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 20, 2021
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HELP US DEFEAT LD 553! QUICK LINKS: State Policy Update  |  Advocacy Alert  |  Sample Letter to Legislators 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 this week to voice their opposition to LD 553. CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY AND URGE THEM TO VOTE “NO” LD 553 would prohibit an employer with five or more employees from terminating the employment of an employee without just cause. The bill specifies an employer may – with limited exceptions – terminate an employee only after applying a written three-step progressive discipline policy, documenting each step in writing and providing written notice of termination in accordance with certain requirements. LD 553 also includes a private right for aggrieved employees to sue employers. The bill also eliminates references to “at-will employment” in current law. Read more...
LD 1710 can play a part in helping achieve all three of state's strategic plan's goals On May 18, Ben Gilman, general counsel for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, submitted the following testimony in support of LD 1710, An Act To Require Prompt and Effective Use of the Renewable Energy Resources of Northern Maine, to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. 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 [email protected]. Read more...
Chamber supports bill that provides refundable income tax credit to paper industry On Thursday, May 20, the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation held a public hearing on LD 1713, An Act to Increase Workforce Skills for the Revitalization of Maine’s Paper Industry Through the Establishment of an Income Tax Credit for Paper Manufacturing Workforce Training. The Maine State Chamber submitted testimony in support of the bill as amended, which creates a refundable income tax credit for paper manufacturers that make significant capital investments in the state while maintaining a certain level employment and income level. Read more...
Increased disposal fee costs will ultimately drive up the costs of doing business in the state of Maine On May 17, Ben Gilman, general counsel for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, submitted the following testimony in opposition to LD 1639, An Act To Protect the Health and Welfare of Maine Communities and Reduce Harmful Solid Waste, to the Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. 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 [email protected]. Read more...
Maine delegation urges administration to reverse reported proposal to cut construction of a Navy destroyer U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing concern about recent media reports that the Department of Defense (DoD) is only expected to request a single DDG-51 Flight III destroyer in the administration’s budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.  This would be a reduction from the two destroyers that were previously projected, and it would be a significant deviation from the current multi-year contract between the Navy and the two large surface combatant shipyards, including Bath Iron Works. To read more, visit the delegation's newsrooms by clicking on their names above
Quality childcare also sets up Maine’s economy for future success The past week was momentous for the Right from the Start (RFTS) coalition, and more work is coming soon. This entire legislative session has hinged on two important bills – LD 1652, An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine's Early Childhood Educators Workforce, and LD 1712, An Act To Support Children's Healthy Development and School Success. Read more...
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Pingree announces $11.2 million coming to Maine for mental health, substance use programs Maine First District Congresswoman advocated for boosted SAMSHA funding included in landmark American Rescue Plan Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced earlier this week that the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will receive two grants totaling $11,239,664 through the American Rescue Plan. The $5,599,279 Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) and $5,640,385 Substance Abuse Block Grant (SABG) will fund mental health and substance use programs. Read More...
Governor Mills touts Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan’s investment in workforce training at Maine’s Community Colleges On May 18, Governor Janet Mills has proposed investing $35 million in the Maine Community College System as part of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, her plan to dedicate more than $1 billion in discretionary Federal relief funds allocated to Maine under the American Rescue Plan Act. The Governor has also proposed committing $35 million to the University of Maine System and $20 million to Maine’s Career and Technical Education Centers. This investment also comes as the Governor proposes in her budget a three percent funding increase to support the operations of community colleges. Read More…
Investment in Maine’s career and technical education centers critical to economic recovery, says Governor Mills Governor’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan proposes $20 million for CTEs to train students and strengthen Maine’s workforce During a May 14 tour of Foster Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center in Farmington, Governor Janet Mills highlighted the importance of Maine CTEs in training skilled workers and spurring economic recovery and long-term growth from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more...
Efficiency Maine seeks proposals for Level 2 electric vehicle chargers Efficiency Maine’s Level 2 charger Request for Proposals (RFP) closes on Tuesday, June 8 at 3:00 p.m. Through this RFP process, the Efficiency Maine Trust seeks proposals from eligible bidders to host, purchase, install, and operate Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers to serve EVs at eligible locations in Maine where there is a high likelihood of significant use and longevity. An easy reference to the RFP is available here. Read more...
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases Portland area economic summary Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated economic summaries, including a Portland Area Economic Summary. Economic Summaries are specialized products that combine data graphically from subjects such as unemployment, inflation, wages, prices, spending, and benefits into a single document for selected metropolitan areas. This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions and the nation. All data are not seasonally adjusted, and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program produces labor force data for census regions and divisions, states, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities, by place of residence. As an alternative to the county-based Metropolitan Statistical Areas that it produces for all states, the LAUS program uses New England City and Town Areas for areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
The Maine Take with Dana Connors livestreams weekly on Tuesdays at Noon 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 18, Connors welcomed Hannah Pingree, Director of the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, for a timely discussion on spurring Maine’s economic comeback and recent Mills Administration economic proposals, including the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan to invest more than $1 billion in federal relief funds allocated to Maine under the American Rescue Plan Act, the Governor’s Supplemental Budget Proposal, and more. Click here for the replay. Click here for archived episodes on topics including what’s at stake for Maine’s business community in the 130th Legislature, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Maine; Combating Climate Change; Celebrating Maine Educators; and much more. Missed last week’s episode? Click here for archived episodes. For more information on The Maine Take, please contact Jen Webber.
Register today for these upcoming webinars! A Historic Investment in Broadband Infrastructure with Senator Angus King TOMORROW! Friday, May 21, 2021 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Held Virtually on Zoom Details | Register     2021 Health Care Forum Wednesday, May 26, 2021 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. | Held Virtually on Zoom Details | Register     MIT EN-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator Wednesday, May 26, 2021 11:00 a.m. to Noon | Held Virtually on Zoom Details | Register Recordings of past webinars can be viewed online here.
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