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The COVID-19 Edition for Monday, June 15, 2020

To view this edition of Impact online, click here.

 

 

Welcome to your COVID-19 Impact newsletter!

As a valued member of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, we plan to stay in touch with you several times each week 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!

 

 

Hospitality Groups Propose $800m Recovery Plan for Maine's Tourism Industry

Late last week, Mainebiz reported that a group of Maine hospitality and retail organizations is proposing an $800 million plan to help the state's tourist industry recover from COVID-19 shutdowns. Saying the shutdowns, including a quarantine of out-of-state visitors, have devastated the state's short summer tourist season, the Maine Hospitality & Tourism Alliance is asking Gov. Janet Mills to earmark the funds to rejuvenate small businesses in that sector. The money would come from the $1.25 billion in CARES Act funding allotted to Maine.

 

The group outlined the Maine Hospitality, Tourism & Retail Recovery Plan at a news conference held in the parking lot of DiMillo's, on the Portland Pier, late Friday morning. The multi-phased relief proposal allots Emergency Action Grants to small businesses across the state that have been affected so they can keep their doors open and pay basic operating costs including rent, mortgage and payroll, the group said in a news release accompanying the announcement. Gov. Janet Mills would have to agree to help allot the money to the program, and the state would administer the plan.

 

The state has lost more than 105,000 jobs because of COVID-19 shutdowns, according to the Maine Department of Labor, including 12,000 in retail and 42,600 in hospitality. "When you look at the statistics, it's astounding," said Dana Connors, president of the Maine Chamber of Commerce. "When you look at all that's impacted that's before you today, you're going to find that's conservative."

 

He added that two-thirds of the value is the summer season, "and that has already begun." The plan, he noted, takes care of "everything that needs to be done at this time," but the group will need to continue to work on opening state to tourism. While he commended Mills for keeping public health front and foremost, "Public health and economic health are side by side partners, we need them both," he said. "We need a state that depends on safety, but also depends on economic success."

Additional Media Coverage:

Bangor Daily News

Tourism groups ask Janet Mills for $800M in federal coronavirus funds

Portland Press Herald

Tourism, hospitality groups ask for $800 million to save Maine's industry

Maine Public

Facing Loss Of Tourism Income, Maine Business Groups Ask For $800 Million Bailout From The State

WMTW

Maine's tourism industry calls on state to spend $800M to help businesses recover from pandemic

 

Mills Administration Announces That Indoor Dining in Androscoggin, Cumberland & York Counties Can Resume on June 17 with Added Health and Safety Precautions

The Mills Administration announced today that indoor dining in Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York counties can voluntarily resume on Wednesday, June 17, with added health and safety protocols outlined in the COVID-19 Prevention Checklist. The decision to allow inside dining in these three counties follows a plateauing of new cases in recent weeks, based on the 14-day moving average, as well as the stabilization of hospital rates in the same counties. Previously, only outside dining, takeaway, and delivery services were permitted at restaurants in these three counties. With this change, restaurants statewide will now be open to both inside and outside dining with added health and safety precautions.

 

The Mills Administration is also further aligning re-openings in these counties with the rural part of the Restarting Maine's Economy Plan. Also effective Wednesday, June 17 in Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York counties, bars, breweries, and tasting rooms are permitted to open for outdoor, seated service while gyms, nail salons, and tattoo parlors may also reopen, all with added health and safety protocols. Additionally, the Administration is also expanding capacity limits at retail establishments, allowing up to 5 customers per 1,000 square feet, given the decreasing risk associated with retail shopping and the assumption that stores will continue to require staff to wear cloth face coverings and follow strict public health precautions. This change replaces the customer limits established in a previous Executive Order.

 

The Administration continues to remind Maine people to follow State requirements and U.S. and Maine CDC recommendations, such as wearing cloth face coverings, staying six feet apart whenever possible, and frequently washing hands with soap and warm water. New research demonstrates that wearing face coverings can significantly slow the spread of COVID-19, underscoring the importance of wearing them.

 

To reserve your banner ad in the COVID-19 Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
[email protected], or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 102.

 

Maine DHHS Announces Nearly $11 Million in CARES Act Funding Awarded to Support Essential Workers and Child Care Providers

On Friday, Maine's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that 525 essential workers have received financial help for child care and more than 1,600 child care providers have received stipends as part of the award of nearly $11 million in federal CARES Act funding to Maine.

 

Maine received $10,953,470 for childcare under the CARES Act in late April through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families' Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. The CCDBG program helps eligible low-income and working families to afford childcare and supports providers in delivering high-quality care.

 

Since announcing the award on April 22, DHHS has distributed over $6 million, with the remainder to be distributed by mid-July under a plan that supports Maine families and child care providers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds have so far been distributed as childcare subsidies for essential workers and as stipends for childcare providers. DHHS is now preparing to distribute the remaining CARES Act funds to support childcare providers in resuming or continuing operations.

 

According to Friday's DHHS press release, as of today, more than 75 percent of Maine's approximately 1,800 licensed child care providers are open, up from about 50 percent in April.

 

Senator Collins Honored with U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Bipartisanship Award

Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce honored U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) with the inaugural Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship, which recognizes members of Congress who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward. Senators Collins and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) both received a perfect score, the only two members of the Senate to do so.

 

'The Maine Chamber congratulates Senator Collins on earning the distinction of being the most bipartisan Republican Senator," said Dana Connors, President of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. "In this era of increasing polarization, it is more important than ever for leaders to reach across the aisle to help our economy and American families. Senator Collins has a proven record of bipartisan accomplishments like the Paycheck Protection Program that have been a lifeline for small businesses and have supported job creation."

 

In addition to Senators Collins and Sinema, two members of the House of Representatives received the Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), and Rep. Joshua Gottheimer (D-NJ-5).

 

Watch the video of the ceremony here.

 

Maine Tells Schools to Prepare for a Fall That Could Still Involve Remote Learning

The Bangor Daily News recently reported that Maine is advising schools districts across the state to prepare for in-person, remote and blended learning models for the fall, with protocols in place to respond to potential coronavirus cases if they arise, according to a draft plan released by the Maine Department of Education, released last Thursday evening. The document, acknowledges that Maine students may have experienced learning losses due to the prolonged shutdown and advises schools to prepare creative learning practices as well as provide professional development opportunities to teachers over the summer to equip them for the full range of scenarios. When schools return will be determined by the Department of Education, in cooperation with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maine Emergency Management Association, the plan says. That decision will be based on local coronavirus trends and whether reopening would be consistent with public health orders, such as capacity limits.

 

Bates College Plans to Reopen for Fall Semester

According the the Sun Journal, Bates College is eyeing "a very different campus" come fall, but one that will have students. College President Clayton Spencer told alumni the college intends to open for students in early September and to send them home before Thanksgiving. The key, college officials said, is to make sure they can keep students, faculty and staff safe during a pandemic that continues to pose risks. Details of how that will be done are still being worked out.

 

Like most colleges, Bates has been shut down since mid-March, its students finishing up their spring semester remotely, mostly online. It has been scrambling ever since to figure out how it could bring them back for the next academic year. The college has not made a formal decision yet that it can be done. Spencer said most colleges, including Bates' peers in the New England Small College Athletic Conference, are planning much the same approach for the fall semester. Basically, students will wind up having four short semesters instead of two longer ones. Each of the sessions will have students generally taking two courses rather than the four at once they typically handle.

 

She said college officials have spent "a great deal of time" on the issues involved, including a key one: whether there will be enough testing capacity to make the environment safe enough for students, teachers and staff. What's necessary, she said, is having the ability to isolate anyone who comes down with COVID-19 so that the disease can't spread. That, of course, requires the capacity to tell when someone is sick. Spencer said wearing masks is one critical way to block the coronavirus.

 

Webinar on WorkShare:

An Alternative to Layoffs

 

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

 

2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The next presentation in our webinar series explores how employers may be able to avoid layoffs by choosing the WorkShare alternative. In lieu of a layoff, employers can temporarily reduce work hours in a particular unit, shift or company from 10% to 50%. To help offset the loss of hours, the affected workers can receive a modified weekly unemployment benefit. Join us to learn more about this program and how it might work for your business. Our presenters for this webinar are Commissioner Laura Fortman and Deputy Commissioner Kim Smith of the Maine Department of Labor.

 

Election Update with
Secretary of State Matt Dunlap

 

Thursday, June 18

 

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Maine's state primary election will be held on July 14. Due to COVID-19 gathering guidelines, this election will most certainly look different than past elections. Join the Maine State Chamber's June webinar series to hear Maine Secretary of State Matt Dunlap talk about what citizens can expect as we cast our ballots next month. This webinar is hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and presented by Secretary of State Matt Dunlap.

 

An Employer's Guide
to COVID-Related
Return-to-Work Issues

 

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

 

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Maine employers have been faced with many challenging issues from the COVID public health emergency. In this webinar, we now turn our focus to the return-to-work phase, which raises many employment-related concerns, such as properly preparing the workplace for the new reality under OSHA and CDC recommendations, determining how employee recalls will work, ongoing unemployment, accommodation claims and disability related issues, potential other leave application, and similar topics. This session will navigate these and other related issues and provide an opportunity for questions. Hosted by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, our presenter for this webinar is Anne-Marie Storey, partner at Rudman Winchell.

 

WEBINAR 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.

 

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

 

Providing Books to Maine Students

Maine educators were recently surveyed about critical needs of their students. Books were highlighted as a top priority for students of all ages. Supporting reading is essential for students to continue to thrive in schools. Making certain that our students, particularly our youngest readers, have easy access to books during the end of the school year and throughout the summer is crucial for preventing summer slide.

 

Even with yeoman-like efforts by Maine teachers and a hands-on approach from the Maine Department of Education to ensure all Maine students have been able to continue learning remotely during the pandemic, we know that learning over these past few months has inevitably been disrupted. In addition to the school year disruption, student achievement often widens during the summer, an outcome referred to as summer slide. Summer slide accounts for as much as 85 percent of the reading achievement gap between lower income students and their middle- and upper-income peers. Providing students with appropriate books will help address this challenge. Not only does summer reading enable students to continue practicing foundational skills, but it opens the world to students through stories and knowledge building around topics of interest. We need your help to ensure students across our 16 counties have access to books, an essential commodity.

 

Here are a few ways you can support Maine students:

 

1 2020 Maine Books Challenge: Educate Maine is leading this initiative to provide students with books while supporting local bookstores. You can purchase an online or physical gift card at one of Maine's independent bookstores. Every $10 donation provides a book for a Maine student. Every donation will be matched by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein up to $5,000. Teachers across Maine will help coordinate book distribution to students. If interested in supporting this effort, please email Katherine at [email protected].

 

2 Scholastic Books: This company has offered significant discounts to help get books to Maine students. For example, a $1,000 donation can support 300 books for 100 students. A $5,000 donation can support 1,500 books for 500 students. If interested in supporting this effort, please email Megan Diver at [email protected].

 

3 Community Book Donations: Gently used books are also needed across Maine. We are seeking community drop off spots at local employers throughout the 16 counties. If your business is interested in becoming a location for books to be collected, please email Megan Diver at [email protected].

 

Books will be distributed to students directly through their schools and at local meal sites throughout the summer. Additional information about summer literacy initiatives can be found here. Thank you for supporting Maine students.

 

Thank you for doing your part!

To join these advertisers in the COVID-19 Impact, please contact Melody Rousseau
by emailing
[email protected], or by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 102.

 

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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 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
    • 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