Legislative Breakfast 2020!

Thank you to all who attended the PLC's 2020 Legislative Breakfast Thursday March 5 at The Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta! We had tremendous attendance from legislators, PLC Members, PLC Supporting Members, and other supporters of Maine's logging industry who took time out of their busy schedules to make the event a great success!

The PLC released results of a new economic impact study at the event that showed logging contributed $619 million to Maine's economy in 2017. The study, The Economic Contribution of Logging and Trucking in Maine, conducted by the University of Maine and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, also revealed that in 2017 logging supported approximately 9,366 Maine jobs either directly or indirectly, generated $342 million in labor income, and pumped an estimated $25 million into state and local tax coffers. You may read the full announcement on the study on page 33.

PLC Members sincerely appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk with their legislators and remind lawmakers why the logging industry is critical to Maine's future and deserves their support.

Thank you to our speakers at the event including Sherbey Morris of Morris Logging Inc. and Maine Speaker of the House Sara Gideon.

The COVID-19 pandemic is creating many challenges for Maine's loggers and truckers. Information on this crisis is changing quickly, therefore the PLC is attempting to regularly inform the membership of the latest developments (see those at the time of this printing below) through a COVID19 Resource Page available online here: https://mailchi.mp/2ef471ed5b80/q3pacbw7i2

❖ On April 3 the Small Business Administration (SBA) began accepting applications from small businesses for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). After a shaky rollout the program’s funding was quickly exhausted. At the time of this printing negotiations to appropriate additional funds for the program were underway. This program is part of the COVID -19 Stimulus Package or CARES Act. Businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with less than 500 employees qualify for the PPP. (If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first 8 weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination). If you plan to apply for a loan, PLC encourages you to contact your lender to discuss the process immediately as interest in this option is high and funding could dry up quickly if more is appropriated.

❖ SBA Bridge Loans may be appropriate for some businesses to bridge the gap while they wait for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. SBA Express Bridge Loans enable small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing and can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. Talk to your lender if interested in this option.

❖ On April 1, the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act went into effect. This federal Act requires some employers in Maine to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded medical leave for reasons related to COVID-19.

❖ Maine's Department of Labor has recommended that people file unemployment claims online with a computer as opposed to a smartphone and do so in the evening when internet traffic is less. To address high claims volume, those seeking to file for unemployment by calling the 800 number should use the following schedule: Last names beginning with A-H should call on Monday, with names beginning with I-Q on Tuesday; and those beginning with R-Z on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are left unassigned for those who miss their alphabetical day or need to call at that time. Those who are unable to connect with a claims representative at the times above by calling 1-800-593-7660 before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday should submit a message at www.maine.gov/labor/contact