The latest edition of our Impact newsletter is now available!
Weekly edition of IMPACT, a publication of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce | Thurs., May 13, 2021
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Governor Mills updates Moving Maine Forward plan, lifts restrictions  Starting May 24, capacity limits lifted and physical distancing requirements eased The Mills Administration today updated its public health protocols under the Moving Maine Forward Plan. Effective May 24, Maine will lift all capacity limits and requirements to physically distance in all public outdoor settings, and lift all capacity limits in public indoor venues. Physical distancing requirements are also eliminated, except in settings where people are eating or drinking and therefore would be removing their face covering – such as indoor restaurants, bars, dining areas in camps or in congregate living facilities, and break rooms. Face coverings must still be worn in public indoor settings. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine Department of Education will separately update school-based protocols. Read the full release here...
MAINE’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY STRONGLY OPPOSES LD 553 URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED TO BLOCK PASSAGE OF LD 553 CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY AND URGE THEM TO VOTE “NO” On Friday, May 7, the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing voted “ought to pass” on LD 553, An Act to End At-Will Employment, a bill sponsored by Rep. Michael Sylvester (D-Portland). We are urging individual Maine employers to contact their legislators as soon as possible to voice their opposition to LD 553. The Maine Legislature could vote on LD 553 as soon as Wednesday, May 19 when legislators are scheduled to reconvene. Read more...
Majority of Labor committee approves bill to end “employment-at-will” Discipline or discharge would be “for cause” only In a stunning move, Democrats and the one independent on the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing approved a bill that would end decades of employment law in Maine and require “for cause” discipline or discharge in most Maine workplaces. Such a sweeping change will make Maine one of only two states in the nation to require such action. Read more...
IMPORTANT! Action Needed! Please reach out to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources today and ask them to vote no on LD 1639 LD 1639, An Act To Protect the Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste, seeks to prohibit the processing of out of state construction and demolition debris in Maine.  What are the impacts if LD 1639 passes? The bill would cause an increase in solid waste disposal costs (tipping fees) to municipalities and other customers, reduce options for disposal of municipal treatment plant sludge, and remove the recycling mandate for construction and demolition debris, contrary to the state solid waste hierarchy.  The bill will result in the closure of the ReSource Lewiston processing facility, a facility that employs over 75+ direct and indirect jobs, particularly in the trucking industry. ReSource is currently investing millions to increase recovery and recycling rates at its Lewiston facility to comply with new state mandates passed just last year and expand intake capacity. The bill will decrease the trucking back hauls of construction and demolition debris from New Hampshire and Massachusetts resulting in a price increase in bark mulch created in Maine.  This would effectively cause Maine mulch to become uncompetitive. In its efforts to eliminate some out-of-state waste, LD1639 diminishes construction and demolition debris recycling mandates, puts over 75 people out of a job, closes a necessary recycling facility and, in turn, ensures that no in-state construction and demolition debris gets recycled. It would also hurt Maine’s climate for business investment by demonstrating a lack of predictability in government regulations and shake confidence in making business investments in Maine.  Let your voice be heard, please send an email to all members of the Environment and Natural Resources committee at the following web address: https://p2a.co/X4qu4zs.
A Historic Investment in Broadband Infrastructure with Senator Angus King Friday, May 21, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For more information or to register, please visit www.mainechamber.org/webinar31.html The district map posters of the 130th Legislature are here! Request your posters | Learn more
Elevating early childhood educators through recruitment and retention efforts seeks to provide solutions, supports, and pathway for profession On May 11, the Maine State Chamber submitted testimony in support of LD 1652, An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Educators Workforce. This bill offers a solution to Maine’s understaffed early childcare programs. The bill increases wages in the field to help with demand and retention. The bill also creates more pathways to early childcare careers and boosts the quality of early childcare providers by expanding early childhood education programs at career and technical education centers, increasing apprenticeships at childcare programs, and providing scholarships toward associate and bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education.  Read more...
LD 1684 proposes to help immigrants secure and keep jobs and fully engage at a level that matches their education and experience  Maine State Chamber supports efforts to strengthen and grow Maine’s workforce as well as the ability of Maine employers to compete and succeed On May 13, Ben Gilman, general counsel for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, submitted the following testimony of in support of LD 1684, An Act To Strengthen Maine's Workforce by Expanding English Language Acquisition and Workforce Training Programs, to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs. We are reprinting it here for your review and consideration. If you have any questions, please contact Ben Gilman by calling (207) 623-4568, ext. 108, or by emailing bgilman@mainechamber.org. Read more...
2021 Health Care Forum Wednesday, May 26, 2021 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. For more information or to register, please visit www.mainechamber.org/webinar32.html MIT EN-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator Wednesday, May 26 | 11:00 a.m. to Noon For more information or to register, please visit www.mainechamber.org/webinar33.html
Resistance to good clean-energy projects harms Maine’s economy, climate progress Summit’s abandoned Midcoast pipeline expansion was the one viable way to lower emissions from the region’s larger energy users By Dana Connors, Special to the Portland Press Herald Gov. Mills’ plan to combat climate change, Maine Won’t Wait, makes it clear that bold action is needed to meet the state’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. That means 80 percent of Maine’s energy will need to come from renewable resources, including wind, hydro, solar and natural gas. Several projects have been proposed. Most not only put Maine on the path to carbon neutrality but also create well-paying clean-energy jobs. Regrettably, many are being met with resistance – some to the point of being terminated. This kind of resistance is standing in the way of combating climate change in Maine. Read the full article here...
Maine achieves another vaccination milestone: 70 percent of Maine adults have received first shot of COVID-19 vaccine Governor Janet Mills announced yesterday that Maine has reached another vaccination milestone, delivering at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine to more than 70 percent of Maine people age 18 and older, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC) tracker. Read more...
Governor’s Climate Action Plan: Maine Won’t Wait Thursday, May 27, 2021 | 9:00 a.m. to Noon For more information or to register, please visit www.mainechamber.org/webinar34.html Bring ME Up to Speed, Webinar 3: A New England Perspective Wed., June 2, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. For more information or to register, please visit www.mainechamber.org/webinar27.html
Governor Mills unveils Part Two Budget proposal with historic investment in Maine schools, achieving 55 percent of education costs for first time in Maine history Governor’s budget proposal also invests in a host of bipartisan priorities including health care, tax relief, revenue sharing, savings, and more Yesterday, Governor Janet Mills unveiled her Administration’s Part 2 budget for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023 biennium, a proposal that makes a historic investment in Maine public schools and meets the State’s obligation to pay 55 percent of the cost of K-12 education for the first time in Maine’s history. Read the full release here | Read the reactions here
From the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber: We need to talk about hiring The Times Record recently printed the following special contribution from Cory King, executive director of the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber. We are reprinting it here for your consideration: We need to talk about hiring. There’s a lot I’m hearing, seeing, and reading about the issues business owners have with their staffing levels right now, and why they think that’s happening. I tell business owners they have to run their business as they see fit, but I do have some suggestions that I urge you to consider. Read more…
Register for a Regional Legislative Breakfast near you! As a Maine business leader, your insight is valuable and instrumental to this open dialogue about business 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. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce invites you to attend any of its Regional Legislative Breakfast Meetings, held virtually on Zoom. Each session begins at 9:00 a.m. Grab your cup of coffee and join the conversation from the comfort of your own home! 2021 Regional Legislative Breakfast Meetings Portland Area: Tues., June 1 | More Info Maine Highlands Region: Thurs., June 3 | More Info Maine’s Lakes & Mountains: Tues., June 8 | More Info Maine’s Midcoast & Islands: Wed., June 9 | More Info Aroostook County: Thurs., June 10 | More Info  Kennebec Valley Region Legislative Breakfast Tues., June 15 | 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Details | Register The Maine State Chamber of Commerce invites you to the Kennebec Valley Region Legislative Breakfast, held in person at the new Lockwood Hotel’s Front & Main Restaurant in downtown Waterville.
Don’t miss The Maine Take with Dana Connors Live-streaming every Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. Hosted by Maine State Chamber President and CEO Dana Connors, The Maine Take shares information and perspectives on issues and policies that impact Maine’s economy and business community, featuring in-depth discussions with special guests each week. Watch The Maine Take with Dana Connors live on our website or on our YouTube channel. On Tuesday, May 11, Connors and guest co-host John Williams spoke with the Chamber’s Advocacy Team and Maine & Co. President and CEO Peter DelGreco about multiple bills in the 130th Legislature that would hold back Maine’s economy, make it harder to do business in Maine, and restrict Maine’s ability to attract new businesses and people to our state. Click here for the replay to learn what’s in play this legislative session and how much is at stake. Missed previous episodes? Click here for archived episodes on topics including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Maine; Combating Climate Change; Celebrating Maine Educators; and much more. For more information on The Maine Take, please contact Jen Webber. New day and time reminder: The Maine Take now live-streams on Tuesdays at noon.
The Bottom Line podcast airs live at 10:00 a.m. on Thursdays Don't miss it this month on May 13 and May 27 On May 13, The Bottom Line podcast’s co-hosts – Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and John Williams of Williams Broadcasting – were joined by Andy Shepard, general manager and CEO of Saddleback, to discuss the ski mountain's revival, his reflections on the first season in operation, and a glimpse into what’s next for Saddleback development. Airing live at 10:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, The Bottom Line podcast features a wide variety of guests and presents interviews relevant to public policy priorities both in state and nationally, to economic recovery efforts of the pandemic, and to other significant issues of interest to Maine’s business community. To listen live, please visit Williams Broadcasting at www.williamsbroadcasting.net and scroll down to “Listen Online” at the bottom of the homepage. To listen to the archived podcasts any time, please visit The Bottom Line page on the Maine State Chamber’s website. In addition, The Bottom Line podcast can be heard on iTunes, iHeart Radio, Soundcloud, Stitcher Radio, Spotify and radio.com. Limited sponsorship opportunities are available in the following four options: 12-month sponsorship for $4,000; 6-month sponsorship for $2,500; 3-month sponsorship for $1,400; and, 1-month sponsorship for $600. For benefit details, current analytics, or to secure your sponsorship, please email aarno@mainechamber.org.
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