Hospitality

Citing more than 17,000 job losses since the coronavirus pandemic hit, Massachusetts hoteliers warned that "the bleeding isn't stopping" and that they need government help to stave off further damage to their businesses.

The Gov. Charlie Baker Administration announced on Wednesday measures to provide small tax relief focused on the hospitality sector, as dining rooms and gatherings of 25+ people have been banned in an effort to stem the impact of the coronavirus.

Renee Diaz, the business's owner and founder, said she reduced her 25-employee staff down to herself and four employees.

To inquire about a loan, contact Sandie Cataldo at scataldo@northcentralmass.com or Brendan Hannen at bhannen@northcentralmass.com.

Businesses with less than 50 full-time and part-time employees can apply for loans up to $75,000 through the quasi-public organization Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp. 

In an episode recorded on Wednesday, March 11, the co-hosts of the WBJ podcast Weekly Business Report, spend about five minutes to talk about all the Central Massachusetts business and event closures, due to the effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic is keeping — or forcing — many to forego events brining large groups of people together in confined spaces. Outdoor activities are suffering a similar fate, at least temporarily.

The two seemingly unrelated and exciting developments this year in the Worcester food scene can both be traced to four people at a Boston comedy show 18 months ago.

After paying all their back taxes and bills and calculating the cost and time spent running a restaurant and events space in the 144-year-old Bull Mansion for nearly three years, the partners simply broke even.

Gov. Charlie Baker on Sunday announced all restaurants in Massachusetts to serve delivery and take-out only, all Massachusetts public schools must soon close for three weeks, most events with 25 or more people are now banned.