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Yesterday, Governor Charlie Baker declared May to be Small Business Month.
A Proclamation WHEREAS, small businesses are the backbone and life blood of local economies in communities throughout the Commonwealth, and serve as job creators and place-makers in our downtowns, WHEREAS, shopping locally allows Massachusetts residents to invest in their own neighborhoods and grow the vibrancy of their communities, making the Commonwealth a great place to live, work, and play, WHEREAS, small businesses demonstrated resilience, flexibility, and courage in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impacts, and were a driving force in the economic recovery of this Commonwealth, WHEREAS, small businesses employ 1.5 million individuals, constituting nearly half of Massachusetts employees (45.7%), WHEREAS, small businesses reach communities that have not always benefited from the Commonwealth’s overall robust economic vitality, and serve an important role in access to economic opportunity, WHEREAS, small businesses and small business support organizations like Chambers of Commerce; small business associations; and Main Street and other nonprofit service organizations are key collaborators in advancing our agenda for equitable economic growth, WHEREAS, the contributions of our small business sector should be recognized and celebrated by our Commonwealth, NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charles D. Baker, Governor of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim May 2022, to be, SMALL BUSINESS MONTH And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance. Given at the Executive Chamber, this first day of May, in the year two thousand and twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America, two hundred and forty-fifth. God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Chamber will be receiving a check from the IRS for roughly $8,000. How much could your business get?
After hearing many of my colleagues talk about the refunds they and their member businesses were getting, I tuned in to a webinar by our payroll provider, ConnectPay. The webinar was about the Employee Retention Tax Credit, a program included in the CARES Act in 2020. Employers, including tax-exempt organizations, are eligible for the credit if in 2020 and 2021 they experienced either: the full or partial suspension of the operation of their trade or business during any calendar quarter because of governmental orders limiting commerce, travel or group meetings due to COVID-19, or a significant decline in gross receipts as compared to 2019. After reviewing our eligibility with ConnectPay, we determined that we were eligible for a refund of $8,000. And that is for a business with just 2 employees and we only qualified for one fiscal quarter. If you haven't looked into this program, you really need to. We will host a webinar with ConnectPay on Tuesday, April 19th at noon at which they will go over the details and take questions from members. You can register here and there is no cost to attend. Additionally, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development has announced the creation of a new employer grant program designed to facilitate hiring and training of new employees. The HireNow Program provides eligible employers flat rate awards in the amount of $4,000 for each eligible newly hired employee. To be eligible for the grant, new hires must be (1) brought on between March 23, 2022 and December 31, 2022, (2) retained for 60 days, (3) a Massachusetts resident working in Massachusetts, and (4) work at least 30 hours per week for a salary between minimum wage and $85,000 a year. These funds are being issued on a first come, first serve basis through December 31st or until funds are exhausted. To learn more please visit the Commonwealth Corporation’s HireNow webpage. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO The Chamber has been working with the Neponset Valley Transportation Management Association (TMA) and the Suburban Mobility Working Group on a Route 1 and 1A Corridor Mobility Study. The final report was recently completed by MAPC and can be viewed via the link above.
The projects goals were to:
As part of the study an analysis was conducted to determine which areas within the Neponset Valley Route 1/1A study area would be the best candidates for local public transportation improvements. Report Recommendations: The study proposes a near term recommendation of new and expanded microtransit services, as well as a long-term revitalization and redesign of Route 1. The Chamber recently participated in a virtual forum with the TMA, Suburban Mobility Working Group, MAPC and planners from the towns within the region to discuss the studies findings. The Working Group, which I co-chair along with Canton Town Planner Laura Smead, will continue to work with all of our stakeholders to move toward implementation of the studies recommendations. Please take a moment to review the recommendations (page 44), share with others who may be interested and let us know your feedback. Traffic is already returning as more people head back to work and making it safe and easy for people to commute locally will be paramount to attracting workers today and for years to come. Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO Mark your calendar for our Annual Meeting on January 27!
The meeting will run from 7:30 to 9:00 am at the Four Points Sheraton in Norwood and include a delicious breakfast. The meeting will feature guest speaker Mike Kennealy, the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Secretary has worked closely with Chambers across the state throughout the pandemic to coordinate relief efforts for local businesses. It was through his office that we were able to access $95,000 in grant funding to hold our “Regional Restaurant Week” and provide technical assistance to a number of small businesses in the region. In last month's Business Connection we wrote about some of that work and at the annual meeting we will share more information about our partnership with state government and Chamber members resulted in meaningful results for local businesses. We will also welcome our new board members and officers for 2022. To learn more or to register, please click here. Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO "The Dedham Women’s Exchange has certainly entered a new era. On-line shopping and a positive presence on social media are so important in this day and age! It is very exciting to hear the daily “analytics” reports from our on-line team and to see that we have actually had on-line sales!"
This is from an email I received from Robyn Garth, President of the Dedham Women's Exchange last month. The Dedham Exchange is an artisan gift shop offering unique gift ideas for every occasion. From handmade, one-of-a-kind children’s items to beautiful home décor. She was writing because the Exchange's new website recently went live with an online sales feature. The website was the work of Kerry Aglugub, KMA Web Design and Tricia White, T. White Creations. The Chamber was able to hire this dynamic duo thanks to funding received in a grant from the Mass. Office of Business Development. The Exchange was one of 6 small businesses to receive the web development and social media marketing technical assistance provided by the Chamber. These businesses were selected back in June after participating in a 3-part online marketing webinar series taught by Kerry and Tricia. The webinar series provided much needed training to dozens of small businesses who were struggling due to the pandemic, throughout the region. The Chamber is pleased to have been able to act as a conduit to providing direct assistance to businesses in need with the assistance of our partners. Check out the new websites of the 6 selected businesses. The Dedham Exchange Vico Ristorante Italiano Cheff'n & Eetinn Norwood Space Center Vera SkinCare Got Styles Hair Salon Tom O'Rourke, President and CEO (Last week chambers of of commerce around the country commemorated "Support Your Local Chamber Day". Here's a piece from the U.S. Chamber reminding us why your support is so important.)
Local Chambers of Commerce are our nation’s strongest small business advocates, providing a voice for thousands of communities across America. When businesses succeed, communities succeed, and local chambers are there every step of the way empowering businesses to grow and thrive even in the most challenging of circumstances. That’s why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is proud to celebrate “Support Your Local Chamber Day” on October 20th. Over the course of the last year, local chambers, with support from the U.S. Chamber, led the way in helping small businesses safely reopen and put them on a path to recover from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To celebrate and highlight their efforts, here are three ways you can support your local chamber: 1. Support Other Chamber Businesses Each local chamber of commerce website contains a directory making it easy to find businesses in your community. Supporting these businesses not only boosts the local economy but also fosters deeper community involvement. 2. Encourage Other Businesses to Join Consumers know that businesses that are chamber of commerce members can be trusted to care about their customers and their communities. Becoming a chamber of commerce member means your business is backed by the knowledge and experience that only the U.S. Chamber of Commerce network can bring with its over 100 years at the forefront of the business community. 3. Follow Your Chamber on Social Media If you haven’t already, follow your local chamber on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Let's Get (Re) Engaged The crisp autumn air has returned, the Red Sox are making a late playoff run (or is it a collapse?) and the Patriots are preparing to welcome back their old tight end and quarterback.
We know that the Delta variant is still causing pandemic concern, but isn't time to re-engage? It was great to see thousands of people out and about at Norwood Day recently. I know that Westwood Day and Dedham Day had similar success. I'm sure Sharon Day will be no different on Sunday. We are pleased to welcome back many of our members whom we haven't seen in many months. Our next two events will be held outdoors to ease the concerns of those not ready for indoor events. We hope that you will make the time to join us next Thursday at our Wine Tasting at Debevino in Walpole. Locally made wine, apps and some inspiration as well! Our next Noon Networking will take place at the outdoor courtyard at our world headquarters at the Norwood Space Center on October 12. Later in the month on October 23 we move indoors for a night of bowling, drinks, apps and networking at Splitsville Lanes at Patriot Place. Then we kickoff November with the fastest event of the year: ChamberTalks. You will hear 7 talks by 7 speakers on 7 different topics, all in 7 minute intervals. Enjoy the luxurious new seating at the Showcase Cinema at Legacy Place (with complimentary popcorn and water of course) to enjoy the presentations. Following the talks, we will head out to the main lobby by the bar for cocktails and hors d' ouevres and an opportunity to meet the speakers, ask questions and network with others. Sign up for any of these by clicking here. Let's re-engage! Tom O'Rourke President and CEO With the return of in-person meetings, we are excited to announce our second annual "ChamberTalks 7x7" event on September 23.
ChamberTalks is a fast-paced round of 7 talks by 7 speakers on 7 different topics. Loosely modeled on the popular TED Talks, the program will inform, inspire and educate you on a variety of subjects of local interest. Guests will be seated in the luxurious new seating at the Showcase Cinema at Legacy Place (with complimentary popcorn and water of course) to enjoy the presentations. Following the talks, we will head out to the main lobby by the bar for cocktails and hors d' ouevres. At this point you will have the opportunity meet the speakers, ask questions and network with others. As an added treat, we will have our own member, Dennis Blanchard from Eventful Magic, on hand to amaze and mystify you with feats of magic. Here are the topics our speakers will be sharing:
To learn more about the program and our presenters, click here. We look forward to seeing you there! Tom O'Rourke President and CEO We are including below a copy of Jon Hurst's op/ed piece which recently ran in The Boston Globe, because we believe it presents a well thought out argument on behalf of employers like you. Jon is the President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts (RAM).
Beacon Hill should follow other states and devote federal COVID-19 relief funds to bring down the debt from the cost of layoffs from the pandemic. By Jon B. Hurst, RAM President Massachusetts employers were recently handed their revised unemployment insurance tax bills for 2021. These lower bills are the result of new legislation that has been marketed as a fix for the unemployment insurance crisis. It authorizes the state to borrow $7 billion to shore up what would have been an insolvent unemployment insurance fund to pay back federal loans and interest on those loans. For many businesses, their revised tax bills dropped dramatically from what was first sent to them in April. The catch? Employers must pay it back. While the reduction in payments is welcome, employers have been handed an unprecedented tax increase for the $7 billion COVID-19 unemployment tab, which is now being amortized over 20 years rather than just two years. This is hardly a fair fix. What employers need from Beacon Hill is for government to step up with true shared responsibility by significantly reducing the overall unemployment insurance debt. The Legislature can do this by using a portion of the $5 billion in federal COVID relief funds under its control to make a fair down payment to mitigate the unprecedented tax increase for COVID layoff costs, which were triggered by public policy and government administration as a result of the pandemic. The current legislative “fix” to the unemployment insurance system is a tax on employers to amortize over 20 years the massive $7 billion in COVID claims paid out during the pandemic. Through state bonding, the $7 billion — plus interest — is being spread out, but current and future employers are still being asked to pick up the entire tab for the claims, fraud, and interest charges. The delayed tax increase on employers will most certainly suppress future wage and job growth in the Commonwealth by making it more expensive to run a business here. By mortgaging the entire debt, Beacon Hill has yet to do what more than half of the states have done — devote federal COVID relief funds to bring down the debt and relieve employers from significant portions of the cost of the layoffs from the pandemic. Furthermore, some states — such as Connecticut — have also recently reformed their unemployment insurance systems, including freezing benefit increases for multiple years to create economic balance in the future, but Massachusetts has yet to freeze benefits. In recent months, the majority of states have used either CARES Act federal funds or committed to using new American Recovery Plan Act dollars to shore up their unemployment insurance trust funds. Massachusetts has received $5.3 billion in Recovery Plan funds. A significant portion of those funds should be committed now to this crisis to bring down the future borrowing, interest charges, and unprecedented tax increases for employers. Unlike past recessions, the unemployment insurance claims from COVID were not the fault of employers. Small-business owners did not order the business closures or the workplace and commerce restriction; nor did they prompt school and daycare closures. Employers also didn’t trigger the extra emergency unemployment insurance benefits. And they certainly didn’t cause the unrecoverable, fraudulent unemployment insurance claims and overpayments. A study by the National Conference of State Legislatures pegged the COVID fraud claims and overpayments nationally at a whopping $63 billion. Using a common economic extrapolation of Massachusetts representing 2.5 percent of national figures (probably conservative in this instance, given the generous nature of the state’s unemployment insurance system), one could assume that the fraud and overpayments portion of the $7 billion COVID unemployment insurance costs could be at least $1.6 billion. Members of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts understand that legislators are hearing from countless organizations, special interests, and constituent groups seeking a portion of that once-in-a-lifetime kitty of $5.3 billion in federal COVID aid. Congress recognized its shared responsibility in the COVID crisis by appropriating those funds, with an express intended use of state unemployment insurance Trust Fund replenishment. Now Beacon Hill must acknowledge its role in the shutdowns, restrictions, fraud and overpayments, and act as effective stewards of those federal tax dollars by mitigating the $7 billion COVID-related tax increase. The very floor of discussion for the state’s fair share of the COVID unemployment insurance costs should be the $1.6 billion that can be reasonably attributed to fraud and overpayments. Beacon Hill should prioritize a fair level of public investment into these unemployment insurance COVID claims. Likewise, balanced policy reforms should be considered to close outlier eligibility loopholes — such as joining 49 states in having both a minimum number of weeks of work as well as minimum earnings in order to qualify for benefits — and to prevent future system abuse. In doing so, it would send the right message to small businesses that they are valued and not taken for granted. Thanks to all who ventured to dine at our local restaurants last month. The first-ever “Regional Restaurant Week” ran from June 7 through June 11 in the towns of Canton, Dedham, Norwood and Westwood. The initiative was made possible in part by a grant received from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD) 2021 Regional Pilot program, geared toward helping small businesses recover from COVID.
22 restaurants participated and offered prix-fixe meals to entice diners back to the restaurants. There was lots of action on social media throughout the week to promote the event. We had 5,000 interactions on Facebook (an increase of 2,900%) and 150,000 impressions (an increase of 1,150%). Our website traffic increased 225% leading into Restaurant Week with nearly 90% of the page views going to the Restaurant Week page. We have many people and groups to thank for making Restaurant Week happen. Our municipal partners in Canton, Dedham, Norwood and Westwood along with the Dedham Square Circle and the Friends of Norwood Center. Graphic design work by Amanda Deiratani, Deiratani Designs, web page development by Kerry Aglugub, KMA Web Design and social media promotion by Diana Bagas, LAUNCH Social Media. Tom O'Rourke President and CEO |
