MAINE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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The Daily Edition for Wednesday, May 20, 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!

 

 

Maine State Chamber Launches "This Is ME Counting On You" Campaign Encouraging Mainers To Do Their Part To Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

Acting safely and responsibly "is the best way we can support one another, our communities, and Maine businesses so we reopen successfully, and economic recovery can begin."

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has launched a public awareness campaign called "This is ME Counting on You" encouraging Mainers to do their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. Following recommended health and safety guidelines such as wearing a mask and gloves and practicing social distancing, will help make sure Maine reopens safely and successfully so Maine can get back to business, Maine people can get back to work, and Maine's economic recovery can begin.

 

As part of the initiative, a television PSA will begin airing on cable stations soon. The State Chamber also has launched a website, www.MeCountingOnYou.org, with resources and links to recommended health and safety guidance and protocols. Printable posters are available for employers to place in their establishments to help provide reminders for employees, customers, and visitors to practice safe behavior. The initiative is also on Facebook with the hashtag #MECountingOnYou.

 

"Maine businesses take very seriously their role in keeping their employees and customers safe and preventing the spread or a resurgence of COVID-19," said Dana Connors, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "We hope 'This is ME Counting on You' serves as a reminder that every one of us also has an important role to play in defeating COVID-19. We are all in this together and are counting on each other to act safely and responsibly. That is the best way we can support one another, our communities, and Maine businesses so we reopen successfully, and economic recovery can begin."

 

The Maine State Chamber is working with its members, local and regional chambers of commerce, and other organizations throughout Maine to spread the "This is ME Counting on You"  message.

 

"Now that Maine is gradually beginning to reopen, 'This is ME Counting on You' is an important reminder for employers and patrons across Maine that we need to continue heeding the recommended health and safety precautions to stop COVID-19 from spreading or resurging," said Jessie Perkins, executive director of the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce and current president of the Maine Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, (MACCE). "This initiative reinforces the message that we all have a responsibility to stay on course, so Maine can get back to work and the way life should be safely and swiftly."

 

Please visit www.MeCountingOnYou.org for more information.

 

Please Join Us For The Maine State Chamber's Regional Breakfast Series,

A Virtual Update

 

The Maine State Chamber of Commerce, together with local and regional chambers of commerce, invites you to our Regional Breakfast Meetings, held virtually on Zoom. As a local business leader, your valuable insight is instrumental to this open dialogue about issues that affect your business, your community and your state. We need your expertise and input to make recommendations and to identify opportunities for moving Maine's economic future in a positive direction.

Normally, attending one of our annual statewide breakfast series meetings 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, so fill your cup and join the conversation from the comfort of your home.

THANK YOU TO OUR SERIES SPONSORS:

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

TOMORROW!

 

Bangor Area

 

Thursday, May 21

9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

with the Bangor Region Chamber

 

Register here

NEXT WEEK!

Presque Isle Area

 

Thursday, May 28

9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

 

 

Register here

COMING SOON!

Augusta Area

Wednesday, June 3

9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

This session is a program of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce

 

Register here

 

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.

 

REGISTER TODAY!

2020 Maine State Chamber Health Care Forum

Wednesday, May 27 | 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.

A confirmation of event details will be available shortly. The 2020 Maine State Chamber Health Care Forum will focus on the changing nature of coverage in Maine; both through legislation and through innovation. The program will be virtual, and roughly an hour in length. We will begin with a presentation by Denise McDonough, President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine. Her presentation will focus on innovation in the marketplace, and cost saving initiatives being undertaken by Anthem. After that, there will be a panel discussion that includes Kristine Ossenfort, Senior Government Relations Director at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, and the Maine Superintendent of Insurance Eric Cioppa, to discuss the legislative events of this past session, and the policy changes that were enacted by lawmakers that are likely to impact the individual and small group markets, both in terms of policies, coverage and price. Join us for what promises to be an interesting and informative session.

 

Umaine Researcher, Students, Help State Officials Forecast Economic Fallout In Maine From COVID-19

A University of Maine researcher and six graduate students are helping Maine state officials estimate the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Crawley, an assistant professor of regional economic development with the UMaine School of Economics, and his students are working with the State Economist's Office to develop forecasts for how much COVID-19 will affect Maine's economy. They will create five models to evaluate the possible loss in tourism spending, travel-related spending, cruise ship spending, state revenues and overall sectoral output changes. The forecasts will also include prospects for recovery.

 

Crawley says his class tasks students with performing analyses using "complex, often dirty, imperfect data;" this replicates the challenges researchers face in most professional settings. Creating models to predict the economic damage wrought by COVID-19 using current and dynamic information is a perfect case in point when data is not perfect, Crawley says. It provides hands-on experience for his students, better preparing them to tackle real-world problems.

 

The state will receive a report from Crawley and his team at the end of May. He will also have it published on the School of Economics website.

 

Millions Of People Lost Their Jobs In Hard-Hit New England. Many Fear Their Homes Could Be Next.

The Washington Post reported today that as the coronavirus pandemic threatens to lapse late into the year, many families in New Hampshire and across the six-state New England region are coming to a similar, scary realization: It's never been easy to afford a home or apartment here, and it's about to become even more difficult.

 

With unemployment skyrocketing - and some federal financial aid weeks away from running dry - millions of local residents newly find themselves at risk of prolonged financial hardship, perhaps even staring down the once-unfathomable prospect of homelessness. Despite the U.S. government's efforts to halt evictions and extend $3 trillion in aid, many say they fear falling behind on their rent or mortgage and lack the means to put off some of those payments until their bank accounts - and the broader economy - are in better shape.

 

The financial burdens have troubled not only local families but economists and lawmakers, who see in the making a potential crisis more than a decade after a wave of foreclosures swept millions of Americans out of their homes. In New England alone, roughly 380,000 area homeowners and renters are at risk of falling behind about $540 million in payments each month, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, which found the region is one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The Boston Fed cautioned its numbers hinge on the availability of state and federal financial support, including the enhanced unemployment benefits and one-time stimulus checks Congress authorized in March. Economists said the data offer a cautionary tale - for New England and the rest of the country - about the financial devastation on the horizon if the pandemic outpaces the U.S. government's response.

 

Mainebiz Presents: "What does 'open' look like? Part One: Preparation and Accountability"

Join Mainebiz on Zoom tomorrow, May 21, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for the start of their free webcast series, What does "open" look like? Part One: Preparation and Accountability. Panelists Jim Erwin of Pierce Atwood, Catherine Lamson of MEMIC, and Heather Paquette of Hannaford Supermarkets will share what employers need to have in place prior to bringing back employees and inviting customers into their place of business. Topics will include:

* Screening and monitoring rules;

* Workplace safety;

* What do you need/what are the costs;

* Are employees ready to go back;

* Workplace liability;

* Family First COVID Sick Act;

* Customer safety rules; and,

* Your liability.

Click here to register and to leave your questions for the panelists.

 

Resources From Our Partners At The American Chamber Of Commerce Resources

The American Chamber of Commerce Resources (ACCR) recently shared some helpful resources with us. Check them out below.

 

Am I doing this right? You know that as the doors reopen to your business, you are going to have to take some extra business precautions, and play it extra safe - but when it comes down to it, do you know what playing it safe means? Time to bring in the safety pros at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - They have a whole page dedicated to the nuts and bolts of safety in the COVID era, and it is worth a read.

 

Not my fault! Obviously, you want to make sure your staff is safe because you care about them, and you also want to keep them safe to protect yourself. Attorneys at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., answer the burning question: Can you require your employees to sign a waiver before they return to work?

 

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.

 

Amid Pandemic, Maine Farmers Markets Are Busier Than Ever

Mainebiz reported today that with new business likely spurred by the pandemic, farmers markets throughout Maine are busier than they've ever been. The information is anecdotal, but Jimmy DeBiasi, director of programs at the Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets, said most markets are reporting that, for this time of year, they're seeing an increase in shopper traffic. There's also an increased incidence of new shoppers, which seems to be demonstrated in online pre-orders. DeBiasi said he heard from one farm that last month sold out of greens within 30 minutes when it launched its e-commerce platform.

 

Overall, he said, vendors and shoppers are becoming accustomed to the new normal at the markets. They're now being set up under guidelines issued in late March by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry for farmers across the state marketing directly to consumers. The guidelines strongly encourage markets to adjust physical layouts to promote social distancing, including one-way pedestrian traffic, special shopping times for seniors and people with compromised health, use of paperless payment options and an online pre-order and pick-up system, sending only one shopper per household, face masks and hand washing or sanitizing, and signage and staff to alert shoppers to safety measures.

 

 

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
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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