While no one in our state has been left unaffected by the novel coronavirus, it is clear that small businesses and restaurants are feeling the struggle especially right now. Pay It Forward Maine was started by the Portland Regional Chamber and its partners as a collaborative community measure. The site contains an ever-growing library of ideal, tools, and resources to support Maine businesses, organizations, and each other during this pandemic. In addition to providing assistance to the businesses themselves, it helps those of us in Maine and all over the country support the companies we love. Gift cards, online orders, and even social promotion can be hugely beneficial at this time.​

Today (Wednesday), April 22, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Created in 1970, Earth Day provided a focused, singular voice for various environmental movements and achieved rare, non-partisan support. Here in Maine, being surrounded by the beauty of untouched nature is sometimes taken for granted, but lately has become a lifeline for many in an increasingly isolated society. 
​
It has been anything but business as usual in Maine, and the current economic atmosphere has allowed many local leaders to reflect on what they love – and are most looking forward to post-COVID-19 – when it comes to the natural beauty of our great state. ​

Quincy Hentzel - President and CEO, Portland Regional Chamber

The Chamber's own Quincy is looking toward the summer, the sand, and the surf. “I am so looking forward to putting my toes in the sand and being out on Casco Bay - the most beautiful place to be in the summer!”
​ 
The Portland Regional Chamber has partnered with other organizations to create Pay It Forward Maine - a collaborative community initiative and website containing an ever-growing library of resources for Mainers to support each other – and themselves – during this pandemic. For ideas on how YOU can get involved, click HERE.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

The Portland Regional Chamber and its initial partners (the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and the Retail Association of Maine) set out to create a website containing an ever-growing library of ideas, tools, and resources for Mainers to come together during this pandemic, to lift each other up, to pay it forward for Maine.  
 
In just a few weeks since launching, Pay It Forward Maine has grown to include 75 community partners, been featured on multiple media outlets and websites (including Governor Mill's "Maine Helps" resource page) and has been shared via hundreds of inspirational social posts (with #payitforwardmaine) showing what we all know to be true - we are stronger together. 
 
There is no doubt that the road ahead is long, but we plan on continuing to add useful materials to the Pay It Forward Maine site for as long as it takes to get us all back on our feet again. Because that's what Mainers do! 
 
If your business has continued to serve the community despite the challenges, let us know! Visit Pay It Forward Maine for a list of online platforms where you can add your current services/offerings so that we can all continue to support you. 
 
Please also reach out to the Chamber directly to not only share how Pay It Forward Maine has positively affected YOUR business but with any ideas or suggestions you have - this is a collaborative movement and your input allows us to grow in ways that positively benefit the entire community. ​

In Portland, our city’s pulse is our small-business community. In recent weeks, that pulse has slowed. Today, walking through the Old Port and beyond feels surreal, with shuttered shops and empty streets.

Nicole Wolf, a Portland photographer, has been documenting these empty storefronts and the faces behind them through a series called “Behind Closed Doors.” These images remind
us that behind every empty business is a family, a household budget and individuals impacted by the economic fallout of this crisis.

It can be easy to see these scenes around us and feel helpless. Fortunately, Mainers are working to support these businesses and their employees in this time of need. The website Pay It Forward Maine is helping Mainers buy gift certificates to impacted businesses. Service Industry Tips is helping Mainers provide direct relief to bartenders and servers in our community. And Portland Food Map has made a list of restaurants offering takeout and delivery.

Our state government is also stepping up. The Finance Authority of Maine is offering limited loans for businesses affected by COVID-19. FAME is also offering loans to businesses while they wait for more substantial assistance from the federal Small Business Administration.

Mainers are resilient, and we will make it through this crisis, but we will all need to support our local businesses to make sure that our community comes out of this situation even stronger than ever.
​
-Ed Crockett

This article originally ran in The Forecaster

PORTLAND — As businesses and employers try to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce and other chambers of commerce across the state have launched Pay It Forward Maine.

“In this unprecedented time, we know everyone is feeling the financial impact, especially our small businesses–who make up 99% of our business community in the state,” Quincy Hentzel, CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in a press release. “We want to make sure that when we get to the other side of this pandemic, our local businesses are still there for us. So, we need to be there for them now. This campaign will allow our community to rally, as they always do in times of crises and hardship, and discover ways they can still support their favorite establishments over the next few months.”
As part of the campaign, individuals are asked to continue supporting local businesses by buying gift cards, gift certificates or passes to use when the storefronts are open again; use take-out, delivery or drive through options at restaurants; purchase merchandise and goods online or volunteer to deliver products to those in need; pass out meals for local students or provide child-care or instruction for children whose parents are busy working.
For more information visit, PayItForwardMaine.com.

Adding to our worries about the health of our families, friends, co-workers and ourselves, many are profoundly concerned about how the businesses they own or work for are going to endure the pandemic. The immediate and long-term needs of Maine businesses, especially small businesses, are of utmost importance right now. Every Mainer relies on them. Not only for the services and goods they provide, but the jobs they create and the numerous contributions they, their employees and their families make to Maine’s economy and communities.
Maine’s state, regional and local chambers of commerce are working together to do everything we can to mitigate the pandemic’s economic impact. Assistance is coming together to help employers and workers weather the pandemic.
As part of our efforts, we are continually updating our websites and sharing resources available to help businesses stay afloat in the coming weeks. To date, resources include:

• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance for Maine small businesses. The deadline to apply for assistance is December 16, 2020. Information is available at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela, or applicants can call SBA (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
• Governor Mills has signed emergency legislation establishing a consumer loan guarantee program through the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). FAME is partnering with SBA and Maine lenders to offer special, limited-time loans and loan insurance to eligible Maine businesses and sole proprietors affected by COVID-19. Interested borrowers should first contact their financial institution. They are advised to start the conversation now and not delay. More details are available at www.FAMEmaine.com.
• State legislation was passed to make the Unemployment Insurance system more flexible. For employees, the usual one week waiting period for eligibility will be waived in the event of a Covid-19 related layoff. For employers, layoffs associated with COVID-19 will not count against their rating. More information can be found at https://www.maine.gov/labor/covid19/.
• Federal aid proposals, not yet confirmed, are nearing two trillion dollars. Senator Susan Collins has proposed legislation to provide cash-flow assistance quickly to employers.
  
  

The chamber community also has launched Pay It Forward Maine (www.payitforwardmaine.com), led by the Portland Regional Chamber, to encourage Mainers to support businesses however they can. These businesses are there for us every day. It is our turn to be there for them, whether it’s our favorite lunch spot, gym, yoga studio, book or hardware store. Pay It Forward Maine has put together ideas, most of which can be done online, that include:

• Utilizing delivery, take-out and curbside services at local businesses.
• Buying gift cards for ourselves or others to retailers, restaurants, shops, and movie, concert and theatre venues.
• Purchasing class passes for gyms and fitness studios.
• Purchasing merchandise from favorite retailers, breweries and restaurants.
• Volunteering time and more.
  ​
  

We hope people will share their #PayItForwardMaine plans on social media and challenge their friends to take part. Think of the impact if we all participate. Plus, connecting virtually with others during this time of “social distancing” may help us all feel less isolated. By helping our communities and local businesses, we may feel better knowing we are doing something to help one another.

Originally published on Gov. Mills Maine Helps resource page (updated regularly)

Maine Helps
Fred Rogers – Mr. Rogers – said, “When I was young and I would see scary things on the news, my mother would say, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Maine people are helpers, and they are everywhere. They are our doctors, nurses, EMS, firefighters, police officers, grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, child care workers, government employees.

They are you, they are your neighbor, they are your loved ones. They are Maine people.