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The Daily Edition for Tuesday, April 7, 2020

To view this Daily Impact online, 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!

 

Governor Mills Announces Plan to Open Alternative Care Sites in Coordination With Maine Hospitals & Cities of Portland and Bangor

Sites could serve less acute patients to free up hospital capacity for COVID-19 cases

 

Governor Janet Mills today directed the Maine National Guard and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) to work with Maine's health care systems to open two alternative care sites in Portland and Bangor as part of the State's preparations to bolster Maine health system capacity in the face of COVID-19.

 

The Governor's Office and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), including the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC), are partnering with MaineHealth, Northern Light Health, Central Maine Healthcare, MaineGeneral Health, and the Maine Hospital Association on comprehensive surge planning to ensure adequate capacity for the treatment for Mainers with COVID-19. These alternative care sites, which are part of this plan, will free up hospital beds, if needed, to accommodate a potential surge of COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks. This effort is a result of the Mills Administration's broader partnership with Maine health systems and providers, first responders, and community providers throughout the State to ensure coordination during this fast-moving pandemic.

 

The effort calls for a total of 100 beds to be set up at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland and at least 50 beds to be set up at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor as additional capacity for hospitals. Logistical support will come from the Maine CDC, Maine National Guard, MEMA, as well as the Cities of Portland and Bangor and Cumberland and Penobscot Counties. While adequate hospital beds remain available across the State and are the first choice for treating all patients in need of inpatient care, the Governor is taking this step to ensure preparedness in the face of a rapidly evolving situation. The alternative care sites are expected to be set up as soon as next week, and staffed shortly thereafter, should they be needed. The health systems will work with the State on the clinical models and staffing for these sites in the coming days. Further details will be released once the plan is finalized.

 

According to modeling, while Maine's critical care capacity is likely sufficient in aggregate for acute COVID-19 patients under most scenarios, staffing for and geographic distribution of those beds remain focal points. Major hospitals are working on options to augment staffing, transfer patients to other sites, and otherwise maximize existing capacity.

 

This capacity could be expanded, such as by converting some beds to critical care beds, though new capacity may need to be concentrated in areas where the necessary staff are already available, in light of preexisting workforce challenges. For example, MaineGeneral Health has the capacity to convert up to 30 beds for COVID-19 critical care. Maine Medical Center could convert some of the 64 beds on its new cancer floors to COVID-19 critical care beds. Northern Light Health has developed a surge plan that will provide care to up to 90 additional patients (COVID-19 or non-COVID-19) requiring ventilator support.

  

Join us for a Tele-Town Hall With Congressman Jared Golden

This week, Congressman Jared Golden is holding two listening sessions by phone for Maine small businesses. The congressman wants to hear from small businesses about their challenges during the coronavirus crisis and what resources they will need going forward.

 

SBA Administrator Amy Bassett, Maine Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors, and representatives of the state's credit unions and banks will be joining Congressman Golden to answer questions and offer guidance about the programs and resources available to help small businesses stay afloat during this crisis.

 

The listening sessions will take place at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9. If you would like to participate, please register online at golden.house.gov/live and call 855-962-1151 when the event starts. In the meantime, take a look at our Small Business Resource Page for more information on the small business loans, grants, and other federal programs available during these challenging times.

 

Governor Mills Encourages Maine Small Businesses to Apply to Federal Paycheck Protection Program

Governor Janet Mills is encouraging Maine small business owners to consider applying for assistance with payroll, rent, and other operational expenses through the new federal Paycheck Protection Program. The program, administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is a loan program designed by Congress to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The SBA will forgive loans through the program for eligible small businesses if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

 

"Small businesses are the backbone of our state's economy, and there is no question that they - and their hardworking employees - are facing significant hardship as a result of COVID-19," said Governor Mills. "The Paycheck Protection Program can deliver vital capital to small businesses and critical income to their workers. I highly encourage Maine small businesses to consider whether this program can help them and their employees during this challenging time."

 

Governor Mills also applauded Maine's banks and lending institutions for standing up the program so quickly over the weekend in order to provide immediate help to Maine small businesses and workers.

 

According to U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who co-authored the legislation creating the program, a total of 1,816 Maine employers have been approved for $510.9 million in Paycheck Protection Plan loans. Lenders began processing loan applications April 3, 2020 and the program is available through June 30, 2020.

 

Maine small businesses are also eligible for Economic Injury Disaster loans through the SBA. According to the SBA, the loans offer up to $2 million in assistance for small businesses and may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact.

  

Maine State Chamber's Webinar Offers Guidance and Information Concerning the Emergency Paid Sick Leave, Expanded Family Medical Leave, and Payroll Tax Credit Provisions

This morning, the Maine State Chamber, in partnership with Pierce Atwood, hosted a webinar for employers on the latest guidance and information concerning the emergency paid sick leave, expanded family medical leave, and payroll tax credit provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act. More than 170 participants from businesses across Maine attended the virtual event.

 

Maine State Chamber EVP Peter Gore moderated the event. Katy Rand, a partner at Pierce Atwood, presented to attendees. With so many variables, exceptions and ambiguity in the FFCRA and CARES Act, understanding the details of this new law is important for every employer.

 

Rand presented detailed guidance on the family and medical leave expansion in the FFCRA, including qualifications for paid sick leave, eligibility, and the amount of pay. Rand also addressed provisions allowing employers to be reimbursed for paid family and medical leave through a payroll tax credit, and specific guidance for employers on IRS requirements for documentation. Regarding whether employers can require employees to use PTO, Rand indicated this is unclear in the FFCRA and that more guidance is being sought.

 

Regarding changes to unemployment insurance at both the state and federal levels, Rand noted that eligibility has been expanded, the waiting period has been waived, and emphasized that employers' experience ratings will not be impacted if employees are laid-off due to the pandemic. Direct reimburser relief is also built into the CARES Act. Due to increased payments through federal compensation that will go into effect once a state formally enters into an agreement with the federal government, Rand mentioned that there are circumstances where someone will earn more on unemployment than they may currently working. It is important to note that the U.S. Department of Labor still expects states to investigate and police fraud in those cases where employees may be trying to take advantage of this situation.

 

Rand also touched on specifics of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and loan forgiveness. PPP offers loans of 2.5 times the monthly payroll for employers with fewer than 500 employees. For the loans to be forgiven, employers are required to spend at least 75% on payroll costs. The employee tax credit is a different option for businesses who do not borrow under PPP.

 

If you missed the live webinar this morning, please click here to listen to the recording. Stay tuned for invitations to additional webinars the Maine State Chamber plans to host on important business issues surrounding the COVID-19.

  

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Guidance on Unemployment Insurance

Among the issues on which we are getting the most questions are those surrounding the changes made to Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. As has been widely reported the CARES Act provides significant expanded benefits for many employees and made some who were previously ineligible for UI, like the self employed and independent contractors, newly eligible.

While there are many changes from the CARES Act, some basic points are worth keeping mind:

 

* UI is still a state administered benefit, with federal requirements overlayed. In the case of the CARES Act, UI will still be provided through state agencies, in most cases after the state government signs an agreement with DOL. Thus, when determining eligibility requirements, it's best to consult your state's UI agency.

 

* Special Note on the Federal Unemployment Program Update from Maine DOL: Implementation is still in progress - new benefits are not yet available. All states, including Maine, still have not received the necessary guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to implement the new federal unemployment benefits for people who are self-employed. U.S. DOL guidance was issued Saturday regarding eligibility for $600 payments. This is the first step. Both programs will be available retroactively once implemented. Stay tuned!

 

* To be eligible for UI benefits, an employee must be temporarily or permanently laid off or suffer a reduction in hours. They must also be able, available, and actively looking for work, although states have some flexibility in interpreting these requirements.

 

* The highly publicized supplemental benefit of $600 expires on July 31, 2020. This additional amount is available to employees claiming traditional state UI benefits, those who were not previously eligible for UI but were made so under the CARES Act, and those who are claiming benefits because their hours have been reduced.

 

* Individuals who exhaust their traditional 26 weeks of state UI benefits are eligible for an additional 13 weeks (total of 39). If these weeks occur after July 31, 2020, the benefit will only be the traditional state UI benefit without the additional $600 unless Congress authorizes an extension.

 

* Unless a state programs says otherwise, an employee who is teleworking for pay, or taking paid leave is generally ineligible for regular UI benefits. The CARES Act states that employees receiving new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance are ineligible if they are getting paid leave benefits.

 

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has authority for implementing the UI provisions of the CARES Act. They have issued the following sets of guidance:

1 The first ETA guidance from March 22 talks about state flexibility to determine eligibility for UI;

2 The second guidance summarizes the major UI provisions;

3 The third guidance discusses the mechanics of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program; and,

4 The fourth guidance discusses the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program and includes clarifying examples.

  

We Want to Hear From You!

In this extraordinary time, we are looking for ways to creatively communicate. For now, face-to-face, in-person meetings have been put on hold. Instead, we are seeing and meeting with each other virtually or over the phone. However, the most powerful way for us to communicate - the written word - remains always available. And we want you to share your words with us and with the rest of the business community.

 

Starting next week, we are offering blog space in our Daily Impact for our members to tell their story.

 

We want to hear from you - what challenges you face and how you've overcome them. What you and your employees are thinking and doing in this dramatically different world in which we continue to operate. Tell us about what innovations your company or employees might be doing. How you may have retooled or adapted your company to meet your customers' needs. Basically, we want to hear about what you are doing, how you are doing it, and what it has meant to your business and your employees in the current COVID-19 environment in your own plain-spoken words.

 

Each blog entry should be 300 to 500 words. We truly hope you consider this offer to join us in create a written history of the business community's resilience and innovation during this extraordinary timeframe in our country and in our state.

 

Please submit your entries to blog@mainechamber.org. For more information or questions, please contact Mark Ellis by emailing mellis@mainechamber.org or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 109.

   

Maine Small Businesses, Individuals Should be Wary of COVID-19 Scam Surge

Scammers are using the COVID-19 crisis to steal money from both businesses and individuals in a variety of ways, officials from financial, consumer and government agencies warn. The U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and state finance and banking departments have all issued alerts about scams related to the health crisis and its economic impact in recent days. Multiple resources for businesses and individuals to recognize and report scams are available.

 

Don't Forget to Listen to This Week's Edition of The Bottom Line

Amy K. Bassett, district director of SBA's Maine district office, is this week's special guest on The Bottom Line podcast broadcasting live at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2020. She will join 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 accessing the 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.

To listen live, visit www.williamsbroadcasting.net scroll down to "Listen Online," or catch up with the archived shows.

 

Share Your Story With Us!

The stories below are just a few examples of numerous Maine companies stepping up or pivoting to make the desperately-needed protective gear and other products, as Maine people resourcefully address the challenges of this pandemic. If your company is one of the many "Mainers helping Mainers," we want to hear your story!

 

Spectrum Hiring 100 Workers, Giving Across-The-Board Raises in Portland

According to a recent Press Herald story, Spectrum is looking to hire at least 100 customer service workers for its call center in Portland. Even before the coronavirus pandemic resulted in thousands of Mainers filing for unemployment, Spectrum had planned to expand its workforce to help deliver and manage internet, television, voice and mobile networks, the company said Monday.

 

"Now more than ever, our essential workforce continues to provide the critical task of helping customers stay connected during this very challenging time," said Lara Pritchard, senior director of communications for the Northeast region. "People are out of work, and we have jobs available that will help us to continue to deliver and support the communities we serve."

 

The company also announced a $1.50 hourly raise for field operations and customer service employees, retroactive to last month when they received their regular annual merit increases. That lifts Spectrum's minimum wage to $16.50 and is part of a plan to raise wages to at least $20 per hour by 2022.

 

 

SMCC students getting on-the-job training due to coronavirus

Students studying respiratory therapy at Southern Maine Community College are getting some valuable on-the-job training because of the coronavirus. SMCC says eight students from their respiratory therapy program are assisting veteran therapists at Maine Medical Center because of the coronavirus, something the students say is both scary and meaningful. Erin Ganga and Maddie Cole are SMCC student trainees and credit the college with preparing them to deal with the coronavirus. Both students say the coronavirus has put a spotlight on respiratory therapists and how valuable they are. The professors at SMCC say their students are making a difference. Roy-Gosselin says while the students aren't dealing with COVID-19 patients themselves, they are assisting the respiratory therapists who are on the front line by delivering medications and performing breathing treatments.

  

Scarborough manufacturer's device may help more COVID-19 patients breathe

A recent Mainebiz story featured Amplify Additive, which is located in Scarborough. The company is developing a device to make more efficient use of scarce medical ventilators, desperately needed to treat patients with COVID-19. Where enough ventilators aren't available, Amplify's splitter device might allow one ventilator to help multiple patients breathe.

 

Brian McLaughlin, the company's founder and owner, and his team scoured the internet for open-source designs of products that could help alleviate the current shortage of lifesaving equipment, according to a news release. The team accessed a design from Interactive CAD Solutions for a ventilator splitter and adapted it to their software and 3D printing machines. Made of implant-grade titanium that is used for orthopedic implant applications, the devices can be sterilized in the hospital setting via autoclaves.

 

Amplify began working on titanium-printed prototypes a week ago. After successfully designing a prototype, the team set to work on a short-term solution to saving lives. When stacked and printed, Amplify Additive could develop around 40 parts every two to three days on each of their three machines, creating nearly 1,000 in a month.

  

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 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
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    • Regional Breakfasts
    • Scramble for Scholars
    • Webinars by The Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Initiatives
    • Campus Career Connect
    • Dream It. Do It.
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    • Keep Maine Competitive
    • Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI)
    • This is ME Counting on You
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