Girls Inc. of Worcester CEO Victoria Waterman said the $191,000 the organization sought and received from the program enabled them to retain 15 full-time and 10 part-time employees so they can continue to offer programming - albeit on a new virtual platform.
“Now this way they can keep in touch with staff and see their friends everyday,” Waterman said. “And that’s what the PPP has given us, the ability to do that.”
Like Rizzo and Fields, Waterman praised her local bank — in this case, Bay State Savings Bank — for working with the organization before the application was even available.
“When I first heard about this program I called and said we were interested, and (our banker) told me we were already on the list,” Waterman said, who noted that Girls Inc. of Worcester was the first Girls Inc. to be approved for the PPP.
“That’s remarkable,” Waterman said. ”(Bay State Savings Bank) held our hand every step of the way and I’m happy to share it because I know it’s not been the same for everybody.”