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The Daily Edition for Tuesday, May 26, 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 Expands Contact Tracing to Limit the Spread of COVID-19

Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is significantly expanding contact tracing by increasing the number of skilled staff and volunteers, harnessing innovative technology, and securing social services to help people with COVID-19 maintain self-isolation.

 

The State's expanded contact tracing parallels its major increase in testing capacity. Contact tracing is the process of identifying, assessing, and protecting people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent their transmitting infection to others. Taken together, testing and contract tracing enable Maine to identify, investigate, and isolate individuals with COVID-19 to prevent its spread in the absence of effective treatment or a vaccine.

 

Nearly 3 out of 4 Maine Small Businesses Have Received Funding Through the Paycheck Protection Program

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the co-author of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced today that nearly 3 out of 4 Maine small businesses have received forgivable PPP loans. A new survey by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that the PPP has distributed these funds to 73.1 percent of small businesses in the state.

 

"The Paycheck Protection Program has been an extraordinary success, providing a lifeline to nearly three out of every four small businesses across Maine. In addition, this program is helping to ensure that paychecks continue to be sent to approximately 200,000 Mainers," said Senator Collins. "The numbers speak for themselves. The PPP is making a real difference by allowing small businesses to stay afloat and continue to pay their workers."

 

On Thursday, Senator Collins introduced the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act, which would extend the PPP to reflect the fact that economic shutdowns have lasted longer than originally anticipated, and to provide small employers with more flexibility in the use of loan funds, such as purchasing personal protective equipment for their employees.

 

JOIN US TOMORROW!

2020 Maine State Chamber Health Care Forum

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

 

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

 

Premier Sponsor: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Sheild

 

Program Sponsors:

Cross Insurance, Martins Point Health Care and University of New England

 

Supporting Sponsors: MaineHealth and Northern Light Health 

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.

 

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's Unemployment Rate Skyrockets, Though Less Than National Rate

Late last week, Mainebiz reported that Maine's unemployment rate more than tripled in April to 10.6%, according to the state Department of Labor. The number of nonfarm jobs in Maine plummeted by 98,400 during the month, the sharpest loss ever in the month of April, and left the state with 531,700, the lowest total since July 1994. Every economic sector and every region were affected. The unemployment rate, based on data that had not been seasonally adjusted, was lowest in Kennebec County, at 10.1%, and highest in Oxford County, at 14%.

 

But despite its dizzying new height, the unemployment rate for Maine was significantly below the national rate of 14.7% in April, the Labor Department said in a news release. In March, Maine recorded an unemployment rate of 3.2%, the same rate as in February, and the 51st consecutive month in which the rate was below 4%. Job losses were a relatively modest 7,200.

 

Job losses between February and April impacted every major industry sector. The largest decrease was in leisure and hospitality, where 42,600 jobs were lost, representing 61% of jobs in that sector, and 40% of jobs lost in all sectors. State economist Glenn Mills cautioned in the release that the numbers may still under-represent the full effect of the crisis.

 

Maine DOL Explains Process for Pandemic Extended Unemployment Compensation

Extended Benefits for Exhaustees Rolling this Week: Additional weeks of unemployment benefits will be retroactively available to people who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits. These additional weeks are available to anyone whose benefit year ends on or after July 1, 2019, and who remains otherwise eligible. Benefits will be paid retroactively to the week ending March 21, 2020, or the week following state unemployment exhaustion, whichever is later. The weekly certifications must be filed for those weeks in order for payments to be made. Those that have not filed for the week ending March 21 or later need to log in to their ReEmployME account to file those certifications.

 

Maine Lost 1,700 Construction Jobs From March to April

The Portland Press Herald reported that Maine lost roughly 1,700 construction jobs in April - nearly 6 percent of all Maine jobs in the industry - as projects were postponed or canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. A report issued by construction trade group Associated General Contractors of America placed Maine near the middle of the pack in terms of the percentage of construction job losses among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., from March to April. With a one-month loss of 5.7 percent, Maine ranked No. 19 for lowest percentage of job losses.

 

The No. 1-ranked state was South Dakota, which actually gained 500 construction jobs - about 2 percent - from March to April, it said. The lowest-ranked state was Vermont, which lost 6,800 construction jobs - roughly 46 percent - from March to April. Maine had a smaller share of construction job losses than any other New England state, according to the trade group. Massachusetts was ranked No. 47 with 60,000 jobs lost - about 37 percent - over the one-month period. New Hampshire was ranked No. 38 with 3,200 jobs lost - about 11 percent.

 

Coronavirus Has Led to a Pared-Down School Year that Looks Different District by District

The Bangor Daily News reported today that while Maine schools' remote learning strategies have become longer-term and more digitally oriented as school shutdowns have continued, teachers and school district leaders agree that public education overall is more pared down than it was in the classroom, and will remain that way until schools can reopen.

 

The Maine Department of Education allowed school districts to develop their own remote learning plans, so they've looked different district to district, spokesperson Kelli Deveaux said.

 

Some students are well suited to online learning while others, including some who did well in the classroom, have been struggling, Geoffrey Wingard, chair of the history department at Bangor High School, said. Whether it's their preferred learning style or not, 79 of Wingard's 80 students are at least participating in the new format.

 

A key difference for Bangor students is that teachers aren't holding scheduled online classes in which all students participate, even as teachers upload lessons - including videos and other materials - to Google Classroom for students to complete and hold online office hours.

 

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

THIS WEEK!

 

Presque Isle Area

Thursday, May 28

from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

 

 

Register here

COMING SOON!

 

Augusta Area

Wednesday, June 3 from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

This session is a program of

the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce

 

Register here

 

REGISTER TODAY!

 

Webinar: How to Support
the New Work From Home Model

 

Thursday, June 4

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

How will employers support the new work from home model while maintaining business continuity with a work-from-home workforce? How will employers use this new paradigm to Maine's advantage in the future? What happens when most or all of the workforce starts working from home? How can we use this as a positive spin in the future for employees and future employees?

 

Our panel of presenters includes:

* Laurie Mitchell, Assitant Vive President of Global Wellbeing and Health Management at Unum;

* Matt McGrath, President and CEO of Systems Engineering;

* Nate Wildes, Executive Director of Live and Work in Maine; and,

* Katie Shorey, Director of Engagement for Live and Work in Maine.

Register today and plan to join us Thursday, June 4 at 10:00 a.m. for this important webinar presentation.

 

 

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