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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 A P R I L 6 , 2 0 2 0 COVID-19 forces shutdowns, stay-at-home orders Gov. Janet Mills ordered nonessen- tial businesses to close their public- facing facilities and told essential ones they must better limit contact, while Portland went a step further and issued a stay-at-home order to residents. e measures are an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. An emergency proclamation in Portland, like the state's, applies to all nonessen- tial businesses and services in the city, but also orders residents to remain at home unless necessary. Schools and many businesses were closed, though essential businesses like grocery stores, gas stations, hardware stores and of course health care operations were busier than usual. Gov't stimulus plan will help small businesses, hospitality e $2.2 trillion CARES Act, a federal relief effort signed into law by President Donald Trump, is expected to offset the economic impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic. It includes $377 billion in guaranteed loans to small businesses. Retailers and the hospitality indus- try have already been hit hard by the disruption. Jobless claims surged to new levels. HospitalityMaine, a trade group, called the relief package "a step" toward helping ease the strain on the state's restaurants and lodging busi- nesses. e program can put employees who've been laid off because of rules prohibiting dining-in at restaurants back onto payrolls through loans, grants, unemployment assistant and business interruption and disaster insur- ance. "e beauty of this is it covers employer and employee at the same time," said HospitalityMaine's CEO Steve Hewins. ousands of room nights and restaurant reservations were canceled over the past few weeks, as well as advanced room reservations. Walk-in traffic dwindled to nothing, HospitalityMaine said. Many restau- rants have had to close or are losing revenue by just serving takeout. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that Maine will receive a total of $1.2 million for senior nutrition through the Administration for Community Living. The funding includes $803,015 for home-delivered meals and $401,507 for congregate meals. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a total of $671,345 to five Maine nonprofits to assist homeless individuals in Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Continuum of Care Program, was awarded to Maine State Housing Authority, Augusta, $409,983; New Beginnings Inc., Lewiston, $164,339; Kennebec Behavioral Health, Waterville, $43,479; S T A T E W I D E Maine community colleges fast- track free online health care training — One of many quick responsess to the COVID-19 health crisis Farmer, consumer resources sprout as season begins amidst COVID-19 — As one business person said, we have to ensure that farmers can plant their crops this spring USM, Preble Street team up to open Portland homeless shelter during crisis — Amid the "stay at home" orders, two institutions step up to help the homeless Waterville wealth firm invokes Buffett playbook in crisis response — Good to hear some calming advice in these crazy days Bar Harbor bans vacation rentals, nonessential stays through April — A common response, but unfortunate sign of the times Crisis forces permanent closure of Sherman's bookstore Camden location — With no revenue coming in, rents quickly become an obstacle Maine weekly jobless claims surge past 20,000 — A week none of us will soon forget Portland nonprofit will eliminate 248 Maine jobs — This was simply the largest in a week when jobless claims surged C R E D I T S & D E B I T S Supporting local businesses for 168 years MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.com We're a local bank that you can We're a local bank that you can trust will be here when you need trust will be here when you need us — in good times and in bad. us — in good times and in bad. Custom lending solutions are Custom lending solutions are here for you — and so are we. here for you — and so are we. Let's talk. Let's talk. Mara Pennell Mara Pennell Vice President, Commercial Lending Vice President, Commercial Lending

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