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The Braintree Chamber of Commerce participated in the Rapid Recovery Plan for South Braintree Square during the summer and fall of 2021. The Braintree Rapid Recovery Team was made up of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, MAPC (Principal Planner, Ralph Willmer), the Braintree Planning and Zoning Departments (Planning Director, Melissa Santucci-Rozzi and Zoning Planner, Connor Murphy), Braintree Chamber of Commerce (Chair, Kim Kroha), and District 5 Town Councilor (Meredith Boericke).
Contributions to the program from MAPC and subject matter experts on each identified recovery goal was funded by a state grant. The Local Rapid Recovery Planning (RRP) program is a key part of a strategy established to help communities stabilize and grow the Massachusetts economy as a result of the economic impacts brought on by COVID-19. In support of the overall recovery strategy, the Baker Administration made $9.5 million in awards for 125 communities to create Local Rapid Recovery Plans, through the MA Downtown Initiative Program. These plans address the impacts of COVID-19 on local downtowns and small businesses by partnering with Plan Facilitators and Subject Matter Experts to pursue locally-driven, actionable strategies. Although the program did not include money for follow up work to implement the goals, there was some funding left over for a distinct project. The Braintree Chamber is excited to announce that MAPC is leading an effort by the team to create a Braintree Business Guide focused on steps for approval of new businesses in Braintree, which has been a goal of the Chamber for many years. Please review the full final report for additional information, but key goals identified and recommendations are listed below.
There is ongoing discussion about how some of these items can actually be implemented, please let us hear from you with any ideas, comments, or questions.
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Thank you to everyone who came out for our Fall Business Social last week! It was a beautiful night and venue with wonderful conversation and great service by Kay’s Cans & Bottles and Fasano's Catering. Special thanks to Town of Braintree Mayor Kokoros for sharing business updates with our members and guests and Patrick McDermott for Norfolk County Sheriff for hosting and information on the pavilion and events. If you didn't make it, we hope to see you at our next event. Courting life sciences, invigorating the squares: Kokoros shares vision for business in Braintree5/14/2021 The Braintree Chamber of Commerce welcomed Mayor Charles Kokoros to its annual address to the business community on May 4, 2021, by Zoom. The mayor discussed the budget, development plans, and master plan committee, and he took questions from members and guests via Chamber chair Kim Kroha. -- On Braintree’s pandemic recovery: Kokoros attributes the town’s low Covid-19 case numbers to vaccinations and encouraged residents to get their shots. He looks forward to Phase 4, Step 2, of the reopening plan, which allows for indoor singing, road races, and parades, including the much-awaited return of Braintree Day on June 26. “I’m really optimistic about where we go from here. People are ready to go out and do things and spend money.”
 The Braintree Chamber of Commerce is pleased to share good news for our community. Braintree business owners with five or fewer employees may be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in Covid-19 relief, thanks to a grant secured by the Town of Braintree.The Town was recently awarded a $320,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for small businesses with 1–5 employees, known as microenterprises, that are Low-Moderate Income (LMI) and have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Small businesses are always the first, and in many cases the only ones to donate to our local youth sports and many fundraisers in our community. They are always there for us, and during this time of need we must be there for them,” said Mayor Charles C. Kokoros in a statement. “The Braintree Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the Town of Braintree and Mayor’s Office for making this grant possible,” said Kim Kroha, Esq., Chair of the Braintree Chamber of Commerce. “Receiving up to $10,000 in forgivable funds will make a big difference for eligible Braintree’s small businesses that have been hit hard by operating restrictions, changed customer patterns and increased costs.” Here’s what you need to know about the grant ... What is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)? CDBG is a federally funded, competitive grant program designed to help small cities and towns meet a broad range of community development needs. This program assists municipalities in preparing for, responding to or preventing Covid-19 ramifications. The grant funds were made available through the federal CARES Act of 2020. The maximum total grant award to any small business is $10,000. How can CDBG funds be used? Grant funds may be used for:
The grant pre-application and qualification criteria are available online at braintreema.gov/1141/Community-Development-Block-Grant The Town will award and disburse grants based upon eligibility criteria on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are exhausted. If you meet the eligibility criteria, a representative from the Town will contact you via e-mail to complete a full application and submit the necessary back-up documentation. Cusack, Collins Discuss Economy, Covid-19, Schools, Housing, Race at Braintree Chamber Forum10/22/2020 The Braintree Chamber of Commerce hosted a forum for the candidates for 5th Norfolk District on October 15. State Rep. Mark Cusack (D) and challenger Frank Collins (R) are vying to represent Braintree and portions of Holbrook and Randolph in the state’s legislature. Braintree Chamber Chair Kim Kroha queried the candidates on their views regarding economic recovery, revenue sources, reopening public schools, housing and racial equality. Here is the recap from the Braintree Patch: Cusack, Collins Talk Coronavirus, Schools In State Rep. Debate Sign up to receive Braintree Chamber news at braintreechamber.com. You can also follow us on Facebook.  Extended outdoor dining and other COVID-19 recovery matters were on the agenda for the Braintree Chamber of Commerce business update meeting held September 14. As a liaison between business leaders and government, the Chamber is hosting these business meetings for its members as well as the general public. Chamber Chair Kim Kroha led the Q&A with Mayor Charles Kokoros, State Rep. Mark Cusack, Margaret Laforest of the Mass. Office of Business Development, and South Shore Chamber head Peter Forman. Here’s the recap: Outdoor dining to continue through cool weatherBraintree restaurants are free to offer expanded outdoor dining through the fall and winter (for 60 days after the end of the state of emergency), according to a recent announcement by Gov. Charlie Baker.
“We’re seeing a lot of resiliency and people determined to make it through. A lot of businesses have adjusted by lowering expenses,” said Peter Forman, president and CEO of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. “But we’re concerned about lingering unemployment and what early next year is going to look like.” The mayor said Braintree restaurants continue to struggle and are worried about surviving through the winter without additional state or federal aid. “The landlords can only wait so long before people have to move out and close their business,” the mayor said. The mayor conveyed his support for local restaurants and is committed to working with the those and other Braintree businesses in any way possible. Braintree recovery: Mayor Kokoros’ COVID-19 story; more money available for small businesses7/2/2020  The Braintree Chamber of Commerce hosted its fifth COVID-19 recovery meeting with local officials via a video conference on June 29. In addition to town and state updates, participants heard about grants available for workforce training, worksite safety improvement, and economic relief. Led by Braintree Chamber chair Kim Kroha, these recovery meetings are open to anyone in Braintree’s business community as well as Chamber members. Here’s the recap: Mayor Kokoros shares experience with COVID-19, urges mask-wearingMayor Charles Kokoros reported he is back in good health after suffering from COVID-19 earlier this month. He said the illness is “an absolutely terrible thing to go through” and the experience reaffirmed his confidence in Braintree’s early and strict interventions to contain the spread.
The mayor said he contracted the virus through a family member and was likely contagious at work for a few days before developing symptoms. However, none of his colleagues tested positive, which he attributes to his diligent mask-wearing. “The masks make a difference. It’s the only way we’re going to stop spreading this virus,” he said. UPDATED July 1, 2020 Here’s your one-stop list of restaurants opening up for outdoor and indoor dining, along with curbside pickup, takeout and delivery. Bookmark this page and check back for updates! Look for these emojis, ☀️ and 🌧️, to see who is offering outdoor and indoor dining. Braintree restaurants reopen for indoor and outdoor dining It's time to eat out again in Braintree! Restaurants must adhere to Massachusetts safety standards and Braintree’s phase 2 reopening requirements. The hours of operation listed below can change at any time and only reflect the latest available information. Email your updates to towncouncil@braintreema.gov and braintreechamber@gmail.com. To support recovery the Braintree Chamber of Commerce is pleased to include non-members as well as Chamber members on this page.   In the Braintree Chamber of Commerce’s fourth COVID-19 update, local business leaders learned about recent improvements to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as phase 2 reopenings facilitated by the mayor’s office. The June 8 video conference was led by Chamber Chair Kim Kroha of Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. Here’s the recap: PPP loan program updatesOn June 5, the president signed into law the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act, which addresses problems with the original PPP loans for small business owners.
Representatives from the Massachusetts District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Bob Nelson and Susan Lourie, led a discussion of the PPP Flexibility Act and other PPP loan information. Margaret Laforest from the Massachusetts Economic Development Office provided additional information on PPP and reopening. Applications: Assistance funds are still available, and new PPP applications must be approved by June 30. SBA has guidance for calculating maximum loan amounts.
Repayment: The PPP Flexibility Act answered many questions of small businesses related to repayment requirements.
Employment issues: Businesses will not be penalized if former employees decline offers to come back to work, or if businesses are unable to find qualified employees.
For more information, or if you have questions: Contact your local SBA partners for free consultations, and sign up for SBA email notifications on PPP and other programs.  Slowly and cautiously, Braintree is reopening for business with guidance from the state and town. In the Braintree Chamber of Commerce’s third COVID-19 update, business owners learned about the governor’s reopening plan and when businesses can reopen. The meeting was held by video conference on May 21 and led by Chamber Chair Kim Kroha of Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. Here’s what you need to know: Four phases for reopeningState Senator John Keenan and Margaret LaForest of the Mass. Office of Business Development previewed the reopening plan’s four phases. Advancing to the next phase will require a positive trend in public health metrics. All businesses and service providers must comply with mandatory safety standards for adequate social distancing, hygiene protocols and cleaning. In addition, specific sectors should follow recommended best practices. Sectors eligible to reopen in phase 1 are construction, manufacturing, office spaces, laboratories, hair salons and barbershops, car washes and pet grooming. Businesses can use this Covid-19 control plan template to self-certify their compliance with the safety guidelines and display this compliance attestation poster to the public. There will be no drop-in inspections, but employers and employees can report unsafe work conditions, which will trigger an inspection. Under the “Safer at Home” advisory, people at high risk should continue to stay home except for essential errands. Public health officials anticipate another surge of COVID-19 cases that will coincide with the annual flu season. “The fall will be very challenging,” said Sen. Keenan. Facial coverings are required |
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