ECONOMIC RESPONSE
Essential Service Designations:
- Governor Mills signed an executive order requiring all non-essential businesses to close physical locations until April 8. Under the executive order, essential businesses include those identified by the US Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response. (March 24)
- The order also added several other activities that Maine considers “essential,” including fishing and aquaculture, essential home repair, grocery, and household goods, and childcare providers. (March 24)
Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:
- Maine released official reopening guidance for businesses based on sector. Details for each sector can be found here.
Economic Stimulus & Relief:
- Maine will receive up to $100,000 in grant funding to improve employment outcomes in response to the economic impacts of COVID-19, connecting job seekers to training, education, job opportunities, and essential support services. The state will also get support developing an action plan to develop or scale innovations that increase employment and deliver stronger workforce outcomes. (March 10)
- The Mills administration will present to the Legislature a “Back to Work” bond proposal, including efforts to expand broadband, develop the workforce, support innovation in Heritage industries, and increase funding for childcare. (February 23)
- Governor Mills and Commissioner for the Department of Administrative & Financial Services Kirsten Figueroa announced the Administration had committed all of Maine’s $1.25 billion in CARES Act funding, with the final $6.8 million allocated the public-private partnership with Westbrook-based IDEXX Laboratories for COVID-19 testing. (December 11)
- Governor Mills and Commissioner of Economic & Community Development Heather Johnson announced the Administration would commit $10 million in federal CARES Act funding to a newly-created Agriculture & Food Processing Infrastructure Reimbursement Program. (December 4)
- Governor Mills and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal announced the Administration would commit $2 million in federal CARES Act funding to the Food Security Network Reimbursement Program. (December 4)
- The Mills administration announced it would dedicate more than half a million dollars in COVID-19 relief funds to extend home-delivered meals to older residents and caregivers, ensuring food and nutrition for Maine people staying home during the pandemic. (November 25)
- Governor Mills announced a $40 million economic recovery grant program to support Maine’s tourism, hospitality, and retail small businesses. (November 30)
- Governor Mills announced her administration had begun distributing the second round of financial awards to small businesses and non-profits through the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program. (November 20)
- Governor Mills announced her administration had awarded $5.6 million in CARES Act funding to aid the construction of permanent internet infrastructure that would bring high-speed broadband to more than 730 students across rural Maine. (November 20)
- Governor Mills announced she would dedicate an additional $6.2 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to Maine Housing’s COVID-19 Rental Relief Program. Maine Housing would extend the program through December for renters who could not afford to pay their rent because of the pandemic. (November 20)
- Governor Mills and Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Eric Rosengren announced the Boston Fed and the State of Maine would collaborate to launch the Working Communities Challenge in Maine. The initiative aimed to strengthen Maine’s rural towns and smaller cities and is backed in part by $2.7 million in donations. (October 21)
- Maine moved into Stage 4 of the Plan to Restart Maine’s Economy on October 13. This stage included guidance on winter capacity limits for businesses and strengthened measures on wearing cloth face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (October 6)
- Governor Mills announced her administration would dedicate an additional $25 million in CARES Act funding to Maine’s unemployment insurance trust fund. (October 2)
- The Maine Department of Health & Human Services announced it would invest nearly $1 million from the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to support infection prevention and control practices in congregate care settings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (October 1)
Business Support & Resources:
- Governor Mills signed a measure which provides state income tax relief to all Maine businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program funds and exempts unemployment benefits from state income taxes for approximately 160,000 Mainers. (March 18)
- The Maine Department of Health & Human Services awarded $5.1 million in grants to 53 health care organizations that serve residents with MaineCare to help sustain vital health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. (December 30)
- Governor Mills announced a $200 million economic recovery program for Maine’s small businesses. (August 20)