic.  About Fresh / Fresh Truck: Fresh Truck will partner with Katsiroubas Brothers, YMCA and Office of Food Access on its delivery of fresh produce and groceries.   Community Servings: Community Servings provides medically tailored, nutritious, scratch-made meals to chronically and critically ill individuals and their families, and will expand their food delivery to these populations during the pandemic.   Project Bread: Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline is the statewide resource for people looking to access food resources and has seen a four fold increase in calls during the pandemic. This grant will support the increase in staff needed to field calls and direct Boston residents to the services they need.   The following organizations will receive major grants to expand capacity of healthcare systems to serve those who are particularly vulnerable and their complex needs, in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission:  Boston Health Care for the Homeless: BHCHP has rapidly shifted its focus to include  new screening and testing initiatives, creating isolation units, and operating the new medical tents that were created by the City of Boston with the support of Suffolk Construction.   Boston Medical Center: BMC will utilize this grant to provide expanded care for its patients, increase support for its medical providers and staff, and sustain safe, effective, and efficient hospital operations as they operate in additional temporary facilities.  Pine Street Inn: Pine Street Inn provides a comprehensive range of services to 2,000 men and women experiencing homelessness every day. During this pandemic, Pine Street Inn staff are increasing cleaning of their facilities and working with the Boston Public Health Commission to staff quarantine sites for people experiencing homelessness.  In addition, as a result of a $2 million grant from the Fund, along with $3.5 million in City resources, the Boston Public Schools was able to purchase 20,000 Chromebooks for students last week, which are now being distributed to students across the district in grades 3-12 who don't have access to a computer at home. Since its formation, the Fund has raised more than $20 million from over 1,800 donors, with commitments of $1 million or above from Berkshire Partners, Michelle and Bob Atchinson, Bank of America, Bain Capital, Paul and Sandy Edgerly, John & Cyndy Fish / Suffolk, Gross Family Foundation, John Hancock, Liberty Mutual, Partners HealthCare, and the Vertex Foundation.  In addition, a Steering Committee was established to provide direct oversight and funding recommendations for the Boston Resiliency Fund. The three-member committee includes Jack Connors, Jr., Anne Klibanski, MD, President and CEO of Partners HealthCare, and Jeffrey Leiden, MD, PhD, Chairman, President and CEO of Vertex. Goodwin Law serves as pro bono legal counsel to the Fund. "People across the city need immediate support to meet their most basic needs during this crisis," said Dr. Jeffrey Leiden, Boston Resiliency Fund Steering Committee member. "Our goal is to direct the generosity of the public and our philanthropic community as quickly as possible to the organizations positioned to take immediate action in meeting those needs."    As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are quickly evolving and potentially long-lasting, the City and the Steering Committee will work closely with non-profit partners and service providers to understand how their needs will change. As a result, the priorities of the fund may change as the needs of Boston residents evolve. The majority of future grants will be made in April and May and organizations are encouraged to complete a statement of interest to be considered for future grants. Updates on the Fund will be posted on boston.gov/resiliency-fund.  The Boston Resiliency Fund exists within the Boston Charitable Trust, an existing 501(c)(3) designated trust fund managed by the City of Boston's Treasury Department. For more information on how to make a donation, please visit: boston.gov/resiliency-fund. For general inquiries, please email brf@boston.gov.  To learn more about other funds serving Boston nonprofits, please visit Philanthropy Massachusetts' resource page. In addition, the COVID-19 Response Fund at The Boston Foundation and the COVID-19 Family Support Fund at the United Way are working to rapidly distribute resources to organizations and individuals in Greater Boston that are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus outbreak. ###

USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19

USDA Implements Immediate Measures to Help Rural Residents, Businesses and Communities Affected by COVID-19 
 WASHINGTON, March 25, 2020 – USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep our customers, partners, and stakeholders continuously updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America. 
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMMEDIATE RELIEF
 Rural Housing Service Single-Family Housing Effective March 19, borrowers with USDA single-family housing Direct and Guaranteed loans are subject to a moratorium on foreclosure and eviction for a period of 60 days. This action applies to the initiation of foreclosures and evictions and to the completion of foreclosures and evictions in process. 

Guaranteed Loan Program:  • Guaranteed Loan borrowers who are in default or facing imminent default due to a documented hardship can have payments reduced or suspended by their lender for a period not to exceed 12 months delinquency. Once the hardship is resolved, the lender can modify the loan to cure the delinquency or make up the missed payments based on the borrower’s individual circumstances.   • Guaranteed Loan servicing questions should be directed to: sfhgld.program@usda.gov.
 Direct Loan Program: • USDA has waived or relaxed certain parts of the application process for Single-Family Housing Direct Loans, including site assessments, and has extended the time period that certificates of eligibility are valid. • A Direct Loan borrower who is experiencing a reduction of income by more than 10 percent can request a Payment Assistance package to see if he/she is eligible for payment assistance or for more assistance than currently received. • Moratorium Assistance is available for Direct Loan borrowers experiencing medical bill expenses (not covered by insurance) or job loss because of COVID-19. Qualifying borrowers can receive a moratorium on house payments for a period of time, repaid at a later date. • Direct Loan questions should be directed to USDA’s Customer Service Center at 800-414-1226 (7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday-Friday) or https://www.rd.usda.gov/contact-us/loan-servicing. Call volume and wait times are high at this time.

Multi-Family Housing Multi-Family Housing is taking several steps to help owners, management agents and tenants maintain quality housing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, three immediate steps are effective for Section 515 MultiFamily properties: • Tenant certifications due March 31, April 30 and May 31 for Multi-Family properties have been extended to June 30 with no late fees or overage charges, as allowed in Multi-Family guidance (HB-33560, Chapter 4, Section 4.11). This extension will allow for additional time to complete needed




certifications while avoiding face-to-face meetings as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). • Late fees on Section 515 mortgages will be waived, subject to waiver authority in 7 CFR 3560.403 (c)(3). • Section 515 Annual Financial Statements due March 31 will be extended 30 days, as per Multi-Family guidance (HB-2-3560 Chapter 4, Section 4.16-H). USDA is exploring whether a longer extension is appropriate and will provide further guidance.   • Current policy states that owners must process an interim recertification at the tenant’s request if there is a change in income of $50 or more per month. The owner should already have this policy in writing and apply it consistently. To the maximum extent possible, we encourage all owners to work with all tenants with impacted income to adjust rent payments. • USDA encourages all owners to work with impacted residents and families to adjust rent payments, enter into forbearance agreements, and lessen the impact on affected residents. At this time, no additional subsidy funding has been made available. If borrowers are temporarily unable to make loan payments, the Agency may waive late fees and enter into an official workout plan. 

Rural Utilities Service • On March 20, 2020, USDA extended for 60 days the deadline for Telecommunications and Electric Program borrowers and grantees to submit their annual CPA audit.  In most cases, such audits are due to the agency by April 30, 2020. • USDA is waiving borrower covenant requirements for loan agreement financial ratios for the period from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020. Additionally, USDA is waiving all financial reporting requirements associated with existing Rural Utilities Service (RUS) loan and grant covenants beginning Jan. 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020. • The RUS Administrator has delegated authority to the RUS Telecommunications, Electric, and Water and Environmental Programs to consider requests to waive certain site inspection requirements during the current COVID-19 National Emergency. • Applicants will be able to use alternative methods to notify the public, such as through videoconferences, teleconferences and public notices on websites and in local newspapers, as a substitute for the public meeting notification requirement for water and waste projects. • On a case-by-case basis, USDA will help Electric Program borrowers gain access to obligated funds more quickly at current low interest rates by considering extensions of loan terms (within statutory limits); considering requests to move obligated funds between the Electric Program’s six budget purposes where the new purpose has cleared environmental review; and by considering Temporary Normal Inventory (TNI) requests. • For assistance, please contact:   Electric Program: Christopher McLean, Christopher.mclean@usda.gov, 202-407-2986  Telecommunications Program: Laurel Leverrier, laurel.leverrier@usda.gov, 202-495-9142  Water and Environmental Programs: Edna Primrose, edna.primrose@usda.gov, 202-494-5610 Rural Business-Cooperative Service • Beginning immediately, through July 31, 2020, USDA Business and Industry Loan Guarantees (B&I) and Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Guaranteed lenders may assist borrowers experiencing temporary cash flow issues by deferring payments for a period no longer than 120 days. The lender must




notify The Agency in writing of any payment deferments. Written notification to the Agency will meet the standard for concurrence until July 31, 2020. A response from the Agency is not required. This guidance applies to ALL borrowers that had a current repayment status as of March 1, 2020.     If the guaranteed loan has been sold on the secondary market, the secondary market holder and lender must agree to the deferment actions being taken. The Agency will expect a written agreement from both parties in these instances. 

• RBCS intermediary borrowers continue to have authority to service loan portfolios independent of USDA. Intermediary borrowers participating in these programs may approve loan payment deferrals may to their borrowers without USDA approval. These programs are:  Intermediary Relending Program (IRP)  Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG)  Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDL and REDG)  Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) 

• For existing Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) and Rural Economic Development Loan (REDL) borrowers, the Agency is committed to maintaining well-capitalized intermediary lenders and will work with you on loan servicing requests on a case-by-case basis to make sure you remain a pillar in our rural business communities. 


EXTENSION OF APPLICATION DEADLINES
 USDA is extending the application window for the following programs:
 Rural Business-Cooperative Service • USDA extended the application deadline for the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program to no later than April 15, 2020. Contact the Rural Development office for the deadline in your state. USDA announced the extension in an Unnumbered Letter posted March 19, 2020. • USDA extended the application deadline for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) to April 15, 2020. For additional information, see page 16925 of the March 25, 2020, Federal Register

波市府宣佈為小企業提供新資源 讓居民知道哪家餐館開門營業

            (波士頓-2020年3月25日，星期三)波士頓市長Martin J. Walsh今天宣佈，受COVID-19（冠狀病毒）影響的波士頓小企業有新資源可用。 波市府經濟發展辦公室設立的所有這些資源，可在boston.gov/small-business上找到，或者在boston.gov/coronavirus的本地資源“經濟發展回應”欄找到。

波士頓支援餐館

經濟發展辦公室為餐館另建了一個工具，可以公開分享餐館是否還在開門營業，有沒賣禮品卡，使用哪種送餐/外賣服務(如果有用)。該指南供居民查找其居住社區有哪些店鋪開門營業。

經濟發展辦公室鼓勵還在開門的餐廳上網登記。該指南在boston.gov/restaurant-support可查到。

在波士頓市長馬丁華殊(Marty Walsh)和波士頓牌照委員會（Boston Licensing Board）指示下，波士頓市暫時取消牌照規定，允許所有餐廳外賣/外送。 經濟發展辦公室還為提供外賣和送貨製作了指南，那也可用在雜貨店，藥房和其他商店上。經濟發展辦公室已製作表格，給同意擴大服務，送貨的雇主和僱員填寫。

小企業電話會議

下一次小型企業電話會議，將於3月31日（星期二）下午3點舉行。要加入發送通知名單，請發電郵至smallbiz@boston.gov。

小企業調查

波士頓的小企業團隊一直在個別鄰里工作，以確保提供了支援，也正在主動解決企業社區的顧慮。作為這項工作的一部分，經濟發展辦公室為小型企業開展了調查，以查明他們在這段時間內需要的幫助和服務。 經濟發展辦公室目前正在為第二次調查收集反饋，迄今已有逾千人回應。

第一次調查的結果已在boston.gov上。

除上述服務外，經濟發展辦公室還以6種語言發了一封信給小型企業社區，內含有關法規和安全協議的指南。小型企業團隊提供一對一的技術幫助，以幫助在線獲得服務。感興趣的企業可以通過smallbiz@gmail.com與他們聯繫。

(更新版)

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES CITY OF BOSTON RESOURCES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES New programs to help small businesses impacted by COVID-19 BOSTON - Wednesday, March 25, 2020 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced new resources available for small businesses in Boston impacted by COVID-19 (coronavirus). All resources have been created through the City's Office of Economic Development, and are available online on boston.gov/small-business or under the Local Resources "Economic Development Response" on boston.gov/coronavirus.  "Boston is a city that looks out for one another, and during this challenging time, we are doing everything we can to support the small businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities," said Mayor Walsh. "I encourage Boston residents to continue patronizing the businesses most impacted by this pandemic -- purchase a gift card, order take out, or support your local businesses in whatever way you are able to. Our Office of Economic Development is in our neighborhoods, talking with businesses and responding to their immediate needs, and we will keep working to support our small businesses here in Boston."  The Office of Economic Development (OED) has created the following resources for small businesses in Boston:  Highlighting Open Businesses in Boston The Office of Economic Development has created a tool for essential businesses to publicly share that they're open, share gift-card information, and which (if any) delivery/take-out services they use. This guide is available for residents to utilize, and explore what local businesses are open in their neighborhoods.  The Office of Economic Development encourages all essential businesses that are allowed to remain open during the statewide closure of businesses that are non-essential to the COVID-19 response, to register online if they are still open. The guide is available online on boston.gov/open-businesses.  Under the State of Massachusetts' new emergency order all businesses and organizations that do not provide "COVID-19 Essential Services" are required to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public as of Tuesday, March 24th at noon until Tuesday, April 7th at noon. These businesses are encouraged to continue operations remotely. Businesses with questions on what is deemed essential are encouraged to view the State's guidance on essential businesses.  If the function of a business is not listed in the State's directory, but a business believes that it is essential or it is an entity providing essential services or functions, businesses may request designation as an essential business. This is available through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and can be applied for online. Boston Restaurant Support  The Office of Economic Development has created another tool for restaurants to publicly share that they're open, share gift-card information, and which (if any) delivery/take-out services they use. This guide is available for residents to utilize, and explore what local businesses are open in their neighborhoods.  The Office of Economic Development encourages restaurants to register online if they are still open. The guide is available online on boston.gov/restaurant-support.  By direction of Mayor Walsh and the Boston Licensing Board, the City of Boston has lifted licensing regulations to allow takeout/delivery at all restaurants. OED has also created a guidebook for offering take-out and delivery that can also be used for groceries, pharmacies, and others. The Office of Economic Development has created a form for employers and employees to complete if they agree to expand their services to delivery. Small Business Conference Calls The next Small Business call will be held on Tuesday March 31st at 3pm as a resource for small businesses. Please email smallbiz@boston.gov to be added to the distribution list.  Small Business Survey Boston's Small Business Team has been working in individual neighborhoods to ensure support is given, and is working to proactively address concerns in the business community. As part of that work, the Office of Economic Development has launched surveys for small businesses to pinpoint the help and services they need during this time. OED is currently collecting responses for their second survey, and have had more than a thousands respondents so far.  The results of the first survey are already available on boston.gov.  In addition to the services above, OED has sent a letter to the small business community with guidance on regulations and safety protocols, in 6 languages. The Small Business Team offering one-on-one technical assistance to help get services online. Interested businesses can reach out through smallbiz@gmail.com.