Reopening Guidance for Businesses

Governor Baker and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shared a re-opening plan for our businesses. In this section you will find updated guidance by industry, but you can always check the Mass.gov website for more information. Please keep in mind that you may see one business open in town but not another. Our businesses may not be able to meet the safety protocols deemed by the Commonwealth, or may not be comfortable opening during this time. If you have questions about re-opening, you can email the Office of Community and Economic Development.

Business Best Practices

As your business reopens, be vigilant about maintaining best practices within your organization:

• Employee Best Practices
  • Encourage sick employees to stay home, and create sick leave policies that support this
  • Make sure staff enforce the mask / face covering policy
  • Identify where and how workers might be exposed to COVID-19 at work
  • Emphasize respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees
  • Perform routine environmental cleaning
  • Educate employees about how they can reduce the spread of COVID-19
• Customer Best Practices
  • Establish policies and practices for social distancing; mark the floor with X where customers should wait, or make your business reservation only
  • Take customer names and phone numbers for contact tracing purposes in case of a COVID-19 outbreak
  • Make as much of your business contactless as possible!
• More Resources
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Employee Screening Questions

What Else Do I Need to Know?

There are a handful of requirements (on top of the industry specific guidelines) that all businesses must follow in order to re-open safely:

• Businesses that will be allowed to re-open must follow the mandatory safety standards by industry, listed provided in previous sections
• All businesses that re-open must complete a Control Plan for Safety Compliance
• All businesses that re-open must print and sign this Compliance Poster (PDF) for customers / employees to see

Business Reopening Resources

• Personal Protective Equipment / Cleaning Supplies (See Note)
  • Amesbury Industrial
  • State's Vendor List
  • Force of Nature Starter Kit
  • Conlon Products (Lawrence, MA)
• Guideline / Safety Documents
  • Sample Health and Well-being Guidelines for Employees (PDF)
  • Travel / Vacation Safety Matrix (PDF)
  • Outdoor Dining Guidelines for Cooler Weather - Tents / Heaters (PDF)
• Flyers / Signage
  • Mask up Flyer (Restaurant, Retail, Salon, General Business) (PDF)
  • Mandatory Safety Standards for Workplaces (PDF)
• Marketing / Promotion
  • Tips: Promoting Your Business During COVID-19 (PDF)

Note

The City of Amesbury is not endorsing these companies, however, they have been recommended to us by credible sources. We hope they provide valuable information and products to help our businesses get back to business!

For Businesses Looking for a Permit or Inspection

Your business may be thinking about doing some building or remodeling. The City of Amesbury is still giving out permits and doing inspections on a case-by-case basis:

1. Please find and complete the appropriate application form. Please make sure you include a valid email to contact your with the application
2. Once complete, please mail the application to 9 School Street, Amesbury, MA 01913. You can also drop it off, or email your applications
3. The applications will be processed and you will be contacted via email with the amount, requesting that a check be sent or delivered to 9 School Street. Once payment is received, a permit will be emailed
4. If an inspection is required to issue a permit, an inspector will contact the home or business to coordinate

The Center for Health Security shared an Operational Toolkit for businesses considering re-opening or expanding during this time.

Contacts