COVID-19 Work and Resources

COVID-19: Resources and MAPC’s Response

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MAPC >> Resources >> Public Health >> COVID-19: Resources and MAPC’s Response

MAPC is committed to helping local officials and other allies and stakeholders address their needs, and we are encouraging a statewide, coordinated response to this virus. MAPC stands ready to assist your community and the region during this time. This is a challenging, unprecedented situation for all of us, but we can make it easier by supporting each other, sharing resources, and continuing to collaborate.

For the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 in Massachusetts, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's COVID-19 Resources page.

MAPC is sharing new resources, news, and important information on social distancing on social media. Follow and share on our Twitter and Facebook.

State Resources

#GetBackMass

Information on mask-wearing, social distancing, and testing; resources; and downloadable and shareable communications materials.

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Get Tested MA

Information on how and why to get tested, test site locations, what to do after a positive test, descriptions of different types of testing, and more resources.

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COVID-19 Work Overview

Reopening & Recovery

We're giving input to the Governor's Reopening Task Force, helping cities and towns support their small businesses and respond to unemployment, and supporting shared streets initiatives.

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Municipal Collaboration

MAPC is providing resources to and facilitating conversations among municipal leaders from throughout the state and connecting them to the administration.

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Funding

MAPC and MassDevelopment are providing funding to partner with taxi and livery services to meet the needs of vulnerable populations.
We distributed almost $800,000 of urgent financial aid to local health departments.

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Research & Publications

Research: The COVID-19 Layoff Housing Gap
Building a New Future Together: Recommendations for supporting small businesses
Community & Regional Rapid Response Plan: Significant Labor Disruptions and Unemployment
Virtual engagement guide

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Supporting Healthcare Providers

MAPC is supporting hospitals, community health centers, nursing homes, EMS, and public health departments through its work as the sponsoring organization for the Region 3 HMCC. We're also helping to establish, staff, and equip isolation and recovery centers.

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Information and Resources

Webinars on a variety of COVID response topics
Legislative updates
Resources for small businesses and unemployed individuals
Virtual engagement resources
Resources for artists, freelancers, and gig workers
Gathering helpful external resources

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Reopening and Recovery

LATEST REOPENING NEWS:

Updated Metrics for Schools and Municipalities

On Friday, November 6, the Baker-Polito Administration and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released updated metrics for schools and municipalities.

The administration announced that the color-coded designation for community COVID-19 risk would be updated to account for a community's population size: instead of total cases, metrics will now be based on cases per 100,000 residents and test positivity rate.

	Population
	Under 10,000	10,000 to 50,000	Over 50,000
Grey	10 total cases or less	10 total cases or less	15 total cases or less
Green	15 total cases or less	Less than 10 cases per 100,000 residents AND Greater than 10 total cases	Less than 10 cases per 100,000 residents AND Greater than 15 total cases
Yellow	25 total cases or less	10 or more cases per 100,000 residents OR Positive test rate of 5% or more	10 or more cases per 100,000 residents OR Positive test rate of 4% or more
Red	Over 25 total cases	10 or more cases per 100,000 residents AND Positive test rate of 5% or more	10 or more cases per 100,000 residents AND Positive test rate of 4% or more

Alongside these new designations, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) issued updated guidance to prioritize in-person learning statewide and support municipalities.

Under this guidance, districts and schools in communities designated gray, green or yellow are expected to have students learning fully in-person when possible. Red communities should implement hybrid models while maximizing in-person learning for high-needs students. Fully remote instruction should be implemented only as a last resort.

Click Here to Learn More

November 6: Early Business Closure, Revised Gatherings Order, Mask Orders to Curb Rise of COVID-19 Cases

On Monday, November 2, Governor Baker announced new measures to slow the growth of COVID-19, which will go into effect on Friday, November 6.

New statewide orders and advisories include:

Stay at Home Advisory between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The Advisory allows for activities like going to work, running critical errands, and taking walks. Click here for the revised advisory.
Business Closures at 9:30 p.m.: Certain businesses, including in-person dining at restaurants, liquor stores, events, theaters, sports activities, recreational facilities, close contact personal services, gyms, cultural facilities, and more, must close at 9:30 p.m. Click here for the order and full list of businesses.
Face Covering Order: Everyone must wear face coverings in all pubic places, even where they can maintain a 6 foot distance from others. Click here to read the order.
Gatherings Order: Indoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 10 people, and outdoor gatherings at private residences are limited to 25 people.The limit on gatherings held in public spaces remains 25 people indoors, 100 people in Lower Risk Communities, and 50 in other communities. Click here to read the order.

Click here to learn more.

October 5: Transition to Step II of Phase III for Lower Risk Communities, Revised Gathering Order

On Monday, October 5, lower-risk communities will be permitted to move into Step II of Phase III of Massachusetts' reopening plan.

Lower-risk communities are defined as cities and towns that have not been a “red” community in any of the last three weekly Department of Public Health weekly reports.

For these lower-risk communities:

Indoor and outdoor performance venues can open with 50% capacity, maximum of 250 people
Arcades and indoor recreation businesses, including trampolines, laser tag, and roller rinks, can open with 50% capacity
Fitting rooms in retail stores can reopen
Gyms, museums, libraries, and driving and flight schools can increase capacity to 50%.

Governor Baker's revised gatherings order states:

The limit for indoor gatherings remains at a maximum of 25 people for all communities
The limit for outdoor gatherings at private residences will remain at a maximum of 50 people for all communities
Outdoor gatherings at event venues and in public settings will have a limit of 50 people in Step I communities, and a limit of 100 people in lower risk, Step II communities.

Click here to learn more.

August 21: Revised Requirements for Child Care Providers

August 7: Updated Gatherings Order

On Friday, August 7, Governor Charlie Baker announced a set of initiatives, including stricter statewide rules for public and private gatherings and targeted community guidance.

The announcement:

Reduces the limits on outdoor gatherings from to 50 people (from 100)
Updates restaurant rules to state that alcoholic beverages may only be served for on-site consumption if accompanied by orders for food prepared on-site.
Establishes a cross-agency COVID Enforcement and Intervention Team
Extends free testing in 17 communities through September 12

Click here to learn more.

July 24: New Travel Order Effective August 1

On July 24, Governor Baker announced that effective August 1, all travelers entering the Commonwealth, including both out of state residents and Massachusetts residents returning home, will be required to comply with a new travel order.

Starting August 1, all visitors and Massachusetts residents returning home, including students returning to campuses for the fall semester, must fill out a “Massachusetts Travel Form” and quarantine for 14 days unless they are coming from a COVID-19 lower risk state or they can produce a negative COVID-19 test result administered no more than 72 hours prior to arriving in Massachusetts, or they are included in one of the other, limited exemptions.

The travel order and other information is available at www.mass.gov/MAtraveler.

July 6: State Transitions to Phase III

On Monday, July 6, Massachusetts will enter Phase III of the state's four-phase reopening plan. Movie theaters and outdoor performance venues; museums and cultural and historic sites; and fitness centers and health clubs can now reopen with restrictions.

Indoor gatherings are now limited to eight people per 1,000 feet or 25 people in a single enclosed space and outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 percent of the facility's maximum occupancy, with a maximum of 100 people in a single enclosed outdoor space.

Links:

June 25: School Reopening Guidelines Released

On Thursday, June 25, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released initial guidance for school reopening this fall. To reopen, school officials must develop three models of learning: in-person with new health and safety requirements, hybrid learning, and remote learning plans. The guidance prioritizes in-person learning with health and safety requirements.

Click here for the school reopening guide.

June 2020: Workplace Reoccupancy Guide for State Agencies

Comments on MBTA's "Forging Ahead" Proposal

On Monday, October 19, MAPC submitted comments to the the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board and MassDOT Board of Directors on the MBTA's "Forging Ahead" plan.

As our region and Commonwealth continue to reopen amid an uptick in cases, safe transit service must remain a viable option to avoid worsening congestion and to maintain a reliable, COVID-safe way of getting around for essential workers and others who do not drive.

Read MAPC Comment Letter

Read MAPC's Oct. 20 Statement

Governor's Reopening Task Force

On Wednesday, March 13, MAPC Deputy Director Rebecca Davis and Government Affairs Director Lizzi Weyant presented recommendations to the Governor’s Reopening Advisory Board, alongside Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll and Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone. These recommendations were made on behalf of a working grouping of MAPC region mayors and managers.

Presentation

Summary of Recommendations

Statement and More Materials

Small Business and Unemployment Response

Building a New Future Together: We've published a guide to how municipal governments can help their small businesses reopen, recover, and thrive.

Download Small Business Response Guide

Small Business Response Plans: MAPC is working with Salem, Arlington, Medford, and the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce on response plans for assisting small businesses.

Small Business Response Plans: Click here to learn more

Unemployment Response Plans: MAPC is working with Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Revere, and Somerville on a rapid response plan to identify the needs of unemployed individuals and determine immediate and long-term employment options.

Unemployment Response Plans: Click here to learn more

Shared Streets

As we begin to reopen and public health guidelines continue to encourage physical distancing, how can municipalities repurpose street space to accommodate increased demand for walking, biking, and outdoor retail?

MAPC is helping our municipalities answer that question. We're eager to support our cities and towns in thinking through ways to repurpose street space to allow for safe walking and biking, more efficient bus service, and expanded outdoor dining and retail options. Here are some ways we can be of help:

Regional visioning and planning
Collective procurement of materials
Coordination and sharing best practices
Technical assistance at the local level

Contact Transportation Director Eric Bourassa at ebourassa@mapc.org with questions or ideas.

Shared Streets Resources, Information, and Grant Opportunities

Municipal Collaboration

MAPC is providing resources to and facilitating conversations among municipal leaders from across the state. We are sharing best practices, resources, templates, and information on how to keep residents safe, healthy, and informed while keeping city and town governments running.

MAPC has served as a conduit of information and communication channel between state and local officials in Greater Boston. We have hosted weekly calls between mayors and managers and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. We have run webinars on topics such as homelessness, food security, and small business preservation. And every Sunday, we host a call with scientists, physicians, and epidemiologists so local officials can learn more about the science behind the pandemic and key trendlines that will affect local decision-making.

If you are a mayor, city or town manager, or their designee and you wish to join this group, please contact Lizzi Weyant, MAPC Director of Government Affairs at eweyant@mapc.org and we will immediately place you in the group, add you to the video call group, and direct you to resources.

Funding Distribution

Transportation Grants Emergency Funding for Local Health Departments

Transportation Grants

MAPC, in partnership with MassDevelopment, is offering grants up to $250,000 to contract with taxicab, livery, or hackney businesses to meet transportation and delivery needs. Eligible grantees include regional transit agencies, municipal and state agencies, health and human services agencies, and nonprofit organizations across Massachusetts.

The Taxi/Livery Partnership Grant Program will support public transportation and non-emergency medical transportation initiatives; including first mile/last mile connections, fixed-route shuttle service, micro-transit initiatives, incentivizing non-emergency medical transportation programs, food delivery, senior transportation, and other services that taxi, livery, or hackney businesses could provide.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Emergency Funding for Local Health Departments

The Department of Public Health asked MAPC to serve as a Local Affiliate Organization for the distribution of approximately $800,000 in emergency funding to local health departments. Specifically MAPC was asked to provide this funding for cities and towns in the Region 3 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition, a representative body for which MAPC serves as the sponsoring organization. Region 3 covers 45 communities in Northeastern Massachusetts, including the North Shore, Cape Ann, and Merrimack Valley.

To distribute the funding in a timely and strategic manner, MAPC formed a cross-departmental team including staff members from MAPC's municipal collaboration, public health, finance, operations, legal, and IT teams. First, the team conducted a survey-based needs assessment to determine funding requests and the types of additional support communities needed. Among the uses communities were looking to support included: additional nursing staff for case tracking, reporting and monitoring; cleaning supplies and services for municipal buildings; and coverage for overtime and backfill for staff working extra hours during the crisis.

For more information, please contact Mark Fine at mfine@mapc.org.

Publications

The COVID-19 Layoff Housing Gap

We analyze the latest Massachusetts unemployment numbers by sector, to understand who's getting laid off and how much assistance they'll need to stay in their homes.

Read It Here

Community and Regional Reponse Plan: Significant Labor Force Disruptions and Unemployment

An action framework for economic security and an evaluation of COVID-related unemployment.

Read It Here

Building a New Future Together

Recommendations for how municipalities can facilitate small business reopening and recovery, and how the Commonwealth can help them through consistent guidelines and requirements.

Read It Here

Appointment Agenda Reminder Personal Organizer Calendar Concept

Engagement in Virtual Meetings

Hosting engaging public meetings over virtual platforms can be tricky. This guide includes tips and tricks for virtual engagement, including what to do before, during, and after your meeting.

Read It Here

Healthcare Support, Supplies, and Isolation & Recovery Centers

MAPC worked with Chelsea and Revere to stand up an isolation facility for ill residents who could not safely remain at home. And we distributed almost $800,000 of urgent financial aid from the state Department of Public Health to cash-strapped local health departments.

Check out a video on the Revere isolation facility below:

Support for Local Healthcare Providers

MAPC is providing support to local hospitals, community health centers, nursing homes, EMS, and local public health departments through its work as the sponsoring organization for the Region 3 Health and Medical Coordinating Coalition (HMCC).

For more information on the work of the Region 3 HMCC, please contact Beth Robert, Region 3 HMCC Program Manager at erobert@mapc.org.

Click Here to Read More

Since February 2020, the HMCC has been activated to provide support to all healthcare facilities in Region 3 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HMCC facilitates communication and information-sharing between the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and stakeholders in the region. Staff have completed resource requests for personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies and maintain regional situational awareness.

Part of this activation includes operationalizing a 24/7 duty officer who is responsible for answering pages and emails from stakeholders who need PPE and testing supplies and collaborating with MDPH to fill those requests. The duty officer maintains communication with stakeholders throughout the process, providing additional guidance and information. To date in Region 3, there have been approximately 1,154 requests for PPE and testing supplies, 360 duty officer pages for assistance, and over 1,295 emails for assistance and guidance.

MAPC has worked to procure emergency response equipment and supplies on behalf of the hospitals, Medical Reserve Corp Units, and regional Public Health Coalitions that the HMCC provides funding to through MDPH. Staff have contacted over 200 vendors to procure hard-to-find general health and sanitary supplies, as well as equipment more specific to fighting COVID-19 for healthcare facilities and communities in the region.

Staff have also administered federal funding, coming through MDPH, that goes directly to hospitals to support expenses related to PPE, training, staff time, and minor building alterations due to COVID-19 response efforts.

The team is currently focused on aiding municipal flu vaccination efforts across the region. With funding from the MDPH Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS), Immunization Division, staff have worked to disseminate funding to local health departments to enhance their influenza vaccine activities in an effort to increase influenza vaccination rates. This funding goes directly to the communities to hire temporary staff, cover overtime expenses, advertise clinics, rent clinic space, upgrade vaccine storage units, and purchase vaccine clinic supplies including PPE.

In addition, in order to promote regional collaboration to plan for and respond to COVID-19 and its impact on hospital capacity, MDPH has established a regional hospital planning process, facilitated by the HMCC. The HMCC organizes and facilitates regular meetings among hospitals in the region. These meetings will help proactively identify and analyze communication regarding capacity challenges that may impact hospitals’ abilities to meet the health needs of the population on an equitable basis.

Resources

MAPC is currently compiling lists of various national, state, regional, and local resources for our communities. As we learn more about additional programs, we will be sure to include them in this list.

Webinars

MAPC is hosting occasional webinars to keep our municipal stakeholders and wider audience aware of opportunities, resources, and information related to the COVID-19 response.

We'll be focusing on topics that will be useful to our audience and hope to provide clear, relevant, and timely information. The webinars will complement and respond to the conversations that we're having everyday with people responding to the COVID crisis.

Click here for our webinar listings and recordings

Past Webinars

Legislative Updates

Spotlight on Town Meeting, Election, and Budget Process Legislation

We are thrilled that the Governor signed a bill, now Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2020, that will allow increased flexibility for municipalities to address town meeting, municipal elections and budgeting during the public health emergency caused by COVID-19.

A summary of provisions included is below. Division of Local Services has also shared a section by section summary and bulletin providing guidance.

Town Meeting

There are three sections regarding town meeting. The first two, reducing quorum size and moving the location of town meeting beyond municipal borders, are local options for all towns to consider and the last, remote meeting, is open only to those communities with representative town meetings.

Select Boards, in consultation with the town moderator and after a public notice of a vote, are able for the duration of the current declaration of a state of emergency to reduce the number of voters necessary to constitute a quorum to not less than 10% of what would otherwise be required. We are glad to see an earlier restriction on what matters could be brought to a town meeting with a reduced quorum removed. (Section 7)

Select Boards, in consultation with the town moderator, are allowed for the duration of the current declaration of a state of emergency to vote to hold the town meeting outside of the geographic limits of the town. (Section 9)

Towns that have a Representative Town Meeting are allowed until June 30, 2020, in consultation with the moderator, to hold their town meeting remotely. Section 8 provides a long list of abilities that a remote system must be able to provide. We are glad to see that the legislation allows not only video but also telephone participation.

Municipal Elections and Caucuses

The law further amends provisions passed earlier this year (Chapter 45 of the Acts of 2020) regarding municipal elections, caucuses (Sections 1-5). Municipalities are able to re-schedule their municipal elections to be held as late as August 1, 2020 as opposed to earlier deadline of June 30, 2020. Provisions passed earlier this year expanding access to voting by mail during these rescheduled elections are also expanded to the new deadline.

Municipalities are able for this year to replace municipal caucuses with a paper nomination process.

Budgeting Provisions

The new law allows municipalities the option, by 2/3 vote of their select board, town council or city council, to direct revenue dedicated to a special revenue fund or a stabilization fund for a specific purpose, and the balance in any such fund, to the FY21 General Fund. (Section 10)

The law establishes a budget timeline for cities during this current public health emergency. Cities are empowered to adopt budgets on a month to month for up to three months. Timelines established in statute for review of a budget by city council are extended with mayors able to submit FY21 budgets to city councils as late as July 31, 2020.

Other Provisions

The law amends provisions passed earlier this year to include districts as municipal entities that cannot shut off services during the current state of emergency (Section 6)

School districts and regional school districts are empowered, with the approval of school committee, town accountant and chief executive officer of the municipality, to continue paying for education related services even if the service is not received at this time. (Section 12-13)

The new law creates a new “emergency educator license” that DESE is able to issue during this COVID-10 crisis. (Section 14)

Guidelines for Town Meetings

June 11, 2020 - The Department of Public Health has released sector-specific safety recommendations for Town Meetings. Guidelines include an emphasis on virtual attendance, social distancing at in-person meetings, face coverings, disinfecting, and positive-case notifications.

Read the full guidelines here.

Older Updates:

Tuesday, April 14: The economic impact of COVID-19 on the Massachusetts economy

Earlier today, the Chairs of the state House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means, along with the Secretary of Administration & Finance, led a discussion of the economic impact of COVID-19 on the Massachusetts economy, with a particular focus on the state’s fiscal health and revenue picture.

The full roundtable can be viewed online at this link. Nine presenters offered their outlook, including:

State Treasurer Deb Goldberg
Eileen McAnneny, President, Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation
Dr. David G. Tuerck, President, and William Burke, Director of Research, the Beacon Hill Institute
Marie-Frances Rivera, President, Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
Professor Michael D. Goodman, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Dartmouth & Executive Director, the Public Policy Center (PPC)
Alan Clayton-Matthews, Ph.D., Director of Quantitative Methods, School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University
Evan Horowitz, Executive Director, Center for State Policy Analysis at Tisch College, Tufts University
Beth Ann Bovino, Chief U.S. Economist, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services
Dan White, Director of Government Consulting and Public Sector Research, Moody's Analytics

Engagement Resources

Shared Practices for Engagement Virtual Meetings

Hosting engaging public meetings over virtual platforms can be tricky. Since the COVID-19 emergency necessitated working from home, MAPC has been working with staff and partners to understand how to host engaging virtual meetings. This document assembles some recommendations and shared practices that the Community Engagement, Communications, and Digital Services teams at MAPC have identified and adopted. In this guide, we’ll cover what to do before, during, and after your meeting, review Zoom-specific tips and tricks, discuss how to respond to meeting disruptions (ZoomBombing), and discuss how to deal with some specific technology challenges.

Click Here

Virtual Meeting Support

The Community Engagement Division is eager to support communities in hosting engaging and inclusive virtual public meetings. DLTA funds are available for the following:

Identifying strategies for hosting a successful virtual Town Meeting (now an option for Representative Town Meeting)
Offering support for other virtual public meetings (e.g. board and commission meetings)
Helping communities address concerns from residents who are unfamiliar with how to use technology to participate in virtual meetings

For more information, please contact Emily Torres-Cullinane, Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives, at etorres@mapc.org.

Small Business and Unemployment Resources

Small Business Resources

Resources for small businesses, including financial assistance programs and information from the state and national governments.

Click Here

Unemployment Resources

Resources for unemployment, including an overview of unemployment benefits, state and federal programs, and additional information that might be helpful for those out of work.

Click Here

Artist, Freelancer, and Gig Worker Resources

MAPC's Arts & Culture team is compiling resources in response to COVID-19, including resources for artists, links to surveys on the crisis’s economic impact, opportunities to participate in state and federal arts advocacy efforts, and resources for arts-engaged response and recovery.

We’ll continue to update this list as we learn about new resources, webinars, and advocacy opportunities If you have any questions, please contact Interim Arts & Culture Director Annis Sengupta at asengupta@mapc.org.

Arts Opportunties and Resources Emergency Resources Arts Advocacy and Economic Impact Resources Resources for Arts-Based Response and Recovery General Information on Accessing Resources

Arts Opportunties and Resources

MAPC Call for Participants “Living Together” Documentary

Mariona Lloreta, in partnership with MAPC, is seeking participation for the Living Together documentary. This short film will feature residents of Metro Boston in order to highlight the experiences of those living in the region and their connection to MetroCommon 2050, Metro Boston’s next regional plan.

NEFA Spatial Justice Grants

Two new Public Art Grant Opportunities are available to Massachusetts artists and artistic collaborators. Grants focus on spatial justice in the time of COVID-19 and feature monthly deadlines from August through October 2020.

"Collective Imagination for Spatial Justice" awards range from $2,000-5,000.
"Public Art for Spatial Justice" awards range from $5,000-10,000.

City of Boston Opportunity Fund 4.0

One-time awards range from $500 to $1,000 to enable artists to develop their careers and plan free arts-focused experiences and events throughout the city's neighborhoods. The Fund is currently open and applications are accepted on a rolling basis through FY21.

MassDOT Shared Streets

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces quick-launch/quick-build grant program will provide grants as small as $5,000 and as large as $300,000 for cities and towns to quickly implement or expand improvements to sidewalks, curbs, streets, on-street parking spaces and off-street parking lots in support of public health, safe mobility, and renewed commerce in their communities. Applications will be accepted June 22 to September 29. Projects must be mostly or completely implemented by October 9, 2020.

USDA Rural Placemaking Challenge

Maximum grants of $250,000 are available from a $1 million fund for planning and technical assistance to foster placemaking activities in rural communities. Planning must directly benefit communities of 50,000 residents or fewer and applicants must demonstrate existing and proposed partnerships with public, private, philanthropic, and community partners. Applications are due by September 10, 2020.

Emergency Resources

Artist Relief Funds

Theatre Community Benevolent Fund
Rolling deadline, applications reviewed weekly

This fund provides between $500 and $1,500 to individuals involved in theater, and between $1,000 and $6,000 to companies.

Artist Relief
Rolling deadline through September 23 2020

Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists moving forward.

Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
Rolling deadline; first-come, first-served

This fund will disburse $200 grants to artists or art administrators whose income has been directly impacted by COVID-19 This fund is for those who self-identify as BiPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).

Unemployment Resources

Full list of resources from the New York Foundation for the Arts

Comprehensive listing of emergency funds for artists, categorized by discipline.

Arts & Business Council Resources

Massachusetts Application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Massachusetts-based independent contractors, gig workers, and the self-employed may apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of a COVID-19-related reason but are not eligible for regular or extended employment benefits

National Employment Law Project fact sheet
Details unemployment provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), which covers 1099 workers.

AFL-CIO graphic
Explains how 1099 workers and others can access unemployment insurance benefits

State Emergency Resources

Arts & Business Council of Boston Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts can advise artists and organizations on contracts, insurance, and labor and employment issues. They are waiving their service fee for artists with crises related to COVID-19. Inquire at VLA@artsandbusinesscouncil.org.

Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston Support Team can provide technical assistance (not legal assistance) on CARES Act relief initiatives, including SBA loans and expanded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Schedule an appointment here: https://calendly.com/abcsupportdesk/15min?month=2020-05

Reopen Boston Fund (Rolling deadline)

A new grant program to support the reopening of small businesses that physically engage closely with the public, including arts and entertainment businesses. To qualify, businesses must have fewer than 15 employees as well as a commercial brick and mortar space in the City of Boston.

National Emergency Resources

Office Hours with Americans for the Arts (AFTA) Arts Action Fund

Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Chief Counsel of Government and Public Affairs & Executive Director, Americans for the Arts Action Fund, is available to help individuals and organizations navigate the complex web of funding opportunities, federal regulations, and deadlines related to the $3.2 trillion federal aid package in the CARES Act. Office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays excluding holidays (July 3) from, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm ET through July 29.

CARES Act table of loan, grant, and compensation opportunities for the arts

Info on accessing CARES Act funds from the perspective of a nonprofit arts organization, a governmental arts agency, a commercial arts business, a self-employed individual artist, and as an individual taxpayer.

Explainers on Provisions of the CARES Act from the Arts & Business Council of Boston:

Small Business Association Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for Small Business Owners, including Artists and Independent Contractors
Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) Program
Employee Retention Tax Credit
Also available in Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese here.

Loans Available for Nonprofits in the CARES Act: Guidance from the National Council of Nonprofits on what loans are available for businesses of different types and sizes.

Arts Advocacy and Economic Impact Resources

Deadlines and events are listed in order, sooner to latest.

Findings

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the importance of planning and policy to arts and culture. From unemployment and housing insecurity to small business recovery and racial inequity, the impacts of COVID-19 are amplified in the arts and culture sector. We are pleased to share recent research from MAPC that examines these impacts of COVID-19 as they relate to racial equity in the region.

COVID-19 Layoff Housing Gap: At 24%, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation had the fourth largest share of industry that filed for unemployment in April after the pandemic.
Building a New Future, Together: A report on how municipal governments can help small businesses reopen, recover, and thrive.
Paycheck Protection Loan: This visualization illustrates the percent of establishments receiving PPP loans by municipality.
Diversity Deficit: On a daily basis, residents interact with representatives of their communities such as clerks, police officers, librarians, firefighters, teachers, municipal maintenance workers – but these municipal workers don’t always reflect the gender and racial or ethnic diversity of our region.
Systemic Racism Pledge: Municipalities are taking action to respond to MAPC diversity deficit findings.

Surveys

Americans for the Arts (AFTA) COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers
No deadline listed

Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Impact Survey for Arts and Cultural Organizations
No deadline listed

Americans for the Arts CARES Act Arts Funding Tracker Survey
No deadline listed

Measures the arts sector's success in securing financial relief in order to inform Congress and other decision-makers about how the CARES Act has impacted the arts sector, and to help address future needs.

MassCultural Council COVID-19 Recovery Survey
No deadline listed

City of Boston Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture Survey for Creative Workers and Artists

General Information

Arts Agency Action Kit: This tool provides messaging, communications and advocacy strategies, and research that local arts agencies can use to mitigate the threat of budget cuts or elimination.
Americans for the Arts Economic Impact Dashboard: This tool provides a snapshot of national aggregated data on the economic impact of COVID-19, as well as options to view localized impact.
Mass Creative Advocacy: http://www.mass-creative.org/advocacy
Americans for the Arts Action Fund: Learn more about opportunities to participate in national advocacy efforts for the arts sector: https://www.artsactionfund.org/action-center

Resources for Arts-Based Response and Recovery

How Public Art Programs Can Join the Movement Against Police Brutality, White Supremacy, and Anti-Black Racism: Blog post by Amina Cooper, Public Art Director for the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte/Mecklenburg, for Americans for the Arts.

Cultural Equity in the Public Art Field: Report from Americans for the Arts examining various aspects of cultural equity, including cultural appropriation, community engagement, and biases.

Community Ties: Understanding What Attaches People to the Place Where They Live: Study from the Knight Foundation and Urban Institute exploring belonging and attachment in American communities. The report contains data and insights that can help guide municipalities in envisioning and planning for the post-pandemic future.

Interactive website: https://knightfoundation.org/features/community-ties/
Full report: https://knightfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Community-Ties-Final-pg.pdf

Reopening the Cultural Sector in U.S. Cities: Report from Bloomberg Philanthropies highlights the need to include culture in long-term recovery planning.

COVID-19 Arts Response from the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine

Resources designed to support arts-based responses to COVID-19. These resources call for and are intended to enable cross-sector collaboration between the public health, arts and culture, and community development sectors to drive high-impact responses to COVID-19 across diverse communities.

Cultural Innovation Tools for Artists, Creators, and Leaders from Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts: Tools and resources for other artists/designers/culture makers, for families sheltering at home, for educators adapting their work online and for community organizations and government leaders who seek to partner with artists and designers as they respond and rebuild resilient and equitable communities.

Innovation in the Time of COVID-19: Forecast Public Art has developed toolkit of strategies for adapting in-person arts-based activities during the COVID-19 pandemic for artists and administrators.

Imaginings: A DIY Guide to Arts-Based Community Dialogue: A new resource from the US Department of Arts and Culture.

Guide on Inclusion and Accessibility for People with Disabilities: Recommendations for the arts and culture sector on ensuring accessibility during social distancing.

General Information on Accessing Resources

External Resources

COVID-19 Information

Massachusetts Resources and Updates:

Get Back Mass: Massachusetts' PSA webpage with videos and information about preventing the spread of COVID-19
COVID-19 testing information and site locator
Massachusetts Department of Public Health: Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Updates, emergency orders, and guidance associated with the COVID-19 State of Emergency: Lists all statewide orders and guidance related to COVID-19, chronologically
Municipalities: sign up for alerts from the Division of Local Services

Regional - North Shore:

Call Lines: Answer questions and offer up-to-date local information on the coronavirus pandemic
- Español: 781-309-5637
- Local call lines:
  - Beverly Health Line: 978-548-5784
  - Danvers Health Line: 978-548-5798
  - Peabody Health Line: 978-548-5795
  - Salem Health Line: 978-548-5796

National and International Resources and Updates:

Multilingual Resources:

Communications Resources

Food Access

Housing

Social Media Accounts to Follow

MAPC is sharing new resources, news, and important information on social distancing on social media. Follow and share on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Amplify other official sources, health professionals, and experts by sharing their posts and their resources.

Massachusetts Department of Public Health: https://twitter.com/MassDPH
Governor Charlie Baker: https://twitter.com/MassGovernor
MIRA Coalition: https://twitter.com/MIRACoalition
Project Bread (food resources information): https://twitter.com/projectbread
AARP of Massachusetts: https://twitter.com/AARPMA
Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development: https://twitter.com/MassEOHED

National/International:

PEW Research Center: https://twitter.com/pewresearch
Center for Disease Control: https://twitter.com/CDCgov
National Institute of Health: https://twitter.com/NIH
World Health Organization: https://twitter.com/WHO

Contact Tracing Communications Toolkit

The MA COVID Team and local boards of health are working together on a contact tracing program to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Contact tracing is an important tool in reducing the spread of the virus. Through the Community Tracing Collaborative, everyone who has tested positive will get a call from the Board of Health or the MA COVID Team, making sure they have the support they need to quarantine and get better, and to find out who they have recent been in contact with.

The MA COVID Team or Board of Health will talk to those contacts, encouraging them to get tested and to stay at home to not spread the virus further. Together with massive testing and hospital care follow up, contact tracing is absolutely essential to stop the virus and get our communities moving again.

The COVID team has assembled a toolkit of materials to spread the word about the importance of contact tracing. Please use the tools below to spread the word about this important initiative through newsletters, flyers and social media. Thank you for your help!

Flyers

Click images to download files.

English

Chinese

Haitian

Portuguese

Spanish

Vietnamese

Need Assistance?

MAPC is fully open for business on a virtual basis, and we are ready to help cities and towns that are struggling with emergency management or coordinating a municipal response to COVID-19. Reach out if your municipality is struggling with staff capacity: we can provide expertise and ease the pressure on small or overwhelmed municipal governments.

If you need assistance with:

Municipal governance; maintenance of operations; or remote governance issues

Contact Mark Fine, Director of Municipal Collaboration, at mfine@mapc.org.

Public safety and security; emergency management

Contact Amy Reilly, Assistant Director of Municipal Collaboration, at areilly@mapc.org.

Public health issues; direct response to COVID-19

Contact Barry Keppard, Director of Public Health, at bkeppard@mapc.org.

Land use planning; environmental or transportation issues

Contact Mark Racicot, Director of Land Use Planning at mracicot@mapc.org.

Statements from MAPC on COVID-19

April 2: Survey for Municipal Officials/Employees

March 19 Update: Email from Executive Director Marc Draisen

On March 19, Executive Director Marc Draisen sent an email to our contacts and partners detailing:

MAPC remote work and meeting policy
MAPC's work to create a coordinated municipal communication channel among cities and towns and with the Baker administration
Who at MAPC to contact with questions about emergency management, municipal governance, public health, and more.

Read the full email here.

March 12 Update: Telecommuting

Beginning Monday, March 16, MAPC staff will work remotely. This decision is a response to Governor Baker's recommendation for all employers and other large organizations to explore telework where appropriate.

Essential staff from our Executive, Finance, and other departments will be reporting to the office as needed to ensure continuity of our essential business operations. In most cases, even these individuals will limit their office hours to well below usual.

By implementing this remote work policy, the agency is doing its part to contain the spread of COVID-19 and hopes to set an example for other organizations. This policy will remain in effect until the COVID-19 situation in the area abates.

MAPC will not be "closed" during this time: we will continue our normal work as much as possible, except with a majority of our staff in telecommute mode.

March 11 Update: Meetings

On March 10, Governor Charlie Baker declared a State of Emergency in response to the outbreak of COVID-19, or the corona virus, in Massachusetts. The declaration will give the state additional flexibility and access to additional resources to deal with the outbreak. In accordance with Governor Baker's guidance on the matter, MAPC will no longer be hosting in-person meetings with external stakeholders.

Meetings hosted by MAPC: MAPC has made the decision to cancel, postpone, or move to a virtual format all large public meetings and meetings with external stakeholders set to take place between now and Friday, April 17.

Meetings hosted by others: MAPC staff will not be attending large public meetings hosted by others unless they are offered remotely. Staff will attend in-person smaller meetings hosted by others on a case-by-case basis and will prioritize remote participation. We encourage our partners to offer remote participation options when possible.

If you have any questions about a meeting you're involved in, please reach out to the staff member in charge directly.

COVID-19 Work and Resources

More on COVID-19

State Resources

COVID-19 Work Overview

Reopening and Recovery

LATEST REOPENING NEWS:

Updated Metrics for Schools and Municipalities

Comments on MBTA's "Forging Ahead" Proposal

Governor's Reopening Task Force

Small Business and Unemployment Response

Shared Streets

Municipal Collaboration

Funding Distribution

Publications

Healthcare Support, Supplies, and Isolation & Recovery Centers

Support for Local Healthcare Providers

Resources

Webinars

Past Webinars

Legislative Updates

Spotlight on Town Meeting, Election, and Budget Process Legislation

Guidelines for Town Meetings

Older Updates:

Engagement Resources

Virtual Meeting Support

Small Business and Unemployment Resources

Artist, Freelancer, and Gig Worker Resources

External Resources

Flyers

Need Assistance?

If you need assistance with:

Municipal governance; maintenance of operations; or remote governance issues

Public safety and security; emergency management

Public health issues; direct response to COVID-19

Land use planning; environmental or transportation issues

Statements from MAPC on COVID-19