News

The City of Cambridge announced that mobile testing will begin in The Port neighborhood today, Tuesday, May 19, and in all Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) senior buildings on Wednesday, May 20, expanding the City’s mobile testing capabilities among more vulnerable populations.

The Baker-Polito Administration released Reopening Massachusetts, the Reopening Advisory Board’s report, which details a four-phased strategy to responsibly reopen businesses and activities while continuing to fight COVID-19. The Administration also released a new “Safer At Home” Advisory, which instructs residents to stay at home unless engaging with newly opened activities, as a way to continue limiting the spread of COVID-19.

The City of Cambridge is reviewing the plan released today by the Baker-Polito Administration for the reopening of businesses in the Commonwealth and has announced City-specific construction activity guidance.

The Baker-Polito Administration released a comprehensive plan to safely reopen the Massachusetts economy, get people back to work, and ease social restrictions while minimizing the health impacts of COVID-19

The City of Cambridge announced that grant and loan applications are now available for Cambridge small businesses through the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund for small businesses and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (“CRA”) Loan Program. Grant applications will only be available from May 15, 2020 until May 29, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Over the past three weeks, 20 employees with the City of Cambridge have contacted more than 7,000 senior residents throughout the community. This effort, which is being led by the City Manager’s Office, is intended to connect directly with seniors to determine if they have any questions, concerns or needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The City of Cambridge announced that it will further expand COVID-19 testing for Cambridge residents via a new mobile testing pilot program that will initially be launched in The Port neighborhood and in all senior housing buildings overseen by the Cambridge Housing Authority.

The Small Business COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program is a complementary grant program to the city’s Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant. It is a special program helping Cambridge’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) eligible for-profit retail, food, personal services, and creative businesses with a grant up to $10,000 per brick and mortar business. The program provides short-term working capital assistance to support businesses with inventory purchases (perishable and non-perishable), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) purchases or upgrades, and rent payments to enable businesses to open and ensure the retention of jobs after the severe interruption of business related to COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

The City of Cambridge and Cambridge Public Library announced this week that they are distributing donated books to Cambridge youth, as well as community members staying at the temporary emergency shelter at the War Memorial Recreation Center. The donation of books keeps with the Library’s dedication to promote literacy and bridge gaps in access during the Library’s closure as a result of COVID-19.

Fresh Pond Golf Course will remain closed to golf activities while the City assesses the potential public health impacts and operational logistics involved with opening the golf course.