Since the beginning of the pandemic, people have written hundreds of cards and letters and emails to me, all filled with hope and heartbreak in equal measure.
Many come from small business owners and local nonprofits who have faced unprecedented challenges from this pandemic, from the heartbreak of temporarily closing to the herculean task of reopening to the public in a new and innovative way.
Hello this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.
This pandemic has drastically changed the global business environment. It has disrupted supply chains, and reduced consumer spending and caused severe losses across all sectors. In Maine, the closure of the Canadian border, the stoppage of cruise ships, and the reluctance of people generally to travel have impacted our economy inevitably, from farms and fisheries to retail and recreation, service and hospitality sectors.
“We are stronger, we are smarter, and we do not cave in hard times,” one business owner wrote to me. “We are smarter than this virus and we are ready to do what we need in order to protect our family, and everyone else’s family."
I appreciate the great cooperation of Maine’s small businesses in protecting the people of Maine, often while often sacrificing substantial market share, and my Administration will do whatever we can to support them through these tough times.
Some small businesses and non-profits have not been able to access federal relief funds and have fallen through the cracks. Others have exhausted the funds they received and need something more to get through the coming months.
This week we launched the “Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program” to support Maine businesses and nonprofits as they grapple with the economic hardship caused by COVID-19.
This program is backed by $200 million of Federal Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) and it will provide financial relief for entities that incurred business disruptions caused by the pandemic.
The business or organization must have its base in Maine, meaning it is headquartered here or has at least half its employees and contract employees based here, and it must employ less than a total of 50 employees and contract employees. And it must demonstrate a need for financial relief due to the virus.
Grants may be used to cover expenses like payroll; rent or mortgage; utility; expenses in replenishing inventory or other re-opening costs; purchase of personal protective equipment, that kind of thing.
Small businesses and nonprofit organizations can apply for grants now through September 9, 2020, and the awards will be made in early October based on need, not on a first-come, first served basis.
The small amount of money available for these grants compared to the need can never replace or repair the extraordinary damage this pandemic has caused.
More support is desperately needed, and I really hope that Congress and the Administration in Washington will step up to the plate soon and provide meaningful relief to the small farms, the fishermen, the Mom & Pop stores, the diners, the B ‘N B’s, the motels, stores and local family businesses across this state and across this nation – those that are the backbone of our economy and the lifeblood of our communities.
To learn more, please visit the Department of Economic and Community Development website at maine.gov/decd. Small businesses can begin applying now.
If we continue to protect ourselves and one another by keeping our distance, washing our hands and wearing face coverings, remember we can keep our small businesses open, we can reopen our schools and we can limit the spread of this dangerous virus.
We will get through this.
It is up to all of us.
This is Governor Janet Mills.
Thank you for listening.