State Resources
MA Office of Housing and Economic Development
· COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for Businesses (This is the Baker administration’s main landing page for business support during the COVID-19 emergency)
· If the function of your business is not listed, but you believe that it is essential, you may request designation as an essential business here.
MA Department of Revenue (DOR)
· Sales and Use Taxes: Due dates for the filing of returns and making payments for sales and use taxes have been changed for some vendors. Review the details of the emergency regulation amendment.
· Room Occupancy Excise for operators: Due dates for the filing of returns, and making payments, for room occupancy excise have been changed for some operators. This does not apply to intermediaries. Review the details of the emergency regulation amendment.
· Meals Tax and Room Occupancy Excise: Late File and Late Pay Penalties will be waived for meals vendors, operators, and intermediaries that do not qualify for the relief mentioned above under “Room Occupancy Excise for operators.” See Technical Information Release 20-2 for details.
· State tax filing deadline: The State tax filing deadline will be extended to July 15th.
MA Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC)
· The MGCC authorized a $10 million fund to provide emergency capital of up to $75,000 for businesses and non-profits with under 50 full-time and part-time employees. Loans are immediately available and no payments will be due for the first six months.
· The first $10 million authorization was depleted during the first week of availability, but the MGCC is expected to recapitalize the fund with an additional $10 million.
MA Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
· The fastest way to file a claim is to apply for unemployment benefits online. If you need help filing your unemployment claim, please use this form to contact DUA.
· The Legislature is discussing additional steps to expand access to unemployment benefits (the one-week waiting period for benefits has already been waived).
· DUA is holding Virtual Town Halls to walk people through filing unemployment claims.
Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey
Federal Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program
· Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred. Any interested business needs to apply directly to the SBA.
· The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 18, 2020.
U.S. Department of Labor Dislocated Worker Grants
· $100 million in Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs) available to help address the workforce-related impacts related to COVID-19.
· DWGs will provide eligible participants with both disaster-relief employment and employment and training activities. These participants can include dislocated workers, workers who were laid-off as a result of the disaster, self-employed individuals who are unemployed or underemployed as a result of the disaster, and long-term unemployed individuals.
· The full advisory is here.