The Massachusetts business community issued the following joint statement today on the COVID-19 situation:

As businesses and families across the country continue to be impacted by the disruptions brought by COVID-19, we have been encouraged to see business leaders from across the Commonwealth and the country step up to take care of their employees, and lift up their broader communities.

As our medical professionals and institutions take the lead on protecting the health of our residents and containing the spread of the virus, the Commonwealth’s business community stands together with a unified voice to advocate for solutions that can provide immediate support and relief to impacted businesses and workers across the Commonwealth, and help them recover in the weeks and months ahead. We are grateful for initial steps that the Baker-Polito Administration, municipal leaders, and other local officials have already taken to create additional funding streams, including low interest loans to small business owners who need them to continue operations and pay their employees. Additional solutions are urgently needed and we are here to partner with government to move quickly to ensure the needs of employees and employers are addressed in a timely and equitable way.

No industry is immune to the impacts of this crisis. Hundreds of thousands of families in the Commonwealth are experiencing its negative effects or bracing for what is to come. As their advocates, we will continue to elevate their voices as we assess the impact on businesses of all sizes throughout Massachusetts, and explore avenues to work alongside the philanthropic and elected leaders at the state and local level to help mitigate the economic fallout as this crisis continues to grow.”

Jay Ash, President & CEO, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership
Jennifer Benson, President, Alliance for Business Leadership
JD Chesloff, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Roundtable
Tim Murray, President and CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
John Regan, President and CEO, Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Emily Reichert, Chief Executive Officer, Greentown Labs
James Rooney, President and CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
CA Webb, President, Kendall Square Association