The Daily Edition for Wednesday, May 6, 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!

 

 

Governor Mills Convenes Expert Committee To Advise On State's Economic Recovery
Governor Janet Mills announced today that she is convening an Economic Recovery Committee charged with developing recommendations to mitigate the damage to Maine's economy caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to jumpstart a long-term economic recovery for Maine people, businesses, and organizations. The 37-member committee, co-chaired by Laurie Lachance, former Maine State Economist and President of Thomas College in Waterville, and Josh Broder, CEO of Tilson, includes representatives of small businesses, non-profits, financial institutions, unions, municipalities, tribal and immigrant communities, hospitality and tourism industries, and educational institutions as well as a bipartisan delegation of legislative designees.   The Economic Recovery Committee, established by Executive Order today, will gather input from experts and industry sector representatives on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Maine's economy and offer specific policy recommendations to mitigate those impacts. Those recommendations should address essential issues such as: 1 Strengthening Maine's key industries and small businesses; 2 Strengthening workforce development; 3 Improving opportunities for lower-and middle-income families; 4 Expanding economic opportunities for rural communities; and, 5 Attracting new investments and innovations in key sectors such as business, communication, health care, recreation and education.   The committee will convene its first meeting as soon as practicable and deliver a preliminary report no later than July 15, 2020, and a final report by December 1, 2020. The committee may also continue to meet after delivering its final report if requested by the Governor. These recommendations will serve in part as a bridge between the economic emergency caused by the pandemic to the restart of the State's 10-year economic development strategy released last year.   Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber, is honored to serve on Governor Mills' Economic Recovery Committee. The complete membership of the Economic Recovery Committee is as follows:
Chairs: * Josh Broder, Co-Chair, CEO of Tilson * Laurie Lachance, Co-Chair, President of Thomas College   Legislators: * Rep. Joshua Morris, R-Turner * Rep. Brian Hubbell, D-Bar Harbor * Sen. Lisa Keim, R-Oxford * Sen. Michael Carpenter, D-Aroostook   Economic Development: * Lee Umphrey, President & CEO of Eastern Maine Development Corporation * Betsy Biemann, CEO of Coastal Enterprises Inc.   Health Care: * Bill Burke, Chair of the MaineHealth Board of Trustees and the Portland Sea Dogs	Business: * Dana Connors, President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce * Curtis Picard, President and CEO of Retail Association of Maine * Meredith Strang Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Advertising and Marketing * Ben Waxman, Co-Founder American Roots * Jessica Masse, Partner, Design Lab * Steve Schley, Board Chair, FOR Maine Initiative * Vaughan Woodruff, Owner of InSource Renewables * Jean Ginn Marvin, Owner of Nonantum Resort, Board Chair, Maine Community College Board of Trustees * Kevin Raye, Realtor and Former Senate President * Deanna Sherman, President and CEO of Dead River Company * Wick Johnson, President of Kennebec Technologies * Robert Dorko, Utilities & Recovery Manager at Sappi North America * Luke Holden, Co-Founder and CEO of Luke's Lobster	Financial Institutions: * Bob Montgomery-Rice, President and CEO of Bangor Savings Bank * Sam May, Maine Harvest Federal Credit Union Board Chair * Larry Shaw, CEO of MMG Insurance * Tim Agnew, Masthead Venture Partners   Municipal, Immigrant and Tribal Community Representatives: * Tae Chong, Councilor, City of Portland, and Social Enterprise & Workforce Development Manager for Catholic Charities Maine * Lincoln Jeffers, Economic Development Director for the City of Lewiston * Angela Okafor, Councilor, City of Bangor * Susan Hammond, Executive Director of Four Directions Development Corporation	Education: * Jim Herbert, President of the University of New England * Rebecca Wyke, President of the University of Maine at Augusta * Joe Cassidy, President of Southern Maine Community College   Nonprofits: * James Myall, Policy Analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy * Jennifer Hutchinson, Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits * Susan Corbett, Founder and Director of the National Digital Equity Center   Unions: * Matt Schlobohm, Executive Director of the Maine AFL-CIO     Members of Maine's Congressional Delegation are also invited to participate in an ex-officio capacity.

 

Thursday, May 7 at 10:00 a.m.
The Bottom Line Podcast With Special Guest, Maine Governor Janet Mills
	Maine Governor Janet Mills is this week's special guest on The Bottom Line podcast streaming online at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7. Governor Mills will join The Bottom Line co-hosts Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting to discuss her gradual plan to Restart Maine's Economy and the ways Maine businesses can prepare to open their doors. Don't forget to listen in tomorrow!

 

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.

 

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 aarno@mainechamber.org or calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 104.
Sponsored by PretiFlaherty Listen to the recording here	CHALLENGES FOR MANUFACTURING, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, AND ENERGY   This morning's webinar focused on challenges for manufacturing due to the impacts of COVID-19 on international trade and energy. Guest speakers 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, shared their expertise with us.
	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

 

State Economist On The Challenges Maine Faces During Coronavirus Crisis

For more than a month, Maine has confronted the coronavirus, which is affecting all Maine people. Mainers living through this coronavirus economic slowdown are getting a glimpse of what happened in the Great Depression. Unemployment is soaring. Many are having trouble paying bills. Food pantries are seeing spikes in visits. As part of Maine Public's special series, Deep Dive Coronavirus, Amanda Rector, the Maine state economist, shared some insight into all of this with Morning Edition host Irwin Gratz. The audio and its transcript are available online.

 

CEI Teams Up With Mass. Foundation To Provide $100K In Debt Relief For Maine Farms

Mainebiz reported today that, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Boston-based Henry P. Kendall Foundation, Maine farms with loans from Coastal Enterprises Inc. will receive debt relief covering principal and interest payments in May, June and July. The farms in CEI's portfolio are located in 11 of Maine's 16 counties, reflecting the diversity of the state's agricultural industry, according to a news release. Farm businesses have been especially hard hit by sudden loss of revenue and supply disruptions related to the pandemic.   The pandemic has highlighted the importance of local food producers at a time when the national food system is under stress, with several large meat processing facilities having experienced highly-publicized COVID outbreaks, grocery stores and other supply chain companies changing how they operate and people modifying their purchasing habits. It has brought to light the need for better regional food systems.

 

King Outlines Need for Substantial Aid to States and Localities in Letter to Senate Leaders

U.S. Senator Angus King is urging top Senate leaders to include "substantial, additional aid" for states in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent economic impact, an issue with bipartisan support nationwide but currently facing political headwinds in the Senate. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator King emphasizes the challenges facing states as coronavirus's effects create increased demand for services as state revenues decline - the funding streams used to pay workers or obtain supplies - and requests the leaders include $500 billion of federal support for states in any upcoming relief package to ensure the continuation of vital public services.   As a former governor himself, Senator King has been among the most vocal members of Congress advocating for aid to state and local governments, including pushing for the inclusion of $150 billion for state and local governments in the CARES Act. Last month he joined a bipartisan group of former governors calling for the federal government to provide each state with flexibility on spending the funds where they can be most useful. He has also urged the Administration to reverse previously issued guidance that would prevent states from using these federal funds to address secondary impacts , including budget shortfalls. Earlier this week, he joined the Maine delegation to call for financial relief for state and local governments in future coronavirus relief packages.

 

Use The Maine State Chamber's Blog And Daily Impact to Tell Your Story!

Numerous Maine companies are 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.

Check out the second post on our "Meeting the Challenge" blog!   Gerry Queally, President & CEO of Spectrum Generations, discusses "Working With Partners To Serve The Community"

As a nonprofit operating in central Maine, we, like many others, are consistently challenged by our environment and how we can operate and provide services. But since 1972, that's what we've been doing - providing services for older and disabled adults, including Meals on Wheels. Challenges have come and gone, some still remain, like sufficient funding for Meals on Wheels that matches the need of those in our communities. Some have been alleviated for now, thanks to funding approved by the legislature to increase reimbursement rates for direct care workers, providing in-home care and supports to homebound adults.   All of this was before COVID-19; everything since has taught us lessons but also increased partnerships and support, ultimately allowing us to serve more people. Prior to COVID-19 we were serving approximately 800 people Meals on Wheels, both through our own commercial kitchens and through our partner subcontractors. As of May 4, we are serving 1,347 people - a 67% service increase.  [Read more]

 

Help the Maine State Chamber of Commerce Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week
Maine Public, the Maine Department of Education, and Educate Maine have joined forces to create original, educational programming for grade school students in Grades 3 to 5. Dedicated teachers from across Maine have developed original video lessons, pulling content from their own lesson plans and sources to provide exceptional learning opportunities for Maine students. The Learning Space airs every weekday on Maine Public Television through mid-June. Completed episodes will be available online.
To recognize the efforts and talents of the participating teachers and educators, a stipend is being offered for lessons that are broadcasted. At this point, this element of the project remains unfunded. If you or business would like to sponsor a teacher please reach out to Megan Diver at the Maine State Chamber or Cory Morrissey at Maine Public.   More about The Learning Space: This series features teachers from across Maine sharing original video lessons specifically designed for this project. With over 183,000 Maine students currently at home and 30,000 or more students without access to online learning opportunities due to broadband access issues, The Learning Space is designed to help fill the void by providing exceptional educational programming via television. Maine Public Television is available for free over-the-air across Maine and can also be accessed via cable, the internet, and over satellite systems.   The Learning Space is broadcast on Maine Public Television at 12:30 p.m. each weekday starting on Monday, April 27. As more episodes of The Learning Space are developed, the broadcast schedule will expand to run from Noon to 1:00 p.m. Episodes of The Learning Space will be archived for later viewing on numerous platforms online including on mainepublic.org. The Learning Space will air through the spring to mid-June. Go to mainepublic.org for more information on The Learning Space.

 

 

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.

 

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