Needham-based Stacy’s JuiceBar, French Press Bakery & Cafe, Spiga and Sweet Basil have already provided hundreds of meals.

 

Mehra and the Globe have committed to funding and facilitating the meal delivery program for the BID Needham’s clinicians and employees for the duration of the pandemic. (Both the Globe and BIDN are chamber members.)

 

The next step is to expand this effort across Greater Boston. The Globe is building an online form where restaurants can apply to provide meals. The Globe and Chef Thomas John of Piperi will select those that are the best fit. We’ll share the application link when it’s available.

 

Here’s where the rest of us come in: Help expand this terrific effort by donating here.

 

SBA programs run dry

 

We knew this was coming. But that doesn’t really make this news any better. The SBA’s $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program has run out of money. So has the other SBA program many employers have turned to, the Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

 

"The SBA is unable to accept new applications at this time for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan COVID-19 related assistance program (including EIDL Advances) based on available appropriations funding,” the agency announced. “Applicants who have already submitted their applications will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis."

 

More than 1.5 million applications had been approved from more than 4,900 lending institutions, according to ABC News.

 

The best advice we’ve heard for those businesses and nonprofits that have not yet secured a loan is to move forward with your application so you’re in line for when Congress – hopefully -- adds more funds to the program.

 

Newton company exploring COVID-19 treatment

 

Newton-based Karyopharm Therapeutics is one of two dozen Bay State companies working on vaccines, treatments or devices for COVID-19, the Boston Business Journal reports.

 

The chamber-member life sciences company is looking to initiate a global randomized clinical trial for low dose oral of its anti-cancer drug selinexor in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19.

 

Selinexor is currently approved at higher doses by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

 

“As the medical community is urgently seeking innovative ways to address the COVID-19 pandemic, based on recent scientific data, we have decided to evaluate the potential for selinexor in the treatment of patients with COVID-19, said Sharon Shacham, PhD, MBA, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm, said in a statement released by the company, which is headquarters on Wells Ave.

 

“We look forward to working with clinical investigators and regulators across the globe as expeditiously as possible to determine the next steps for this new initiative.”

 

Two Watertown-headquartered pharmaceutical companies, Aldatu and Enanta were also mentioned in the BBJ report.

 

What would reopening the economy look like?

 

Thanks for everyone who wrote yesterday with your thoughts and suggestions regarding what needs to be done to reenter the economy. I’m still reading though your emails but wanted to share this list created Brookings: How our cities can reopen after the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

Needham elects new select chair

 

Finally this: The Needham Select Board elected Moe Handel to serve as its new chair this week. Matt Borrelli was elected vice chair.

 

Handel has been a great friend to the business community and a member of the chamber’s N-Squared District Committee and international committee, as well as the town’s Council of Economic Advisors. We look forward to collaborating closely with Handel and Borelli as we navigate the extraordinary challenges ahead.

 

We also thank outgoing chair John Bulian for his leadership. Bulian will remains a member of the five member board.

 

Be back Monday…or sooner if we have anything timely to pass along.

 

Stay in touch. Just don’t touch.

President, Newton-Needham Regional Chamber

617-244-1688