President Trump signed the fourth coronavirus relief package to aid small businesses on Friday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And many Southcoast small business owners that have been waiting for funds, like travel tour agency Sagres Vacations in Fall River, are hoping this will be the moment to finally get the monetary relief they need.
Business
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Lawmakers want more money for business loan program. What’s it done so far in RI?
Congress and the White House appear to be closing in on a deal this week to infuse the now-depleted Paycheck Protection Program with additional funding. But the program has faced its share of criticism so far.
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Coronavirus crisis a ‘shock’ and opportunity for RI farmers
The state’s agricultural economy has been valued at close to $240 million, with more than 1,000 farms operating on nearly 57,000 acres of land. But traditional revenue sources have dried up because of coronavirus at a time when there’s also surging consumer interest in local food.
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Fish plant workers demand safer working conditions amid COVID-19 pandemic
Seafood processing workers across the Southcoast are raising concerns about unsafe working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Rhode Island joins regional governors in forming plans to reopen businesses
Goldman Sachs is planning to provide $10 million in small business loans to Rhode Island businesses struggling to stay afloat.
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Electric Boat workers concerned about safety
While most of the country is experiencing an economic shutdown, businesses deemed “essential” continue to operate, and concerns are growing about safety measures in those workplaces. Electric Boat, a major employer in Rhode Island and Connecticut, is one of those businesses. Nearly two dozen workers have tested positive for COVID-19 and some say the shipbuilder hasn’t done enough to create a safe working environment.
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How one coffee shop is staying open during the coronavirus
The service industry is hurting right now. But some restaurants that are choosing to stay open with modifications. The Shop, a tiny coffee shop on the East Side of Providence, is one of them.
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‘We are totally overwhelmed’: Rhode Island seeks to streamline unemployment claims process
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo today called the economic hardship facing residents “mind-boggling,” and announced new measures aimed at processing unemployment claims more quickly.
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‘This is gonna be bad’: RI restaurants face tough road ahead
There are few industries as important to the Rhode Island economy as the restaurant business. But the coronavirus has left everything from fancy French restaurants to gritty dive bars reeling. Some say the immediate crisis could have serious long term effects.
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New Bedford establishing two COVID-19 recovery centers
New Bedford is expanding the number of beds for Southcoast residents recovering from COVID-19 as cities in the region prepare for a looming surge of coronavirus cases.
