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The Daily Edition for Thursday, March 26, 2020                                            To view this in your browser, click here.

 

Welcome to your daily Impact newsletter!

     As a valued member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, we plan to stay in touch with you every afternoon, through emails like this one and on Facebook and Twitter, until the pandemic passes. We intend to provide you with the latest state and federal information, as well as highlighting the creativity and innovation that is occuring here in Maine during this unpredictable and rapidly changing time. To assist you in navigating the uncertainties ahead, we've created a diverse and comprehensive collection of web-based resources to help you take care of yourself and your family, your employees, your business, and your community. If there is anything you need, please reach out.

We're here to help in any way we can!

 

 

BREAKING NEWS!

Governor Mills Extends State Income Tax Payment Deadline to July 15, 2020

     Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services Commissioner Kirsten Figueroa announced today that the State will extend the deadline for Maine income tax payments from April 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020. The change aligns with the Federal government's recent extension of the Federal tax filing deadline to July 15, 2020.

     The State extended the payment deadline of April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. This includes any final and estimated Maine income tax payments due by April 15, 2020. Any failure-to-pay penalties and interest will be abated for the period of April 16, 2020, through July 15, 2020.

     The extended filing deadline for Maine income tax returns is automatically tied to any federal extension. Therefore, the filing deadline of April 15, 2020, for 2019 Maine income tax returns, is automatically extended to July 15, 2020. This includes Form 1040ME (Maine Individual Income Tax Return), Form 1041ME (Maine Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts), and Form 1120ME (Maine Corporate Income Tax Return).

     Sales tax and payroll payments will continue as normal. For questions about Maine income tax, contact Maine Revenue Services (MRS) at (207) 626-8475 or visit the MRS website at www.maine.gov/revenue.

 

Maine Department of Labor Releases Paid Time Off Rules And Schedules Remote Public Hearing For April 15

After months of gathering comments and input from around the state, the Maine Department of Labor (DOL) last evening released draft rules that will help determine the implementation and operation of Maine's Paid Time Off (PTO) law, passed by the Legislature in 2019. The PTO law sprung out of LD 369, An Act Authorizing Earned Employee Leave, which was enacted after numerous negotiations between Gov. Mills' administration, legislators, and the business community.

     In the press statement released last evening, the department intends to conduct a virtual public hearing on the rules on April 15, 2020, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Given the current need for social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this isn't a surprising development. Individuals will have up to three minutes to deliver comments at that time.                               Read more

 

Daily Briefing from the Maine CDC

     From today's Maine CDC Briefing, Maine now has 155 cases of COVID-19, of which 22 are currently hospitalized. Of those 155 cases, 16 positive cases among health care workers. There have also been 3,394 negatives recorded statewide. Maine CDC officials are continuing to work with an outside commercial laboratory to get results as quickly as possible. There are individual travelers to the state that have been reported to the Maine CDC from a unit of federal CDC. The Maine CDC has worked with 77 such individuals and at present 49 such individuals are under monitoring.

     The Public Health Emergency Preparedness team has been working on distributing personal protective equipment (PPE). Maine has now received two distributions from national PPE stockpile. While this is a good start, it is not enough to serve us and state officials are hoping to receive more distributions soon. The Maine CDC is also hoping to tap into manufacturing resources here in the state of Maine, to help with making of PPEs. Also At present, there are 86 available ICU beds out of a total of 151 units, and 88 respiratory therapists across the state.

 

Federal Stimulus Package Passed by Congress

     Since the U.S. Senate passed the $2.2 trillion relief package for the American people not even 24 hours ago, multiple sources have released details of the package. It is a lot to digest. Both U.S. Senator Susan Collins and U.S. Senator Angus King have put out statements that summarize what is in the package. In addition, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has put together a detailed 12-page summary of what is included in the package that even includes links to the actual legislation                              Read more

 

Federal Reserve Announces Three New Programs

     In support of its goals to promote maximum employment and stable prices, along with its responsibilities to promote the stability of the financial system, the Federal Reserve is using its full range of authorities to provide powerful support for the flow of credit to American families and businesses. The three new programs that Federal Reserve Bank announced recently are:

*     Main Street Business Lending Program: This program is intended to support lending to eligible small and midsize businesses. Such a program is likely to depend on additional money from the Treasury Department. The FRB hasn't yet provided program details.

*     Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF): This facility will mirror one the FRB used in 2008 to support consumer and business credit markets. The FRB has stated that it will use this facility to lend money to investors to buy securities backed by credit card loans and other consumer debt.

*     Support Financing for Corporate Debt Obligations: The FRB announced a new facility to address the lack of new financing in the roughly $6 trillion market for highly rated corporate debt by offering bridge loans for up to four years, which includes limits on the payment of dividends and stock buybacks for firms that defer interest payments on their loans. A facility aimed at unblocking the market for existing corporate debt, allowing the FRB to purchase bonds already issued by highly rated companies and eligible exchange-traded funds, which have around $147 billion in investment-grade corporate debt.

 

Applying For The U.S. SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program

     The Maine Small Business Development Center recently released two video webinars on how to complete the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan application. One is for Sole Proprietors, and the other is for LLC, Corp and other business forms. The videos provide the answers to frequently asked questions and walk business owners through each step of the application process. Videos are free and can be accessed 24/7. Please note that the application process is evolving as the SBA responds to the needs of businesses across the country. Maine SBDC anticipates that some elements of the application process may change, but the videos provide a good idea of what to expect.

     Accessing U.S. SBA loans through your financial institution: If you require or are seeking financial assistance through the SBA loan program or other disaster relief programs, the first call you should make is to your financial institution. Your financial institutions are there to help navigate programs becoming available, helping to ensure your business remains strong despite current economic uncertainty. Remember, working together, we will be stronger than trying to navigate this by ourselves.

     In addition, the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development recently compiled this list of federal and state Resources for Maine Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

Mainers Recently Unemployed Should Consider Their Health Insurance Coverage Options As Soon As Possible, Says Superintendent

     "Mainers who have recently lost their employment should consider their health insurance coverage options as soon as possible, to protect themselves and their families," stated Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa.

     On March 25, the Superintendent reminded Mainers that individuals and families have 60 days from the day they lose their coverage to apply for a new policy.

     The best place to start is at www.healthcare.gov, which may provide more affordable options than an employer's COBRA plan Cioppa stated. Depending on household size and household income, individuals and families may qualify for subsidized private insurance or free or low-cost coverage through MaineCare. Completing a Marketplace application will provide individuals and family with the information about what type of coverage they qualify for.

     Mainers can get help applying for coverage by contacting Consumers for Affordable Health Care at 800-965-7476. More information is available at www.mainecahc.org/covid-19-coronavirus/. Consumers with questions about insurance matters can obtain information and assistance from the Maine Bureau of Insurance by visiting www.maine.gov/insurance, calling 800-300-5000 (TTY call Maine Relay 711), or e-mailing [email protected]. Mainers can learn more about MaineCare by visiting www.CoverME.gov/eligibility.

 

Resources and Updates

     It has come to our attention that the list of Essential and Non-Essential Businesses and Operations has been updated since we shared it with you yesterday.

     The Maine CDC has a Coronavirus Self Checker among its arsenal of resources. Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

 

Governor Mills Acts to Promote Access to Health Care During COVID-19

     On March 25, the Administration of Governor Janet Mills has taken two actions to promote Maine people's access to health care in response to COVID-19, which bolster the health care work force and facilitate the expansion of telehealth. First, Governor Mills has signed an Executive Order (PDF) allowing licensed physicians, physician assistants, and nurses greater flexibility to contribute to Maine's response during the civil state of emergency. Additionally, all physicians, physician assistants and nurses licensed in Maine and those authorized under the order may provide services through all methods of telehealth, including video, audio and other electronic technologies to treat Maine people for all medical needs.

     DHHS has also reconstituted a statewide Telehealth Advisory Committee in 2019 to promote consistent practices across health care payers, use of tele-psychiatry in emergency departments, and use of telehealth for new workforce models.

 

Calling All Health Care Workers to Register to Volunteer on MaineResponds.Org

     Maine is encouraging certified health care providers to consider volunteering. Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah said yesterday, "I'd like to ask today for any healthcare provider who is watching especially if you happen to be a pulmonologist, a critical care intensivist, or an anesthesiologist, I ask you to go to MaineResponds.org to register to be a volunteer. We don't know what the future will hold with respect to COVID-19 but what I do know is that I would like our healthcare workforce to be as ready as possible."

     Additionally, Maine Public reported that Gov. Janet Mills has issued an executive order that allows physicians licensed out-of-state to obtain an emergency license to provide health care in Maine, both in-person or via telemedicine. The order also suspends the fee for retired physicians to reactivate their licenses.

 

Maine Securities Administrator Issues Order Providing Temporary Regulatory Relief For Financial Industry

     On March 25, Maine Securities Administrator Judith Shaw issued an Order to help eliminate regulatory obstacles and barriers some in the financial services industry may be currently facing as a result of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. The Order includes provisions that:

*     Allow out of state financial professionals who are displaced due to the pandemic to operate in Maine temporarily to service existing clients if they meet certain conditions;

*     Allow an investment adviser that may no longer be able to service a client to transfer or reassign the client to another firm with the client's verbal consent;
*     Allow investment advisory firms flexibility in the deadline to provide updated firm information annually to clients;

*       Suspend onsite training requirements for new licensees and the requirement that broker-dealer firms conduct on-site audits of branch offices located in Maine; and,

*     Waive late fees for issuers of securities who miss a filing deadline because of the pandemic and permits filing by email.

 

Connecting Through The Airwaves

     If you missed the livestream this morning, the The Bottom Line podcast for March 26 is archived on our website. This week, co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting are joined by Bruce Wagner, CEO of the Finance Authority of Maine. The show discussed the loan programs available to eligible Maine businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in each Thursday at 10:00 a.m. for The Bottom Line.

 

From Maine Public's Headlines: Maine Chamber Supports Mills New Restrictions on Maine Businesses As COVID-19 Spreads

     Calling Gov. Janet Mills' response to the coronavirus measured and responsible, the head of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce says the organization supports Mills' executive order placing further restrictions on businesses and operations in Maine to curb the spread of COVID-19. The governor's order mandates that all non-essential businesses that allow in-person contact between customers, vendors and others close their physical locations until April 8. Chamber President Dana Connors says what he's been hearing most often from the business community are concerns about the distinction between essential and non-essential businesses, as well as questions about working from home.

     "I give the public and businesses in Maine a lot credit for recognizing the challenge that we face and playing their respective role in trying to get our arms around this issue and come out the other side and get back to normal as quickly as we can," Connors says.

 

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 128 State Street | Suite 101 | Augusta, ME 04330-5630
 Phone: (207) 623-4568
For media inquiries, please contact Katie Clark (207) 233-2230
For membership inquiries, please contact Mark Ellis. (207) 623-4568
  • About Us
    • Connect with Us
    • Affiliates & Partners
    • Meet the Team
    • Our Board
    • Local Chambers of Commerce
  • Membership
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • Member Companies
    • Member Search
  • Public Policy
    • Public Policy Committees
    • Grassroot Resources
    • Find Your Legislator >
      • Representatives
      • Senators
  • Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Annual Meeting and Dinner
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Business Day at the Statehouse
    • Board Meetings & Board Events
    • DC Fly-In
    • Legislative Strictly Social
    • Regional Breakfasts
    • Scramble for Scholars
    • Webinars by The Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Initiatives
    • Education Foundation
    • Keep Maine Competitive
    • Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI)
    • Senior Leaders of Tomorrow Development Program
  • Newsroom
    • Impact Newsletter
    • MSCC Blog
    • The Bottom Line
    • The Maine Take
    • Making Maine Work
    • MERI Roll Call
    • OneVoice Maine Magazine
    • Policy Brief Series with Educate Maine
    • Press Kit
    • External Social Media Policy
  • Member Login