Chamber News

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, until 2022. All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.All SBA disaster…

State House News – With the Internal Revenue Service moving the federal tax filing deadline back about a month, the Massachusetts Legislature folded a matching extension for the state tax deadline into the unemployment insurance, paid leave and tax relief bill that passed the Senate on Thursday. The U.S. Treasury and IRS announced Wednesday that the…

State House News – The U.S. Treasury has given state lawmakers some breathing room as they consider a tax relief package worth as much as $350 million, indicating that states may cut taxes without being penalized under the new federal stimulus law. The Treasury told the Associated Press that tax cuts are allowed under the stimulus bill…

Boston Herald – Cambridge biotech company Moderna is testing a “next generation” coronavirus vaccine with the potential to remain stable at standard refrigerator temperatures instead of requiring ultra-cold storage. The first participants have already been dosed with the new vaccine candidate, called mRNA-1283, the company announced on Monday. “We are pleased to begin this Phase 1 study of…

Boston.com – Massachusetts is set to see another modest increase in vaccine supplies for next week, including thousands of unexpected doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration said Monday night that Massachusetts is receiving 170,000 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccines this week, after getting 155,000 last week through the federal…

Boston Globe – Next time you’re searching for places to get a COVID-19 vaccination shot, don’t forget to check out Facebook. The social network on Monday announced a partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital to provide US residents with information about vaccine availability in their neighborhoods. The organizations are working to add the ability for users to…

State House News – The state must invest in workforce development programs to help people transition into technical trades and other in-demand industries if they are unable to return to their old jobs eliminated during the pandemic, a new report from several statewide workforce organizations recommends. The paper, presented Monday at a virtual policy briefing for legislators,…

State House News – All Massachusetts residents ages 16 or older will become eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine by April 19, the Baker administration announced. Residents 60 or older and certain workers became eligible yesterday. Residents 55 or older and those with one qualifying health condition will become eligible April 5 and the general public…

NBC Boston – They remained open when most businesses were closed during the worst of the pandemic, and now, grocery store workers in Massachusetts are fighting to get the vaccine. As it stands, grocery store workers are next in line to receive the vaccine, but they are in a group with a bunch of other workers.…

State House News – The fourth and final phase of the state’s economic and social reopening plan began Monday, and rules around out-of-state travel were also relaxed. The July 2020 travel order that required people entering Massachusetts from most states to fill out a form and quarantine for 10 days, test negative for COVID-19, or…