MAINE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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The Daily Edition for Friday, May 1, 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!

 

 

Swab Maker Will Double Output in Partnership With Cianbro, BIW

Today Mainebiz reported that Guilford medical device manufacturer Puritan Medical Products will increase its swab production for COVID-19 testing to nearly 40 million a month with an expansion into a Pittsfield building owned by Cianbro Corp. Announced Thursday, the expansion will allow Puritan to make an additional 20 million swabs a month, 10 million more than the federal government requested in mid-April. Puritan expects to hire 100 to 130 people in the coming weeks to work in the Pittsfield plant.

 

Made possible by $75.5 million in Defense Production Act money included in the CARES Act, the expansion involves renovating a 144,000-square-foot building in Pittsfield. Puritan will lease the space from Cianbro. Bath Iron Works is assisting the effort by building 30 wrapping machines, and an out-of-state company is providing the parts for the "flocking" assembly.

 

Puritan is the only company in the U.S. that makes the specialty long-handled swabs needed for COVID-19 testing. Production should be up and running in about five weeks. The swabs are sold directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human services under the Defense Production Act.

 

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins toured the Guilford plant Thursday, lauding the partnership between Puritan, Cianbro and BIW: "I am so proud of these Maine businesses for stepping up for meeting the challenge."

 

Poland Spring, Trade Group Launch $100K Relief Fund for Small Tourism Businesses

Mainebiz reported today that the Maine Tourism Association and Poland Spring Water Co. have launched a $100,000 fund that will award small grants to the state's tourism businesses and employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The Maine Tourism Relief Fund will provide one-time giants of $500 for individuals and $1,000 for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Grant decisions will be made within roughly one week of application. All of the contributed funding will go directly to grant recipients, according to the release.

 

To reserve your banner ad in the Daily Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
[email protected], or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 102.

 

Applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Benefits Began Today

* PUA Presentation

* FAQs

* Eligibility Checklist

* Application Information

The Maine Department of Labor (DOL) began accepting applications for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program at 8:00 a.m. this morning. People whose claim does not require further review should begin receiving benefits with seven days of filing. PUA is a new federal program which expands eligibility for unemployment benefits to certain categories of workers not typically able to receive unemployment in the past, such as those who are self-employed and who do not have enough earnings to be eligible for state unemployment. Additional information for claimants as they prepare to file through the PUA's streamlined online application form, and also outlined the DOL's alphabetical call-in schedule, can be found online.

 

DECD Answers Employers' Questions and Seeks Input on Plan to Restart Maine's Economy

Maine employers are invited to ask questions and offer feedback on re-starting Maine's economy. Questions can be sent to the Business Answers program on weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. by calling 1-800-872-3838 in Maine or 1-800-541-5872 from outside of Maine. Due to increased call volume, please allow 2-3 business days for a call back.

 

Reopened Businesses Met With Pent-Up Demand Friday

The Portland Press Herald reported today that customers flooded some of the first businesses to open their doors to the public Friday as Mainers rushed to get a long-overdue haircut, groom their dog, or buy a new car. Today was the first day many public-facing businesses were allowed to reopen under Gov. Janet Mills' plan to restart the state's economy. Some health care providers, barber shops, hair salons, pet groomers, golf courses, auto dealerships and car washes were permitted to serve customers, as long as they follow social distancing and sanitation protocols provided by the administration.

 

Our View: Maine Summer Tourist Season Full of Questions

Earlier today, the Portland Press Herald issued an editorial noting that the state needs to use the coming weeks to figure out how to balance concerns over public health and the well-being of its biggest industry. While we have excerpted it below, we recommend that you read the entire editorial.

 

"No matter how you look at it, Maine's summer tourism season is full of uncertainty and peril. In the coming weeks, elected officials, business owners, workers and visitors will make decisions on how to proceed, weighing the economic well-being of the industry, its members and the state as a whole against the need to protect individual and public health. It's unlike anything the state has faced before, and as of now there are no clearly safe options. However, there is still time to find some. The state must use it wisely. Gov. Mills this week released her phased economic recovery plan, and it reflects the uncertainty surrounding this summer."

 

"However, there is more to consider. Even if Maine can allow visitors to come here and enjoy, with physical distancing, what the state has to offer, that in no way ensures a successful tourism season - and the billions of dollars and all the jobs that come with it. So Maine has to plan for a way to allow visitors, many who will come from the COVID-19 hot spots of Massachusetts and New York, without endangering public health. It has to plan for a summer season that allows as many businesses and workers to do what they do to get by. And it has to plan for a year in which that's not enough, and Maine loses out on the benefits that the $6 billion-a-year tourism industry brings it - regardless of what Mills decides."

 

"Finally, it has to plan for a summer, or fall, in which an outbreak occurs, and all the drastic measures abandoned in the next few months must be put back in place rapidly. The forecast right now for Maine's summer is cloudy. Let's use the next several weeks to bring it some clarity."

 

Collins, King, Join Bipartisan Push to Ensure Equal Reimbursement for Audio-Only Telehealth

U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King recently joined 35 other senators in a letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase reimbursements for telephone-based, or audio-only, telehealth services to equal other audio-visual telehealth and in-person visitation reimbursements. Many Americans do not have access to reliable broadband, making it nearly impossible to use video-sharing to receive telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. Instead they must turn to telephone-based telehealth services. However, healthcare professionals who provide these services are not receiving the same reimbursement for their telephone-based consultations as they would for visual or in-person consultations.

 

Responding to the 2020 Census

The 2020 Census is happening now. The 2020 Census asks a few simple questions about you and everyone who was living with you on April 1, 2020. The 2020 Census is more than a population count. It's an opportunity to shape your community's future. Census results have an impact on planning and funding for health clinics and highways, fire departments and disaster response, education programs such as Head Start and college tuition assistance, and so much more. You can complete your questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail. Take a moment to view this quick 30-second PSA video.

 

Megan Diver: We All Deserve to be Counted

The Times Record recently published this opinion letter from Megan Diver, Senior Government Affairs Specialist for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce:

 

On behalf of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine's business community appreciated Maine Children's Alliance board member Michael Cormier's recent column encouraging all Mainers to complete the U.S. Census. Every one of us needs to be counted to accurately determine the amount of funding Maine receives each year from the federal government for a variety of critical state investments that contribute to a strong economy.

 

U.S. Census data helps determine where $1.5 trillion in federal resources are distributed every year. One critical investment area the Census determines federal funding for is education. This includes cradle-to-career funding to support high-quality preschool programs, child-care, children's health insurance, nutrition, high school workforce development and more.The education programs federal funding supports benefit Maine kids, families, communities across Maine and Maine's economy. The programs help Maine's youngest learners develop the cognitive and social-emotional skills they need to get a strong start in school. They help keep kids healthy. They help prepare kids for post-secondary education, whether that is college or another credential of value. Altogether, they help kids reach their fullest potential and ultimately power Maine businesses and Maine's economy by strengthening Maine's workforce.

 

These are uncertain times with the COVID-19 global pandemic impacting every one of us. The U.S. Census Bureau has extended or delayed some operations, but they are still moving forward to complete the census this year, as required by the U.S. Constitution.

 

Thankfully, it is easier than ever to get counted. In light of social distancing and stay-at-home precautions now in place, we can complete the short questionnaire online, by phone or by mail. It takes just a few minutes to do. And it is so important that as many Maine households as possible make the effort.

 

We all deserve to be counted, we need to be counted, and Maine's kids, families, communities and our economy are counting on each of us to complete the U.S. Census. Each has a part in making sure Maine receives our fair share of federal funding for important needs right here in our state.

 

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 [email protected]. For more information or questions, please contact Mark Ellis by emailing [email protected] or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 109.

 

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. Registration or general questions can be directed to Angela Arno, director of programs and events for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, by emailing [email protected] 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, Esq., 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

 

 

To join these advertisers in the Daily Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
[email protected], 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 Katie Clark (207) 233-2230
For membership inquiries, please contact Mark Ellis. (207) 623-4568
  • About Us
    • Connect with Us
    • Affiliates & Partners
    • Meet the Team
    • Our Board
    • Local Chambers of Commerce
  • Membership
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Join the Chamber
    • Member Companies
    • Member Search
  • Public Policy
    • Public Policy Committees
    • Grassroot Resources
    • Find Your Legislator >
      • Representatives
      • Senators
  • Events
    • Calendar of Events
    • Annual Meeting and Dinner
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Business Day at the Statehouse
    • Board Meetings & Board Events
    • DC Fly-In
    • Legislative Strictly Social
    • Regional Breakfasts
    • Scramble for Scholars
    • Webinars by The Maine State Chamber of Commerce
  • Initiatives
    • Education Foundation
    • Keep Maine Competitive
    • Maine Economic Research Institute (MERI)
    • Senior Leaders of Tomorrow Development Program
  • Newsroom
    • 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
    • External Social Media Policy
  • Member Login