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The Daily
Edition for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 |
To view this Daily Impact online, click here. |
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Welcome to
your Daily Impact newsletter! |
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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. |
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Do you have a question? ASK THE
EXPERTS. |
We are here to
help in any way we can! |
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Mills, Two New England
Governors Working Together to Figure Out When to Reopen Their States'
Economies |
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During yesterday's daily CDC
briefing, Governor Janet Mills said she's working
closely with the governors of New Hampshire and Vermont to monitor
outbreaks of COVID-19 and determine the best time to reopen their respective
economies. While it's still too soon to say when the slow return to normalcy
might begin, Governor Mills indicated that the governors will make those
decisions, not the President. She did make it clear that Maine and its neighbors
will make their own determinations about when it's safe to lift restrictions
and that those decisions will be based on science, medical evidence, and public
health and safety criteria. Maine Public noted that Mills, a Democrat, said she's working with New Hampshire's Governor Chris Sununu and Vermont's Governor Phil Scott, both Republicans, to determine how and when the three New England states might reopen their economies. Mills says collaborating with New Hampshire and Vermont made more sense than joining a widely publicized consortium led by New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo. She says the three states share many similarities, including rural economies, cultural norms and demographics. COVID-19 data show the three states have been comparably affected by the disease: Maine hit 734 confirmed cases Tuesday; New Hampshire has 748 current cases; and, Vermont has 752. All three states have experienced roughly the same number of fatalities. |
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As Maine Small Businesses
Face Delays for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Collins, King Urge SBA to
Speed Up Funding, Provide "Clear, Concise, and Accurate Guidance" on
Eligibility |
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Under the CARES Act, small businesses were told they would
receive an advance of up to $10,000 in emergency loans within three days of
making the request Today, U.S. Senators Susan
Collins and Angus King pressed the administration to speedily release funds
from the Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Grant Program, which
was established in the CARES Act to make sure small businesses facing
immediate needs could quickly access the direct financial support they need
to survive. In a letter
to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza,
Senators Collins and King raise their concerns that despite the law's intent
to provide funds within three days of the business' request, many small
businesses in Maine and across the country are still waiting after a week or
more to receive this vital support. To remedy the situation, the senators
request that the SBA provide "clear, concise, and accurate guidance" and
release EIDL funds swiftly to businesses. "The coronavirus epidemic has created extraordinary hardship for small businesses and their employees in every part of our Nation," wrote Senators Collins and King. "When Congress voted to establish the Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan Grant program, we did so because small businesses require direct financial support today. We ask that the SBA release emergency EIDL grants to businesses promptly and also issue clear, concise, and accurate guidance on the EIDL program immediately. The EIDL program, similar to the PPP, is under tremendous financial strain due to overwhelming demand, and we urge the Administration to request additional funding for EIDLs in addition to the request it has made for the PPP." "We also ask that the SBA release emergency EIDL grants to businesses promptly and issue clear, concise, and accurate guidance on the EIDL program immediately. Doing so will ensure that small businesses speedily access EIDL and emergency EIDL grant resources, as Congress intended." |
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Coronavirus Begins to Hit Maine
Workers' Compensation System |
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The Portland Press Herald
recently reported that the state workers' compensation system has begun to
receive its first claims for workplace-related
exposure to coronavirus. Workplace safety experts say they also expect to
soon see other claims that are related to the pandemic: Injuries suffered at
home by Mainers who are working remotely without the benefit of
ergonomically-designed workstations. "Spare bedrooms, basements and
kitchen counters are newly transformed into eight-hour work spaces that often
are not appropriately engineered for comfort or safety," said Tony Payne,
senior vice president for external affairs at MEMIC, the Portland-based
workers' compensation insurer. He said the company's prevention team is
working with employers to help them protect home workers, providing guidance
and suggestions. Jeff Eddinger, a senior
division executive for regulatory business management with the National
Center for Compensation Insurance, a nationwide industry association for
compensation insurers based in Florida, said insurers nationwide are
anticipating a wave of COVID-19 related claims. "It's safe to say there is
going to be an impact, there will be claims due to this disease," Eddinger
said. But he pointed out that claims overall were declining, because many
workplaces have closed or scaled back operations, and he said the workers'
compensation system in the U.S. was healthy enough that it should be able to
respond to COVID-19 related claims. Employers seem to be aware of
the issues switching to a home-based work space can entail, said Christine
Dube, a physical therapist who works on injury prevention in the workplace
with a number of Maine companies. Some employers, for example, are
encouraging workers to bring their chairs home from their offices. But Dube
also advises workers to take care of themselves by making sure their home
work space is comfortable and safe. John Rohde, executive director of the Maine Workers Compensation Board, believes the state is well-positioned to handle and process claims related to COVID-19 - although like most other state agencies the board is currently conducting most of its work remotely with video and telephone conferences. Rohde said it was important for workers to report suspected workplace injuries or exposures to contagious diseases, like COVID-19, quickly and for employers to quickly notify insurers or their self-insurance departments. He said the sooner an exposure or injury can be investigated the more quickly preventive measures can be put in place to protect others. |
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Don't Fall For A COVID-19
Scam! |
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The Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) has begun to distribute COVID-19
Economic Impact Payments. For most Americans, this will be a direct
deposit into your bank account. For the unbanked, elderly or other groups
that have traditionally received tax refunds via paper check, they will
receive their economic impact payments in this manner as well. With any good
news story from the IRS, comes an opportunity for criminals and scammers to
take advantage of the American public. Scammers may try to get you to sign
over your check to them. Scammers may use this as an opportunity to get you
to "verify" your filing information in order to receive your money,
using your personal information to file false tax returns in an identity
theft scheme. Between these two
schemes, everyone receiving an economic impact payment is at risk. |
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Senator Collins Presses
for Increased Internet Access in Rural Communities During COVID-19 Pandemic |
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Yesterday, in an effort to expand broadband access to residents of rural and low-income areas that are facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Susan Collins wrote to Crosby Kemper, the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), calling on him to direct additional resources to libraries in these communities to improve Internet connectivity. The CARES Act, which was
signed into law last month, designates $50 million in funding for IMLS to
prevent, prepare for, and respond to the impact of the coronavirus. This funding can be used by libraries to
purchase mobile "hot spots," allowing residents to check out these devices
for home use. "The challenges imposed on businesses, families, and others from mandatory school closures and business interruptions are particularly difficult for those Americans who do not have access to reliable broadband in their homes," wrote Senator Collins. "Hot spots are inexpensive and easily deployable, and focusing funds on these devices will have a significant short-term impact. I urge you to use the tools at your disposal to help close the digital divide and provide temporary relief for rural and low-income residents." In Maine, an estimated 12 to 13 percent (83,000) of households still lack adequate access to broadband. In addition, more than 5,300 of the state's 180,000 students lack broadband access, creating challenges for those trying to work or learn remotely. |
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Maine Labor Officials Making Changes to Help People Claim
Unemployment Benefits Yesterday,WGME
reported that the unemployment system in Maine has been
struggling to meet demand, and now state labor
officials are making changes to help people claim benefits. The first change
is already scheduled to start next week and will last until the end of July. For
those claiming unemployment benefits, every time they get a check, there will
be an extra $600. |
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"We
are still working on implementing the other two programs, which are benefits
for the self-employed and extended benefits for those who have already
exhausted their regular unemployment benefits," Jess Picard of the Maine
Department of Labor said. Picard
says there isn't a timeline yet for extending benefits or getting benefits
for those who are self-employed, but she says people who are self-employed
and out of work should not file yet, you'll get rejected, and to wait until
the new system goes live. She says in the meantime, gather paperwork - anything
that shows 2019 earnings, such as a 2019 tax returns. The other
major changes are the phones. "We were receiving about 250,000 phone calls in
the morning, which our phone lines just couldn't handle," Picard said. Now
they've added phone staff, extended call hours to 3 p.m. and changed the
first three days of the week to an alphabetical list. On Monday the labor
department takes callers with last names A-H, Tuesday I-Q; Wednesday R-Z. Thursday
and Friday are dedicated for anyone who couldn't get through. Still,
Picard says the easiest way is to file online, and
she hopes these changes will speed up the claims process and get more cash to
those who need it right now. Picard says the most important thing to remember
is to file your weekly certification. |
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Q&A with Maine DOL |
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The Maine
Department of Labor is constantly adding to its extensive online FAQs.
Today we'd like to feature this question: Q: I closed my business and laid my staff
off a few weeks ago due to COVID-19-related requirements. I plan to re-open in early May and have
notified my employees I'd like them to return to do their jobs. However, many
of them do not want to come back to work and prefer to stay on unemployment
especially now that the additional $600/week from the federal program is
added to their benefit. What can be done to encourage these workers to come
back to my business? Can they just stay on unemployment even if I have told
them I want them back to work? A: It
depends. This is a complex situation and eligibility for unemployment will
depend on the claimants' personal circumstances. When those receiving unemployment benefits
file their required weekly certification, they must answer questions
regarding whether they have been offered any work in the past week. Employers
should let MDOL know if they have recalled employees back to work and if
those employees have turned down the work offer. MDOL will analyze the
circumstances on a case-by-case basis to see if there is a valid reason for
refusing the work or not. For example, under the new federal programs (e.g.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance-PUA), unemployment benefits are made
available to a broader set of people with circumstances affected by COVID-19.
MDOL's determination may also depend upon the circumstances of the particular
workplace, such as whether the employer is taking steps to minimize the risk
of COVID-19 exposure, or such as by following recommendations by the Maine
CDC that are in place at the relevant time. If MDOL determines that an offer
of suitable work was made and that there was no valid reason to refuse it,
unemployment benefits including the $600 additional benefit would be
disallowed. If regular unemployment benefits are denied, the additional $600
a week in federal benefits (under Federal Pandemic Unemployment
Compensation-FPUC) would also be denied.
In any event, the additional $600 benefit under FPUC is temporary and
expires July 25 for all applicants. |
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Maine Congressional
Delegation Requests More PPE For First Responders |
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According to WMTW, Maine's
congressional delegation is asking the federal DHHS and FEMA to help
the state get more personal protective equipment through the COVID-19
Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force. U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus
King and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden asked that DHHS and
FEMA work together to provide clear guidance to states and others on how to
gain access. "New research out of the CDC indicates that COVID-19 is more contagious and spreads faster than initially measured. Older adults remain in the highest risk category, accounting for eight out of ten COVID-19 deaths in the United States," Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden wrote. "Maine's population is the oldest in the nation by median age, and Maine's hospitalization rate due to COVID-19 is 6.2 per 100,000 - higher than the national average of 4.6. Further, health care workers in Maine account for 17 percent of cases." "With each passing day that the virus continues to spread, health care workers and first line responders across the country are bravely risking their lives to aid their fellow Americans through this devastating pandemic," the delegation continued. "It is imperative that those on the front lines of this pandemic - the health care workers and first responders - have ready access to potentially lifesaving PPE." Maine has struggled to get
enough PPE to meet the need. Many local businesses are stepping up to help
produce needed items. |
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Senator Collins Announces
More Than $83 Million to Help Maine's Transportation System Respond to
COVID-19 Pandemic |
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One of the Covid-19 relief
packages approved by Congress and signed by President Trump includes money
for public transportation. According to a statement
released by Senator Susan Collins' office, about $83 million is headed to
Maine. The money will be used keep public
transportation operating as ridership numbers decline do to the
coronavirus pandemic. |
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Use the Maine State Chamber's blog and Daily
Impact to tell your story! |
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Numerous Maine companies stepping up or pivoting nimbly, as
Maine people resourcefully address the challenges of this pandemic. Share
your perspective and experience with us and with the rest of the business
community. How are you facing and overcoming the challenges posed by this pandemic?
What are you and your employees doing in this dramatically different economy?
Tell us about the innovations your company or employees are making or ways you
have adapted your company to meet your customers' needs. Each blog entry should
be 300 to 500 words. Join us in creating a written history of the business community's
resilience and innovation during this extraordinary time. Please submit your entries to [email protected]. For more information
or questions, please contact Mark Ellis by emailing [email protected] or by calling (207)
623-4568, ext. 109. |
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Maine Voices: Work smart
to keep as many businesses open as possible |
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There are ways to focus on public health without
unnecessarily compromising the health of our economy. About The Author: Jim Dinkle is executive director of FirstPark, a business park in Oakland. |
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The coronavirus is hitting
Maine hard. Our state has been exposed to hundreds of cases, as the pandemic
spreads and testing accelerates. This public health crisis is
affecting Mainers on a most personal level. But the pandemic's economic
impact cannot be understated, either. From hotels to restaurants and
small businesses across the state, job loss is a very real concern. Business
closures are a very real concern. Recently, the stock price of publicly
traded companies based in Maine fell to a 52-week low. At the same time,
retailers such as L.L. Bean, Bull Moose Music and Springer's Jewelers decided
to shutter their stores for the time being to "flatten the curve." This is
happening everywhere. While public health is of the
utmost concern right now, for the sake of our economy, business must still go
on. Perhaps it may not go on "as usual," but we should work together and work
smart to keep as many businesses open as possible, while supporting local
businesses that have put practices in place to avoid physical interactions as
much as possible. Maine's economy depends on our
collective resilience. The state's economic output comes out to about $65
billion annually. Our state is home to nearly 540,000 private-sector
employees. Most of them work for small businesses, which account for 99
percent of all businesses in the state. This is all at risk. Fortunately, there are ways to
focus on public health without unnecessarily compromising the health of our
economy. On an individual level, we all need to take personal hygiene
seriously. From washing our hands regularly to wiping down surfaces, Mainers
can do their part to contain the spread of the coronavirus. In March, we at
FirstPark held our annual meeting outside and representatives from our 24
communities practiced social distancing. We must remain resilient. Then there's the big picture
for the business community. It's up to our business leaders to instill
confidence in their employees, customers and clients. Do that, and they can
instill confidence in the broader economy. The best place to start is by
elevating workplace culture. Businesses can make their employees feel
comfortable and support working from home. Fortunately, technological
innovation allows us to conduct business without having face-to-face
interactions. Teleconferencing can replace business meetings and other
in-person contact, at least for the time being. For example, at FirstPark,
our clients are using high-speed fiber internet to communicate with the
outside world - and they haven't missed a beat. At the same time, businesses
need to communicate with their customers and clients on a regular basis,
explaining all of the precautions being taken to prevent the spread of germs.
Sending out email newsletters or posting signage goes a long way. The general
public needs to know that public health matters just as much as the bottom
line does. This leads to higher consumer confidence and, ultimately, greater
economic activity. Businesses at FirstPark, such as T-Mobile, are also
currently hiring to grow their workforce. Remember: We are all in this
together. While business may not be conducted "as usual" these days, we still
need to do business and support one another. This is especially true for
small business, which forms the backbone of Maine's economy. Let's all stay healthy. But let's
also foster a healthy business climate - now and always. |
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Central Maine Ingenuity
Helping Meet The Need For Face Shields |
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Central Maine educators and
business owner are among the people who are putting
their skills to work in order to provide protective gear for those coming
in contact with coronavirus. Like nearly everyone else,
Russell Anderson has been transfixed by the spread of coronavirus across the
world. As the West Gardiner man has followed the news over the past month or
so, he has been struck by one overwhelming fact: The people on the front
lines of confronting the highly contagious and fast-spreading virus are
lacking personal protective equipment. "It was mind-blowing to me
that these are the people putting their lives on the line every day
consistently and they are short of what they need to provide that service,"
Anderson said. It came to him that now is the
time to practice what he preaches every year to the dozens of kids he teaches
in his science, technology, engineering and math classes at Gardiner Regional
Middle School. With the help of Patsy Adams, a Gardiner-area school district
colleague, he's making face shields with the two 3D printers he uses in his classes.
Adams is using the 3D printer she got from the Perloff Family Foundation and
uses in her class at the Pittston-Randolph Consolidated School in Pittston. On Tuesday, Anderson delivered
his first batch to the Gardiner Police Department and took an order from the
Gardiner Fire Department. Public safety officials have protocols in place to
help determine if people seeking help may be infected with the virus or may
have come into contact with a health care provider who may have been exposed. At the same time, Justin Wing
has been working with different technology and different materials to produce
face shields at his business, American Awards Inc. in Augusta. Wing, with his
laser engraver that can cut plastic, had made some headsets and shields after
being contacted by one of his vendors. Right now, with schools and colleges
shut down, his award and trophy business has slowed and he has some time to
give to the project. "I think people are scared and want to take as much precaution as they can," Wing said. "I think that's why there is some interest in people wanting some of this stuff outside of a normal vendor situation." Wing said while he hasn't
heard locally that demand exists, he has sent several shields to an aunt in
Brooklyn who has friends who work in health care. The rate of coronavirus
infection is much higher in the New York City area, and thousands of people
with COVID-19, the disease caused by the potentially dangerous virus, are
being treated in hospitals and makeshift facilities. He has posted
information on the shields on the American Awards Facebook page. What Anderson, Adams and Wing
are doing is a very practical application of what Anderson and Adams teach
every year. As a STEM teacher, Anderson
spends his time trying to convince his students that it doesn't matter what
their IQ or athletic ability might be, they all have the ability to
contribute to make their communities better. "I can't think of a better way
for me to say, "Hey, you know, it's really important for you to kick in and
do something and take action in life, and be a good citizen and provide
something positive to the community," he said. |
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Patchwork of Businesses,
Crafters Lend Skills to Mainers Who Need Masks |
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Here's a great Maine-based story from "All Things Considered with Nora Flaherty" on Maine Public (excerpted below). Earlier this month, the U.S.
Centers For Disease Control and the State
of Maine changed their guidance and are now advising that members of the
general public wear a mask in situations where social distancing might be
difficult, such as in the supermarket. But there's a major shortage of
personal protective equipment for health care workers, and that has prompted
more people to make their own masks or find new buying options. When the University of
Southern Maine closed for in-person classes in March, Molly Ladd expected
she'd be spending a lot of time at her sewing machine. Ladd is studying to be
a clinical mental health counselor, but she's also an avid crafter. What she
didn't expect is that she'd be spending so much of that time making cotton
face masks. For now, Ladd's at home all day, but her partner works at a
large, busy Hannaford supermarket. She says they started to get worried. "He's going to work and being
exposed to a lot of people on a daily basis. I'm at home, and thereby I'm at
risk via him, so we're both living by the assumption that we're both
potentially infected. My partner being at work every day, he's concerned that
he could infect other people, and that those people could infect him," she
says. So she made some face masks for him to wear to work, for herself when
she leaves the house and for friends and family members. For those who don't sew - and
don't have a relative or friend who does - there are starting to be more
options from the commercial sector. One of these is Hyperlite, a Biddeford
company that makes high-end outdoors gear that costs hundreds of dollars.
These days, founder and CEO Mike St. Pierre says the company has completely
turned to making much more economically priced cloth masks. St. Pierre says
the company's making thousands of masks a day from a special high-tech
polyester and prioritizing direct-to-consumer sales. "We have not advertised this.
We have not put it on social media. All there is is a link on our homepage of
our website. And that was Friday morning at roughly 11 a.m. we went live. By
Friday night, we had thousands of orders. By Monday, we had tens of thousands
of orders. And today we're sitting on orders of over 60,000," he says. St.
Pierre says the company, which has brought back many of its staff and will
likely be looking to hire more, is about a week behind on orders. The guidelines on masks have
changed significantly during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, and public
health officials are still stressing that mask wearing is not a replacement
for social distancing. |
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Wednesday
Evening | Congressman Golden is Holding a Third Small Business Listening
Session |
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This
week, Congressman Jared Golden is
holding a third small business listening session this Wednesday with Maine SBA Director Amy Bassett, Maine State Chamber of Commerce President
Dana Connors, and representatives of the state's credit unions and banks. The congressman wants to hear
from small businesses about their challenges during the coronavirus crisis,
what resources they will need going forward, and help answer their questions
about federal programs. The panel will offer guidance about the programs and
resources available to help small businesses stay afloat during this crisis. The third listening session will take
place at 6:00 p.m. this Wednesday, April 15. If you would like to participate, please register online at golden.house.gov/live and
dial 855-962-1151 when the event starts. In the meantime, check out the Small Business Resource Guide for
more information on the small business loans, grants, and other federal
programs available during these challenging times. |
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Audio Recaps from Last Week's Tele-Town
Halls: Last week,
Maine State Chamber President Dana Connors participated in two of Congressman
Jared Golden's Small Business Listening Sessions. If you would like to hear
the audio recordings from those sessions, please visit the links below: *
Congressman Jared Golden's Small Business Listening Session from Wednesday,
April 8 *
Congressman Jared Golden's Small Business Listening Session from Thursday,
April 9 |
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Thursday, April 16 | AGC
Maine CEO Matt Marks Special Guest on The Bottom Line Podcast Live-Streaming at
10:00 a.m. |
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Matt Marks, CEO of the Associated General
Contractors Maine, is this week's special guest on The Bottom Line podcast live-streaming
at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2020. He 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 economic impact of COVID-19 on Maine's
construction industry. |
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To listen live, visit www.williamsbroadcasting.net scroll down to "Listen Online," or catch up with the archived shows. |
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SERIES SPONSORS: Bangor
Savings Bank, Central Maine Power Company Additional
webinars will be forthcoming, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Questions can be directed
to Angela S. Arno, director of programs and events for the Maine State
Chamber of Commerce, by emailing [email protected] or calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 104. |
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If you missed today's
webinar, The Maine State Chamber
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Presented Wednesday, April 15 | Listen to the recap
here NAVIGATING THE LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ISSUES The Maine State Chamber's free Wednesday
Webinar Series on COVID-19 issues launched this morning with a presentation
for Maine construction companies that included a wealth of detailed
information, guidance and advice for the industry. In partnership with the Associated General Contractors of Maine and
the Maine
Aggregate Association, well
over 100 participants heard from leading construction industry legal advisors
and financial industry representatives who gave a comprehensive overview on
navigating legal issues and financial assistance programs during the COVID-19
pandemic. Rudman Winchell attorneys
Josh Tardy, Allison Economy, and Josh Randlett kicked-off the presentation.
With construction operations deemed essential during the pandemic, it is
crucial that construction companies are aware of legal changes that impact
how they continue to do business safely, legally and in compliance with
pandemic-related restrictions, keeping in mind that changes are occurring
daily, if not hourly. |
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Examples
include changes to unemployment insurance, paid sick leave and family leave
laws, and tax credits. Changes to OSHA obligations if an employee contracts
COVID-19 at work were discussed, as well as guidance on seasonal workers,
staying in touch with furloughed employees, and working with employees and
contractors who live out-of-state during current travel quarantine
restrictions. Presenters
also shared advice on receiving payment for completed work, work in progress
and future work, existing insurance policies, business interruption
insurance, filing a lien or a complaint to enforce a lien, and what to do if
a customer files for bankruptcy. David
Jean, CPA, CCIFP, CExP, and principal at Albin,
Randall & Bennett along
with Jay Violette, vice president and senior loan officer at TD Bank
presented to webinar participants on financial relief programs available in
the CARES Act. Those include Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, as well as U.S.
Small Business Association (SBA)
grants and Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) bridge loan programs. Updates on
PPP eligibility, requirements, terms, payroll cost inclusions and exclusions,
and calculating maximum loan amounts were discussed. Also discussed were loan
certification and the allowable use of loan funds and rules surrounding loan
forgiveness. Presenters shared guidance on net operating losses and QIP, tax
return amendments, managing cash-flow, identifying and managing shortfalls,
accessing capital, loan deferrals, structuring vendor payment terms,
communicating with customers, sale-leaseback of equipment, inventory
reduction, and more. Overarching
advice for construction companies is that it is critical they take actions
now that will protect themselves in various scenarios resulting from the
pandemic. Companies also need to track and document delays and increased
costs, review and modify contracts, update construction schedules, and more. |
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Wednesday, April 22 | Starting at 11:00 a.m. THE INTERSECTION OF WORKERS' COMP The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
employers, their employees, and our state and national economies has been
remarkable. Across the state, businesses large and small are struggling with
how to adjust to this new and dramatically different paradigm. Like many other
groups, the Maine State Chamber has worked to bring our members and employers
all around the state the latest and most accurate information on changes to
our unemployment insurance system, paid sick leave, paid FMLA leave, the
CARES Act, and the accompanying Paycheck Protection Program and EIDL
assistance. However, forgotten up to this point is how
another important aspect of the cost of doing business may be impacted by the
pandemic - workers' compensation insurance. Like so many other business
factors, there are a significant number of unknowns surrounding workers' comp
going forward, including the compensability of COVID-19-related claims,
claims that may arise while employees are working remotely from their homes,
and how a shrinking statewide payroll may impact premium rates, and
therefore, overall premium costs. Sponsored
by MEMIC, MaineHealth / Synernet, and United Insurance |
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Wednesday,
April 29 | Starting at 11:00 a.m. WEBINAR FOR SOLE PROPRIETOR
BUSINESSES: This
webinar will focus on the short- and long-term issues arising from the
pandemic for sole proprietors - with suggested solutions. Topics covered will
include a review of up-to-date federal and state legislative opportunities,
tax issues to discuss with your accountant, insurance liability, health
insurance options, credit protection, and steps for sole proprietors to take
with customers. There will also be a brief review of pertinent estate
planning options during the pandemic. Regiser
here |
Sponsored by Lambert Coffin |
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Wed.,
May 6 | Starting at 11:00 a.m. WE ARE STILL FINALIZING THIS
WEBINAR TOPIC TO BE ANNOUNCED |
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Wednesday,
May 13 | Starting at 11:00 a.m. RECENT STATE AND FEDERAL TAX
CHANGES This
webinar will focus on federal tax changes contained in the CARES Act and
changes made at the state level that provide support for businesses during
this pandemic. Additional topics also include a look at the ever-changing
landscape at the federal level for additional stimulus funds and what those
changes might look like. Register
here | Sponsored
by Pierce Atwood and WIPFLi, LLP |
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Tuesday, April 28 |
Legislative Strictly Social Virtual Coffee Hour |
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The Maine State Chamber of Commerce and
the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce invite you to attend our Legislative
Strictly Social Virtual Coffee Hour. We
invite you to grab a cup of coffee at 9:00
a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, and hear from legislators about current
issues. Normally, our annual series of statewide
receptions is an ideal way for you, the Maine business leader, to interact
with business associates, new and prospective Maine State Chamber members,
and state representatives in a relaxed setting. This year, due to the
COVID-19 situation, we will be hosting this event online as a coffee hour. We
will have a panel of Maine Legislators open the hour and there will be an opportunity
for questions through the Zoom chat feature. Please join us for this
presentation. A participation link will be sent to you after you have
completed registration. Learn more or register here. |
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Thank You To
Our Generous Sponsors! A special thank you to
our sponsors from the Legislative Strictly Social, which has now become the
Legislative Strictly Social Coffee Hour, due to the need for social
distancing during this pandemic. Your continued support is greatly
appreciated! |
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SERIES
SPONSORS: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.; Central Maine
Power Company; |
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PREMIER SPONSOR: AT&T |
SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS: Backyard Farms, LLC;
Brookfield Renewable Energy |
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PRESENTING SPONSORS: Altria Client Services LLC; American
Chemistry Council; Bank of America; Dead River Company; Emera Maine; Finance
Authority of Maine; Hannaford Supermarkets; MaineHealth; Merrill's
Investigations & Security; Mitchell Tardy Jackson Government Affairs;
PhRMA; Preti Flaherty, LLP; Spectrum Healthcare Partners; The Sheridan
Corporation; Unitil Corp. |
OFFICIAL SPONSORS: Bangor Savings Bank; Charter
Communications; Cross Insurance; E.A. Scribner Insurance Agency, Inc.;
Elanco; Enterprise Holdings; IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.; Maine Better
Transportation Association; MEMIC; Maine Primary Care Association |
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Sponsorship
opportunities are still available
for this event. Questions can be directed
to Angela S. Arno, director of programs and events for the Maine State
Chamber of Commerce, |
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April 16 Webinar | How-To's for Family Business COVID-19 Challenges: Legal, Communications
& HR |
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The
Institute for Family-Owned Business will host a webinar on Thursday April 16,
from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., on how to respond to coronavirus-related challenges
in legal, HR and communication areas. It's free for members, and a donation
suggested for others. Register here. Linda Varrell of Broadreach Public Relations will address critical communication needs, how communication should be handled, and how to create a consistent and compliant message. Peter Lowe and Dan Stockford of Brann & Isaacson will then go over the new and update laws around the coronavirus. David Ciullo of Career Management Associates will moderate the presentation and will wrap up with additional HR information from the front lines.The majority of the webinar will address specific audience questions. For more information, please contact Brooke Stewart by calling (207) 281-2414 or by emailing [email protected]. |
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To join these advertisers in
the Daily Impact, please
contact Melody Rousseau |
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TO
UNSUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE. |
NOTICE: In an ongoing effort to thwart
the activities of online hackers, the Maine State Chamber |