Communicating regarding COVID-specific Legal Coaching from New Leaf Legal

To the Honorable, the City Council:

As the outbreak of COVID-19 continues, businesses in the Cambridge community are faced with serious economic, legal, and logistical implications, which will no doubt have lasting present and future impacts on their respective businesses and industries. My office and the Vice Mayor’s office have heard from many local business owners who are scrambling to navigate the complicated transactional issues involved in protecting their employees and to be proactive in preserving the future of their businesses.

Many of the questions from our local business community raise urgent legal issues which will require appropriate, COVID-19-specific guidance. The City’s Community Development Department (CDD) has identified a limited amount of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to establish free business tele-coaching, in partnership with New Leaf Legal and Revolution Capital. This program will offer COVID-specific coaching with experts to assist on issues such as business law and financial planning.

The program will be offered until April 30, 2020 to HUD-eligible small businesses. In addition, businesses can contact Bonnie May Shantz, bshantz@cambridgema.gov, for more information. CDD has added a business resource list to the City’s COVID-19 response page which can be found here and will be updated with information regarding New Leaf Legal. Sincerely,

Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui

Sumbul Siddiqui

Mayor