What’s New

On September 29, 2020, the Baker-Polito Administration announced that effective Monday, October 5th, lower risk communities* will be permitted to move into Step II of Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan with the following restrictions:     Indoor performance venues will be permitted to open with 50% capacity with a maximum of 250 people….

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On September 15, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced an extension of state tax deferral measures aimed at easing COVID-19 related financial burdens for the retail and hospitality sectors.   The tax deferral extension will include the following measures:   Extended Time Period for Deferral. Sales tax, meals tax, and room occupancy taxes will be…

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On Tuesday, June 16, 2020, the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) quietly released the revised Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application (the “Long Form Application”) and the new Paycheck Protection Program PPP Loan Forgiveness Application Form 3508EZ (the “EZ Application”). The instructions included as part of the Applications provide borrowers with much needed guidance on…

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To date, much of the discussion regarding the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stability Act (the “CARES Act”) has been focused on the provisions of its Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”), which provides forgivable loans to small businesses based upon two and half months of their average payroll costs. The PPP has been incredibly successful in stemming…

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On June 3, 2020, the United States Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act (the “Act“), as passed by the House on May 27, 2020, amending certain aspects of the Small Business Administration Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP“), created by Division A, Title I of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic…

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At a press conference on May 29, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito announced a plan for re-opening restaurants throughout Massachusetts. Re-opening will commence during Phase 2, with a specific date expected to be announced the first week in June.   Below is a synopsis of the re-opening plan:   • The…

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Everyone is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially disrupted businesses of all types throughout the country, and construction has been no exception. At the project level, the pandemic has impacted construction sites in a wide variety of ways. Some projects were completely shut down, whether by state or local mandate, by unilateral owner decision,…

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An opinion piece by Ruberto, Israel & Weiner hospitality attorney Adam Barnosky was featured in the Boston Globe. The article, titled “How municipalities can help restaurants reopen,” discusses the proactive role local governments can play as the restaurants prepare to reopen. Read the full article here. Adam Barnosky is a shareholder and co-leads the firm’s Hospitality Practice…

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On Monday, May 18, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced plans to cautiously reopen Massachusetts businesses in accordance with the previously announced Four-Phase Approach to Reopening Massachusetts.  Pursuant to the plans announced by Governor Baker, created in conjunction with the Reopening Advisory Board, the first phase of reopening Massachusetts is scheduled to go into effect…

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The Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) quietly released on Friday May 15th, the Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application (the “Application”). The instruction included as part of the Application provides borrowers with much needed guidance on how to calculate loan forgiveness under the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”).  The instructions, in part, advise PPP borrowers…

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