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The Daily Edition for Thursday, April 2, 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 have 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 are here to help in any way we can!

 

 

Maine State Chamber comments on unemployment, updates to CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program

Forgivable loans can help employers maintain and restore workforce, re-hire laid-off workers

 

Unemployment claims announced today indicate nearly 24,000 Mainers filed for unemployment the week ending Saturday. Funds allocated in the Paycheck Protection Program of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed last week can help employers maintain their workforce and re-hire laid-off employees. Beginning Friday, April 3, small businesses can apply for 100% federally guaranteed emergency loans that will be forgiven if borrowers maintain their payrolls during the COVID-19 pandemic or restore their payrolls afterward. Loans can be up to 2.5 times the borrower's average monthly payroll costs, not to exceed $10 million.

"It is extremely important that Maine businesses consider applying for a 'Paycheck Protection Program' forgivable loan to help them stay connected with their employees during the pandemic," said Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors. "These loans are critical to helping Maine businesses, economy, and workforce get through this crisis so they can get back to business as soon as we get to the other side of it."

 

Small businesses and sole proprietors can begin applying for Paycheck Protection Program loans on April 3. Independent contractors and self-employed individuals can apply beginning on April 10. Businesses can apply through any existing U.S Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating.

 

While the program is open until June 30, 2020, the government is advising borrowers to apply as soon as possible. An updated guide and checklist for businesses interested in applying for a Paycheck Protection Program loan can be found on the Maine State Chamber of Commerce's website.

 

Additional updates to the Maine State Chamber website include a guide to the Small Business Administration's long-standing Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), and a guide to a new employee retention tax credit for employers who are closed, partially closed, or experiencing significant revenue losses as a result of COVID-19. Detailed COVID-19 information and resources for employers and employees are regularly updated at www.mainechamber.org/covid19.html.

 

 

Updated Resources from the Maine State Chamber of Commerce

The information regarding the federal package and its implementation evolves very quickly. To make sure you have the most current information possible, we have updated these documents on our website. In addition to the items below, you can also access a list of approved Maine lenders and PPP application forms.

 

Understanding the Small Business Loans Available Through the CARES Act

Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Small Business
Guide and Checklist

Guide to the Employee Retention Tax Credit for COVID-19 Impacted Employers

Guide to SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loans

 

 

Important Notes from the U.S. Small Business Administration

BE AWARE OF FRAUD WHEN APPLYING FOR ASSISTANCE: Scammers are using the Small Business Administration's (SBA) name to con small businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 crisis through phone calls, emails, text messages and letters. Please note:

* If you are contacted by someone claiming to be from the SBA, suspect fraud.

* Emails from SBA or other legitimate government agencies will always end in .gov.

* There is no cost to apply for a COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan and SBA will never ask you to provide a credit card.

* Do not release any private information (social security number, date of birth, etc.) or banking information in response to an unsolicited caller, letter, email, or text.

* If you are in the process of applying for an SBA loan and receive email correspondence asking for personal information, ensure that the referenced application number is consistent with your application number.

* An SBA logo on an email or webpage does not guarantee the information is accurate or from the SBA.

* Check for spelling and grammatical errors in an email and be wary of clicking on any links or attachments.

* For help with applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. You can also use a text telephone (TTY) by calling 1-800-877-8339.

* For inquiries regarding support for small businesses, send an email to answerdesk@sba.gov.

* Visit the Small Business Cybersecurity site to learn more about small Business Cybersecurity tips, common threats, training, and best practices.

* Visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cyber Infrastructure site for small business resources.

* Trust your instincts! If something seems too good to be true, then it probably is too good to be true.

 

UPDATES TO THE ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN APPLICATION PROCESS: Several changes have been made to simplify and streamline the process of applying for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through the SBA. If you have already submitted your application, you will be contacted with instructions to finalize the process.

* Start the process HERE.

* You will be asked to fill in some basic information about your business and the business owners.

* On the last screen, if you opt in to the $10,000 request for emergency funds, you will need to supply your bank account and routing number.

* You will see a summary of all your information that you can review prior to submitting your application.

* You will not be asked to upload any documentation at submittal; however, you may be asked for supporting information at a later date.

* If you submitted your application prior to March 27, you will need to re-visit the website HERE to submit the $10,000 request for emergency funds.

 

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM: The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses. Small businesses and eligible nonprofit organizations, Veterans organizations, and Tribal businesses described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they also meet program size standards. Under this program:

* Eligible recipients may qualify for a loan up to $10 million determined by 8 weeks of prior average payroll plus an additional 25% of that amount.

* Loan payments will be deferred for six months.

* If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first 8 weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination.

 

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SUPPLY COORDINATION: Maine MEP is working with Maine Medical Center, Northern Light Health, The University of Maine and Manufacturers Association of Maine to coordinate manufacturing of the medical equipment our hospitals will need to combat COVID-19 in Maine. Please contact MaineMEP if you have the ability to help in any aspect of the manufacture of the following items: Improvised "Aerosol Box;" Face shields; Ventilators; Hand sanitizer, particularly looking for capability to mix and bottle; and, Mask sewing, particularly looking for organizations with the capability to sew thin material.

 

Maine Health Supply has asked that manufacturers of any of the following items please reach out: masks, ear-loop procedure masks & N95s; infrared thermometers; Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR); nitrile gloves, especially long cuff; tall boot covers (paper/gauze type product); shoe covers (paper/gauze type product); PDI (purple top) germicidal disposable wipes (active ingredients- n-Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chloride and n-Alkyl dimethyl benzoyl ammonium chloride); sterilized alcohol; and, disposable gowns. Anticipated possible future needs to include Tyvek suits and charcoal mask filters.

 

 

Coronoavirus pandemic creates fiscal mess for states - and the pain continues

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues, states around the country are beginning to grapple with the huge fiscal impacts the pandemic will continue to have on state revenues going forward. Maine State Chamber staff was on a conference call today with the Council on State Taxation (COST). While most states have suspended or delayed legislative sessions, some have adjourned. Most state legislatures will have to reconvene to deal with issues left unfinished.

 

Inevitably, state legislatures across the country will also have to deal with budget shortfalls surrounding the decreasing revenues related to sales taxes and income taxes seriously impacted by the economic downturn. Already, states around the country are reporting huge financial losses that are only going to get worse the longer this virus has a hold on the economy.

 

Nationally, spending has been decreased by significant percentages in the various industries: the airline industry down 102%; lodging is down 121%; restaurants down 56%; gas sales down 46%; sales of clothing 65%; and, online sales of electronics down 37%. Interestingly enough, home improvement products sales are only down by 9%, given the fact people who remain home are doing improvements. It was noted that online sales are doing well. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Caprara.

 

 

A Special Webinar Presentation FromThe Maine State Chamber:

What Every Employer Needs to Know During Covid-19

As employers have been wrestling with the financial impact of the COVID-related shut-down of major sectors of the Maine and U.S. economies, there has been an avalanche of remedial legislation at both the state and federal level directed at easing the impact on employers and employees alike. However, when legislation is enacted this quickly, it's inevitable that it will create many questions.

 

This webinar will get you up to speed on the latest guidance and understanding concerning the emergency paid sick leave, expanded Family Medical Leave, and payroll tax credit provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. We'll do the same for the enhancements to unemployment benefits under the CARES Act and Maine's Emergency Unemployment Act.

 

Join Katy Rand of Pierce Atwood and Peter Gore of the Maine State Chamber as they help you understand what you need to know to make critical decisions for your workforce and your business.

 

To register in advance for this meeting, please click here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have questions you'd like to make sure we answer, please click here to submit them.

 

 

Did You Miss The Bottom Line This Morning?

Listen in anytime from our archives!

Sen. Angus King (I-ME) was our guest on The Bottom Line podcast today. King joined The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss the latest developments and challenges businesses are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and programs available to businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic through the federal rescue package, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Listen to it in our archives.

 

 

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine and ConvenientMD Partner to Open Drive-Thru COVID-19 Testing Site in South Portland

On Wed., April 1, ConvenientMD and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine announced they are partnering to open a COVID-19 testing site at Anthem's office on Gannett Drive in South Portland. Both companies also announced the opening of a test site in Portsmouth, N.H. yesterday.

Before visiting the testing site, patients will first be evaluated at home by a ConvenientMD provider using telehealth capabilities. After evaluation, the provider will determine eligibility for testing and refer the patient to the high-volume COVID-19 test site. Anyone in Maine can visit this testing site, and if under 18, a legal guardian must be present at the time of the virtual urgent care service.

"Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to working with our provider partners in Maine to keep our communities safe during this health crisis. That's why we're glad to work with ConvenientMD to increase patient access to testing in the Greater Portland area as identifying those patients who are COVID-19 positive will ultimately help to prevent the spread of this virus" said Denise McDonough, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine. "From expanding access to telehealth to increasing access to testing, we will continue to support efforts to help Mainers access the care they need during this crisis."

Virtual Urgent Care services and COVID-19 screening and testing when indicated are available at this time from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., seven days a week. To be evaluated for COVID-19, call (207) 358-7400. ConvenientMD is a leading provider of urgent care and walk-in medical services in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. Anthem has been providing health benefits in Maine for more than 80 years.

 

 

UMaine, Distillers and Brewers Pump Out Hand Sanitizer For Hospitals

With hand sanitizer in short supply, the University of Maine has partnered with the state's craft distillers and brewers to make more. They produce the germ-killing distilling ethanol and UMaine then adds glycerol, hydrogen peroxide and distilled water. More than 300 gallons of sanitizer have now been distributed to medical centers in the state, including to hospitals in Bangor, Lewiston, Machias and the County, as well as tribal health centers.

 

 

Friday, April 3 | National Small Business Town Hall Series Events hosted by Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

On Fri., March 27, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Inc. held a virtual National Small Business Town Hall to help answer questions relating to the stimul. During that session, editor-at-large Kimberly Weisul and Neil Bradley, the U.S. Chamber's executive vice president and chief policy officer, discussed exactly what the bill could mean to small businesses: where it provides opportunities, where it creates headaches, and the strategies that will best enable founders to benefit.

 

Since then, the federal government has acted, and $350 billion in loans are now available to help small businesses impacted by the coronavirus. Businesses now are challenged to understand the lending process, and then act to take advantage of this emergency aid. This Friday, April 3 at noon ET, Inc. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will team up once again for a virtual National Small Business Town Hall to help small businesses navigate the process of accessing the new loans available to them.

 

Hosts Weisul Bradley will discuss the latest guidance from the federal government on the CARES Act, as well as the path to recovery for the economy as a whole. A panel of business experts will be on hand to answer your questions on how businesses can tap into these new resources, share different ways to incorporate these loans into a broader business plan, and offer counsel on how and when entrepreneurs can begin to think about recovery. For more information about this event, please email COEvents@uschamber.com.

 

 

Friday, April 10 | U.S. Department of Labor hosts National Online Dialogue

As everyone works to implement the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), they may encounter unique questions that are not yet addressed in the U.S. DOL's guidance or in the temporary rule released recently, please consider submitting your questions to the national online dialogue.

 

The U.S. Department of Labor is hosting a national online dialogue, now extended until close of business on April 10, to provide employers and employees with an innovative opportunity to offer their perspective as the department develops compliance assistance materials and outreach strategies related to the implementation of the FFCRA. The ideas and comments gathered from this dialogue will inform compliance assistance guidance, resources, and tools, as well as outreach approaches, that assist employers and employees in understanding their responsibilities and rights under the FFCRA.

 

 

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Copyright Maine State Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
 128 State Street | Suite 101 | Augusta, ME 04330-5630
 Phone: (207) 623-4568
For media inquiries, please contact Jen Webber, (207) 939-0213
For membership inquiries, please contact Mark Ellis. (207) 623-4568
  • About Us
    • Connect with Us
    • Affiliates & Partners
    • Our Board
    • Meet the Team
    • President's Message
    • External Social Media Policy
  • Membership
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • Return on Investment
    • Member Search
  • Public Policy
    • Public Hearings of Interest
    • Legislation of Interest
    • Public Policy Committees
    • Grassroot Resources
    • Find Your Legislator >
      • Representatives
      • Senators
  • Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • 2022 Annual Meeting
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Business Day at the Statehouse
    • Board Meetings & Board Events
    • DC Fly-In
    • Legislative Social
    • Policy Issues Workshops
    • Regional Breakfasts
    • Scramble for Scholars
    • Webinars by The Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Initiatives
    • Campus Career Connect
    • Dream It. Do It.
    • Education Foundation
    • Keep Maine Competitive
    • Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI)
    • This is ME Counting on You
    • Senior Leaders of Tomorrow Development Program
  • Newsroom
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • 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
  • Member Login