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The Daily
Edition for Wednesday, April 29, 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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WVOM | Dana Connors discusses Governor Mills' reopening
plan on the George Hale Ric Tyler Show On Wednesday morning, Maine
State Chamber President Dana Connors appeared on the George Hale Ric Tyler
show. Listen to the recording of the show here. |
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Business leaders express concerns about reopening plan |
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Mainebiz
reported today that business leaders from Portland to Presque Isle are
concerned that a phased plan to reopen Maine's economy might
be too slow to save industries set to take the biggest hit from the
coronavirus-related shutdown. Under the plan unveiled yesterday by Gov. Janet
Mills, businesses will reopen in four stages, starting this Friday. While
subject to changes, the timetable laid out in the plan has raised concerns
from several business leaders, who worry about the impact on the tourism
industry and the state's many small businesses. Dana
Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, expressed similar
concerns, and said his organization will work closely with the state's
Department of Economic and Community Development and Commissioner Heather
Johnson on possible adjustments. "We're trying to find a way to be able
to appreciate and respect the public health, but at the same time recognize
the value that tourism has to our economy," Connors told Mainebiz. Other local
and regional chamber of commerce leaders echoed Connors' sentiments,
including Quincy Hentzel, president and CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber
of Commerce, and LaNiece Sirois, executive director for the Central Aroostook
Chamber of Commerce in Presque Isle. |
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Sole
Proprietors Can Begin Applying For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits
on Friday, May 1 |
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The Pandemic
Unemployment Assistance (PUA) is a new federal program that the
Maine Department of Labor is implementing expands eligibility for unemployment
benefits to certain categories of workers no typically able to receive
unemployment. The Maine DOL will begin
accepting applications for this new unemployment program at 8:00 a.m. on
Friday, May 1. To
share information about how the PUA program will work, the Maine DOL has
scheduled Zoom presentations on Thurs., April 30. Please plan to attend one
to learn how the program works, using the specific Zoom link below: Thursday, April 30 from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86413900944?pwd=Uk1yUW92Qmkzb3B1Ymd4dXM1bEpBUT09 Meeting
ID: 864 1390 0944 | Password: 7abxW4 Mobile:
+1 646 558 8656 US (New York) 864 1390 0944, 229213 Thursday, April 30 from 11:30 a.m - 12:15
p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86315186519?pwd=SUc1cEsvL2oxMG9PdWRoRGdMYVZlQT09 Meeting
ID: 863 1518 6519 | Password: 6TrkSY Mobile:
+16465588656,,86315186519#,,1#,883837# US (New York) * Read the FAQs here. * Am I eligible? See the checklist. * How to apply? |
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To reserve your banner
ad in the Daily Impact,
please contact Melody Rousseau |
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From the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce |
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As many states begin to
issue guidance on reopening businesses, the U.S. Chamber is seeing many new
questions surrounding when and how businesses can and cannot operate. Therefore,
the U.S. Chamber recently distributed a press release and letter regarding the need for consistent and uniform
return-to-work policies. |
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U.S. Chamber
Summary on Guidance Issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA): To help our
members better understand the recent guidance issued by the U.S. Occupational
Safety and Health Administration and in coordination with the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Chamber has created
a summary outlining
what employers need to know about protecting their workers as they maintain
or resume operations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The summary
describes OSHA's comments and addresses three of the main
questions: * How should employers protect
their employees? * Do employers have to record
cases of COVID-19 on their injury logs? * How will OSHA conduct enforcement related to
Coronavirus? |
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Guides and
Resources from the U.S. Chamber: Our partners
at the U.S. Chamber have continued to create, update, and evolve its various
guides and resources to bring Maine employers the information they need
during this difficult time. The Maine State Chamber encourages you to utilize
these resources and share them with your employees and colleagues as you see
fit:
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Congratulations to the
2020 Business Leaders of the Year! |
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Although Mainebiz's
20th-anniversary Business Leaders of the Year reception has been postponed to
a later date, we don't want to lose sight of the great work and
accomplishments made by these 2020 honorees: Roccy Risbara, President,
Risbara Bros. Construction Co. Tim Hebert, Chairman, STARC
Systems Jeff Brickman, CEO, Central
Maine Healthcare Kristen Miale, President, Good
Shepherd Food Bank We would like to take this
moment to say congratulations to the 2020
Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year. These individuals have helped
shape the state's economic vitality during the past 12 months or longer. Mainebiz
has shared their stories online. |
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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 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. |
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RECAP | Legislators and
Members Connect During Legislative Social Virtual Coffee Hour |
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Tuesday morning, legislative leaders and
more than 100 guests joined the Maine State Chamber for its inaugural Legislative Strictly Social Virtual Coffee
Hour. For an hour, Sen.
Eloise Vitelli (D-Sagadahoc), Sen. Jeff Timberlake (R-Androscoggin), Rep.
Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford), and Rep. Trey Stewart (R-Presque Isle) responded
to questions posed by chamber members and staff. Legislators were invited to talk about
successful legislation they worked on during the 129th Legislature, followed
by questions ranging from legislative priorities to coronavirus concerns.
Citing a restored trust and increased collaboration leading up to the abrupt
mid-March adjournment caused by COVID-19, legislators expressed the need for
economic relief and stabilizing efforts going forward, attention to repairing
and restoring Maine's transportation infrastructure, and increasing the
housing stock across the state. [Read
more] |
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Thank You To
Our Generous Sponsors! |
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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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RECAP | Webinar Assists Sole Proprietors in Navigating the
Issues Presented by the Pandemic |
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This
morning, the Maine State Chamber hosted the third webinar in its Wednesday
Webinar series. Today's session, entitled Sole Proprietor Businesses:
Navigating the Covid19 Pandemic, approximately 100 people joined our
speakers, John F. Lambert, Esq., and Adrianna DeRice Vargo, Esq., both of
Lambert Coffin Attorneys to learn about topics relevant to access to
unemployment insurance, health insurance, business interruption insurance,
liability insurance, increased use of the internet and digital options to run
your business remotely, stimulus package options, managing receivables, and
estate / business succession planning. |
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Thank
you to our speakers and our sponsors - Bangor Savings Bank, Central Maine
Power Company, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, and
Lambert Coffin Attorneys. The event's handout and recording are available
online at https://www.mainechamber.org/webinar03. |
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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 aarno@mainechamber.org or
calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 104. |
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Wednesday,
May 6 | Starting at 11:00 a.m. CHALLENGES FOR MANUFACTURING, This webinar will focus on challenges for
manufacturing due to the impacts of Covid-19 on international trade and
energy. Guest speakers are John Murphy, senior vice president for
international policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Christopher Guith,
senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber's Global Energy Institute; and, Anthony
W. Buxton, a partner at PretiFlaherty. Register here | Sponsored by PretiFlaherty |
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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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Maine State Chamber Webinar Series | Recordings and Recaps |
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With
the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) resuming this week, Congressman Golden is holding an additional
small business listening session this Wednesday evening, April 29 with Maine
Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors. The congressman wants to hear
from small businesses about their challenges during the coronavirus crisis,
how federal relief programs like PPP are working for them and how they can be
improved, and answer your questions. The listening session will take place at
6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29. 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
congressman's 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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the Daily
Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau |
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