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V O L . X X V I N O. X I I I J U N E 1 5 , 2 0 2 0 6 the temporary financial relief for jobless freelancers, independent contractors, self-employed workers and others who don't qualify for traditional unemploy- ment insurance. Meanwhile, the state continues to investigate at least 1,000 reports of fraudulent claims involving organized crime, and had already can- celed 2,200 applications that used stolen information such as names and Social Security numbers. e department is working with the Maine attorney general's office, Maine State Police and federal law enforcement. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King announced several grants awarded through the CARES Act including: the Maine Department of Public Safety and local municipalities were awarded $4 million for law enforcement to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; the Maine Department of Labor received $1.5 million through the U.S. Department of Labor's Dislocated Worker Grants program; HealthReach Community Health Centers, Maine Hospital Association Inc., Penobscot Community Health Center, Katahdin Valley Health Center and Maine Primary Care Association were awarded a total of $5.8 million to support their efforts to provide health care to Mainers during the pandemic; MaineHousing received $7.9 million and the city of Portland received $1 million in funding to prevent and respond to COVID-19 among individuals and families who are homeless or receiv- ing homeless assistance; and Maine hospitals have been awarded a total of $1.4 million to support efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Janet Mills and State Treasurer Henry Beck said that Moody's Investors Service affirmed both its Aa2 rating and stable outlook on the state of Maine's general obligation debt while Standard & Poors Global Ratings affirmed its AA rating and stable outlook. MEREDA speaker: Pandemic effect could linger years e pandemic's impact on the real estate market and the economy could take years to resolve, economist Charles Colgan said in a webinar with the Maine Real Estate & Development B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N Trump visits swab-maker in Guilford President Donald Trump paid a visit on June 5 to Puritan Medical Products in Guilford, which has been tapped to produce swabs needed for COVID- 19 tests. Puritan received $75 million in federal funds to expand production from 10 million swabs a month to 20 million and eventually 40 million. He told the group that he gets tested for COVID-19 every day, and always asks for a Puritan swab. Puritan is one of two companies in the world — the other one's in Italy — that makes the swabs used for testing. Trump ordered that the plant increase manufacturing under the Defense Production Act. Puritan also plans to expand opera- tions into a 144,000-square foot ware- house in Pittsfield. Fraudulent claims overshadow unemployment numbers e number of claims for state unem- ployment benefits declined June 5 from the previous week's figure, but Mainers again are applying for compensation at historic levels. e Maine Department of Labor reported that it received 11,000 claims from May 24-30, down from 16,500 that were filed between May 17 and May 23. In addition, 13,500 applications were submitted for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, B R I E F Recent UNE grad wins 'Greenlight' collegiate entrepreneurs' contest B y R e n e e C o r d e s Biddeford — Jillian Robillard, a University of New England 2020 graduate in the school's marine entrepreneurship program, won this season's "Greenlight Maine Collegiate Challenge" for her Green Bait business venture. Beating out contestants from University of Maine and Colby College in the final round of the televised business pitch competition, Robillard won $25,000 to expand her startup, for which she has developed cost-effective lobster trap bait using invasive green crabs that end up as unin- tended bycatch on commercial lobster boats. Because lobstermen are barred from throwing the crabs back into the sea and have to find other disposal methods, the bycatch adds to the lobster fishers' costs. Using unwanted crabs she buys directly from fishermen, Robillard created a proprietary bait blend she can sell back to fishermen at a reduced price. Besides providing a reli- able, cheaper bait alternative, her product aims to preserve the coastal ecosystem as well as keep and create jobs in Maine's lobster industry. Robillard, who developed her bait venture on the back of another business she started in her sophomore year, buying Jonah crabs directly from lobster boats and reselling the crabs wholesale. She is one of 250 students in the UNE School of Marine Programs and about 10 in marine entrepreneurship, according to UNE spokeswoman Sarah Delage. "Jillian's work ethic, innovative thinking and entrepreneur- ial spirit are exactly the qualities we hope to install in our students," UNE President James Herbert told Mainebiz. "We are so very proud of her, and we can't wait to follow along on her journey as she grows her business." In accepting her award, Robillard said it was "absolutely awesome" to win and added, "I'm looking forward to the future of how to utilize this money to better our state and our planet." A total of seven Maine colleges were represented this sea- son, whose finale was taped from the homes of participants, judges and host Julene Gervais because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides UNE, Colby and UMaine, the season's roster included teams from Bates College, Thomas College, Saint Joseph's College of Maine and Husson University. Robillard won the collegiate version of "Greenlight Maine." In the "Greenlight Maine" contest for established busi- nesses, finalists are Humphrey's BBQ Inc. of West Newfield, whose owners Chad and Nicole Humphrey were 2019 Mainebiz Next List honorees; i-Tell Alert, a Winthrop-based company founded and run by Heather Desjardins, which uses patented technology to remind older individuals to use their walkers consistently; and textile designer Erin Flett of Gorham. They will compete for a $100,000 grand prize. "Greenlight Maine" is produced by Portland Media Group, a custom content and production company founded by Brian Corcoran, CEO of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment; Nat Thompson, former producer and owner of WCSH; and Con Fullam, a television producer and music composer. Jillian Robillard, top, a recent graduate of the University of New England, won the "Greenlight Maine College Challenge." Judges, from bottom left, were Isla Dickerson of Bangor Savings Bank, Andy Nichols of Elmet Technologies and Briana Warner of Atlantic Sea Farms. S C R E E N S H O T We can't wait to follow along on her journey as she grows her business. — James Herbert, UNE

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