An illustration of the new coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.

Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch plans to announce a grant program Thursday to help small businesses in that city to pay their rents, according to Quincy Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tim Cahill.

Cahill told WATD-FM Thursday morning that the chamber remains active with a support fund that’s helping laid off hospitality industry workers get by.

“These people are really struggling,” the former state treasurer said.

The chamber is also active with webinars and online meetings and planning to help people to be more comfortable about eventually stepping out after weeks of stay-at-home, and to help non-essential businesses to safely reopen eventually.

“They’re essential to the people who run them, that’s for sure,” Cahill said.

The city has already been paying some a few tenants’ rent if they have been unable to make payments due to the coronavirus, the Patriot Ledger reports.