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The Daily Edition for Wednesday, April 29, 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.

Do you have a question? ASK THE EXPERTS.

We are here to help in any way we can!

 

 

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.

 

Business leaders express concerns about reopening plan

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.

 

Sole Proprietors Can Begin Applying For Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits on Friday, May 1

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?

 

To reserve your banner ad in the Daily Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
melodyr@mainechamber.org, or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 102.

 

From the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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. 

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?  

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:

  • NEW! Backgrounder on Health Coverage Options
  • NEW! Backgrounder on Unemployment Insurance Under the CARES Act
  • Independent Contractor's Guide to CARES Act Relief
  • Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
  • Temporary Paid Leave and Family Medical Leave Guide
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program Guide 
  • Employee Retention Tax Credit Guide
  • Coronavirus Small Business Guide
  • Coronavirus Response Toolkit 

 

Congratulations to the 2020 Business Leaders of the Year!

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.

 

Use the Maine State Chamber's blog and Daily Impact to tell your story!

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.

 

RECAP | Legislators and Members Connect During Legislative Social Virtual Coffee Hour

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]

Thank You To Our Generous Sponsors!

SERIES SPONSORS:

Casella Waste Systems, Inc.; Central Maine Power Company;
Maine Department of Economic & Community Development; Northeast Delta Dental; VHB

PREMIER SPONSOR:

AT&T

SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS:

Backyard Farms, LLC; Brookfield Renewable Energy

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

 

RECAP | Webinar Assists Sole Proprietors in Navigating the Issues Presented by the Pandemic

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.

 

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.

 

Maine State Chamber Presents Free Wednesday Webinar Series

 

SERIES SPONSORS: Bangor Savings Bank, Central Maine Power Company,
and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development

 

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.

 

Wednesday, May 6 | Starting at 11:00 a.m.

CHALLENGES FOR MANUFACTURING,
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND ENERGY

 

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

Wednesday, May 13 | Starting at 11:00 a.m.

RECENT STATE AND FEDERAL TAX CHANGES
AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS

 

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

Maine State Chamber Webinar Series | Recordings and Recaps


 

Listen to the recording here

 

Listen to the recording here

 

Listen to the recording here

 

Wednesday, April 29 | Dana Connors Joins Congressman Jared Golden for a Special Listening Session Focused on Business Concerns and Experiences

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.

 

 

To join these advertisers in the Daily Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
melodyr@mainechamber.org, or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 102.

 

TO UNSUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.

NOTICE: In an ongoing effort to thwart the activities of online hackers, the Maine State Chamber
has researched and tested the links in this document and determined that they are safe.

 

 

 

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