November 5, 2021

With energy prices forecast to rise, Maine people are encouraged to make homes more energy efficient and know heating assistance is available if needed

With energy prices forecast to rise this winter, The Governor’s Energy Office has released an updated winter heating resource guide to help Maine people and families take action to save money, improve their home’s energy efficiency, and find heating assistance if needed.

The guide is now available on the Governor’s Energy Office website and as a downloadable, printable document (PDF).

“Maine winters can be difficult, and an expected rise in energy prices stemming from the effects of the pandemic may bring an added burden to Maine people and families,” said Governor Janet Mills. “Help is available today for people who need assistance with heating their home or making it more efficient. I encourage Maine people to use this guide to help stay warm this winter and, as always, to keep an eye out for your neighbors to make sure they’re okay.”

A recent report from the U.S. Energy Information Agency (PDF) estimated that costs for nearly all home heating methods will go up this winter for reasons related to the pandemic and the worldwide economy. Maine is the most heating oil dependent state in the country, with Maine people and businesses spending more than $4 billion every year to import fossil fuels.

To help Maine people stay warm this winter, Governor Janet Mills has announced that $25 million from the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan will be allocated to Efficiency Maine for home weatherization of low to moderate income Maine people. The program serves both homeowners and renters.

This funding is on top of $70 million now available for Maine people through Heating Assistance Program, which provides fuel assistance, weatherization, and other supports through MaineHousing and local community action agencies statewide.

Applications for heating assistance opened November 1. For information on eligibility and how to apply, please visit MaineHousing’s website, call (207) 626-4600, or contact your local community action agency.

November Monthly Events and Happenings

November 4- Thursday

Monthly Workshop on SBA Programs & Services at Secretary of State- 9am – SBA Sponsored

Steps to Grow Your Business (Businesses w/ 2-5 years Experience) – 1pm – Center for Women & Enterprise

NVSBW - The Importance of Knowing What your Business is Worth- 4:30pm – Veterans Business Outreach Center

November 5- Friday

Managing Your Finances – 12:30 - Center for Women & Enterprise

November 8- Monday

Marketing Fundamentals and Best Practices –6:00pm - SCORE

November 9- Tuesday

The Startup Roadmap - Day 5 - What Other Help Will I Need? – 1:30pm – SCORE

Legal Considerations for Starting Your Business – 5:30pm - Center for Women & Enterprise

November 10- Wednesday

Office Hours with SBA –Hosted by Rachael Roderick, Deputy District ... – 9am – SBA

Steps to Start a Business – 1:30pm - Center for Women & Enterprise

QuickBooks – 6:00pm – SCORE

November 15- Monday

 Speaking Skills: Be Calm, Cool and Confident – 12:00pm - Center for Women & Enterprise

November 16- Tuesday

Market Analysis – 11:30am - Center for Women & Enterprise

November 17- Wednesday

Office Hours with SBA –Hosted by Rachael Roderick, Deputy District ... – 9am – SBA

Instagram Deep Dive: Learn to use the latest features to grow your ... – 12:00pm - Center for Women & Enterprise

Introduction to Digital Marketing – 6:00pm – SCORE

November 18- Thursday

Exploring Small Business Administration (SBA) Resources – 11:00am - Center for Women & Enterprise

November 19 – Friday

Celebrate Small Business Saturday with the SBA– 10am – SBA

November 22- Monday

Business Plan Basics – 9:00am - Center for Women & Enterprise 

November 24- Wednesday 

Office Hours with SBA –Hosted by Rachael Roderick, Deputy District ... – 9am – SBA

Download a PDF Here

Upcoming NH PTAC Webinars

NH PTAC webinars begin at noon

Introduction to Government Contracting
Monday, Nov. 15
Did you know that hundreds of New Hampshire companies sell over $2.5 billion per year to government agencies? Focusing on federal opportunities, this workshop will help determine whether contracting or being a subcontractor are good strategies for your business. It's not like B2B, but it might be a great market for your products or services.

Small Disadvantaged Businesses and 8(a)
Thursday, Nov. 18
This webinar will examine the Small Disadvantaged Business designation in the context of plans to increase the federal SDB contracting goal from 5 percent to 15 percent by 2025. Questions of eligibility, strategic teaming and certification will be covered. The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program represents an extremely valuable opportunity for qualified SDB firms. Admission to this 9-year program is free, but requires an extensive application. Benefits include sole-source contracting opportunities and de facto SDB certification.

 

11/9 The Startup Roadmap - Day 5 - What Other Help Will I Need?

Join this free online workshop, Rachael Roderick, Deputy Director of the NH SBA office and representatives of the Center for Women and Enterprise, the SBDC, SCORE and Greater Merrimack/Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce will explain what resources their organizations offer to help start, manage and grow a business.

Register Here

Celebrating Small Business Saturday on 11/19

Join the NH SBA District Office in

Celebrating Small Business Saturday

 

How can you encourage your customers to shop and dine local this year?

Friday November 19th
10-11am

Eventbrite Registration Here

Small Business Saturday is held every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year it falls on November 27, 2021. The day is designed to support local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods around the country.

New Hampshire District Office is hosting virtual event on Friday, Nov. 19^th at 10am to promote the upcoming Small Business Saturday initiative.

You will hear about the resources available to support your business and how they are helping to amplify the message to shop and dine locally.  You will also hear from small businesses that will share their best practices and ways they are promoting their shops and restaurants to encourage the community to support the local downtowns

We will hear from Senator Jeanne Shaheen, NH Lodging and Restaurant Association (NHLRA), Salem NH Chamber of Commerce, NH Small Business Development Center (NH SBDC), and a panel of small business owners.

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How You Can Participate 

For shoppers 

• Find participating small businesses in your area 

For small business owners 

• Get free Small Business Saturday marketing materials - including sample posters, and social media resources  

For partner organizations

• SBA's social media guide and graphics
• Follow SBA on social media for all the latest updates on #ShopSmall

Ways to Connect with SBA New Hampshire: Website: www.sba.gov/nh Email: NewHampshire_DO@sba.gov Twitter: @SBA_NH Phone: 603-225-1400

Join us every Wednesday at 9am for SBA updates on Office Hours with SBA –Hosted by Rachael Roderick, Deputy District Director  

Maine Hire-a-Vet Campaign: Small Business Start Up 2-part Training

When: Tuesday, November 9th, and Tuesday November 16th, 10:00am-11:00am
Register: Part One and Part Two

If you are interested in starting or growing your own small business, this workshop is for you.  This is the first of a two-part training module , that  will provide you with the information you need to know, and the questions you need to ask, to maximize the likelihood of being successful in your own venture.

Disaster Resilience: U.S. Technology Global Forum

When: November 15, 2021 – March 15, 2022
Register: HERE

Do you sell a product or service that can help mitigate or recover from man-made or natural disasters?

Would you like to have your product or service introduced to potential foreign buyers or partners in 30+ countries for as little as $250*?

If Yes, join the U.S. Commercial Service for a business development opportunity for U.S. firms seeking to export disaster preparation and recovery solutions. Don’t miss the chance to make dynamic global connections, explore new markets, and identify potential export sales leads.

This virtual program includes: 

• Business to Business Matchmaking: Meetings with pre-screened foreign buyers from around the globe, including governmental procurement officials, distributors, resellers, and industry multipliers.
• Business to Government Sessions: Virtual one-on-one meetings with U.S. Embassy industry experts to acquire strategic and market intelligence.
• Market Briefings and Educational Webinars: Briefings that highlight relevant opportunities and market entry strategies.

Who should attend? 

U.S. export-ready companies that provide solutions related to disaster preparation, response, recovery, or reconstruction.

Examples of relevant products and services include:

• Communication Systems
• Decision Support Systems
• Early Warning Systems
• Environmental Remediation Solutions
• Emergency Management Solutions
• Mapping Technology
• Relief Management
• Search & Rescue Equipment
• Storm Surge Solutions
• Virtual Reality Simulators and Trainings

For more information contact: Anthony.Sargis@trade.gov or Brian.Beams@trade.gov

*Fees based on company size. Small Companies: $250; Medium Companies: $550; Large Companies: $800

DOVER, N.H. – Ricardo Plata , PA-C, has joined Wentworth-Douglass Hospital as a Physician Assistant at Wentworth Health Partners South Berwick Family Practice and is accepting new patients.

 

Plata recently joined Wentworth-Douglass after eight years working in internal medicine at the Alameda Health Network in California where he used telemedicine to continue providing for patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Prior to that, he worked at the Plazita Medical Clinic in Watsonville, California, a private family medicine/urgent care clinic.

 

Plata has a national certification with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the only certifying organization for PAs in the country.

 

Patients 13 years of age and older can book appointments with Plata at South Berwick Family Practice. It caters to the entire family’s health care needs from newborns to seniors – offering outstanding primary care and preventative health care.

 

South Berwick Family Practice is located at 31 Colcord Street in South Berwick, Maine.

 

For more information or to book an appointment with Ricardo Plata, visit https://www.wdhospital.org/whp/primary-care/south-berwick-family-practice or call (207) 384-4949.

 

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. A member of the Mass General Brigham system, Wentworth-Douglass is strategically located in the heart of the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine, which it has served since 1906. The organization is a family of more than 3,500 employees, including more than 400 physicians and advanced practice providers, dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of the region’s residents and visitors. The organization includes a 178-bed hospital, more than 30 primary and specialty provider practices and clinic sites, multiple express and prompt care facilities, an ambulatory surgery center, several medical office buildings, The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation.

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November 3, 2021

Mainers can shop for plans, compare options, and enroll in 2022 health coverage

Governor Janet Mills is encouraging Maine people to visit CoverME.gov, Maine's new Health Insurance Marketplace, to shop for and select affordable health insurance coverage for 2022 during the Open Enrollment period now under way.

Since the start of Open Enrollment on Monday, November 1, 8,500 Maine people have visited CoverME.gov, Maine's state-based health insurance marketplace. Of those, 3,500 have newly created accounts, the first step in enrolling. 7,500 people have used the Plan Compare tool on CoverME.gov, a new tool recently unveiled by Governor Mills and launched on October 15 ahead of open enrollment, to provide Maine people information about eligibility for financial assistance and evaluate plan options. Additionally, over 50,000 Maine people enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2021 have received their renewal notices with information on the new system.

The enrollment deadline for coverage beginning January 1, 2022, is December 15, 2021. New this year, at the direction of the Governor, CoverME.gov gives Maine residents an extra month of Open Enrollment, through January 15, 2022, to sign up for 2022 coverage.

This year, Maine people can take advantage of additional federal financial assistance that makes coverage more affordable than ever. More than 80 percent of people shopping at CoverME.gov qualify for help paying for health insurance. With extra assistance from the American Rescue Plan, nearly 25 percent of consumers in Maine enrolled in a plan in 2021 with a monthly premium of $10 or less. This assistance will continue to be available in 2022. Even those who were not eligible in the past because of their income can likely get assistance to lower monthly premiums and other out-of-pocket costs.

"CoverME.gov is helping Maine people afford the health care they'll need in 2022" said Governor Mills. "As we continue to tackle the pandemic and move our economic recovery forward, it's never been more important to be able to see your doctor, receive care, get your medications, stay healthy, and contribute to our state, without sacrificing your family's financial stability. I urge anyone who needs affordable coverage to visit CoverME.gov today."•

"CoverME.gov is connecting the people of Maine with affordable, high-quality health coverage," said Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. "We encourage anyone in need of health insurance to visit CoverME.govto find and enroll in a plan for 2022. Even if you haven't qualified for financial assistance in previous years, it's worth checking again because coverage is more affordable than ever."

At CoverME.gov, Maine people can compare plans, apply for financial assistance, and enroll in a 2022 health plan. Health plans offered onCoverME.gov provide quality, comprehensive private coverage that will protect consumers if they have an accident or major illness and support preventive screenings and visits. Free enrollment help is available to help consumers find the plan that meets their needs and budget. This year, 71 health plans are being offered through CoverME.gov. Visit coverme.gov/localhelp or call (866) 636-0355/TTY 711 (for languages other than English, choose option 4) for information.

As in previous years, those who already have a Marketplace plan will be automatically re-enrolled in their current plan or the most similar offering from their health insurance carrier. However, consumers are encouraged to visit CoverME.govto check out new plans and update their family and income information, as new financial assistance is available that may offer more affordable coverage that best meets their needs.

People who apply through CoverME.gov who are eligible for MaineCare will have their application sent to MaineCare for review. Eligible Maine people can enroll in MaineCare at any time of year.

With CoverME.gov now launched, the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) Office of the Health Insurance Marketplace will begin a marketing campaign to raise awareness of Maine consumers' options for coverage through the Marketplace.

Along with the state's expansion of MaineCare to more than 85,000 Maine people, CoverME.gov is at the heart of Maine's effort to ensure that people can see their doctor, afford their medications, and stay healthy. Governor Mills' Made for Maine Health Coverage Act – which passed the Legislature with a strong bipartisan majority – authorized DHHS to run a State-based Health Insurance Marketplace and made some of the most common medical visits less costly, as part of a larger plan to improve private health insurance for Maine people and small businesses.

The Department took the first step in the transition to a State-based Marketplace during the 2021 Open Enrollment Period (from November 1, 2020 to December 15, 2020), by launching a hybrid Federal-State Marketplace, following Maine's use of a fully Federal system since 2014. Maine received full approval to complete the transition to CoverME.gov in October, and it is now the official platform where Maine people can shop for and enroll in private coverage.

November 3, 2021

New program, through the Governor’s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, is intended to help businesses struggling with expenses

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development is now accepting applications for the Maine Jobs and Recovery Small Business Grant Program.

The Governor announced last month the creation of the $20 million grant program through her Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan. The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development is immediately putting forward $5 million of the $20 million for grants targeted at supporting capital intensive businesses that still need immediate short-term help to sustain operations.

This new program comes on top of the more than $273 million the Administration has already provided in Federal support to 5,224 businesses and non-profits during the pandemic.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Maine’s economy, and my Administration will continue to do all we can to support their recovery,” said Governor Janet Mills. “These grants through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan will help pull back those businesses who are still on the brink and put them on stronger financial footing as we tackle the pandemic. I encourage all eligible Maine businesses to take advantage of this opportunity.”

“The Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan has given us the roadmap and resources we need to continue our economic recovery. By assisting businesses and organizations with this funding in the short term, we hope to support their long-term sustainability and growth as the economy recovers from the impacts of the pandemic,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. “While we can’t repair all the losses businesses have incurred, our goal is to allocate the available funds where they will have a direct impact in supporting the viability of Maine’s businesses and non-profit organizations.”

More specifically, the Maine Jobs & Recovery Small Business Grant Program is intended to provide expense-based grant relief for businesses and non-profits who are confronting substantial expenses stemming from the impacts of COVID-19. Expenses may include:

• Interest on deferred loans (the loans must be in deferral as a direct result of the pandemic);
• Costs incurred as a result of reopening after a COVID-19 related closure (examples may include PPE, workforce safety training, and installation of physical public health and safety measures);
• Increased costs of doing business as a result of COVID-19 (examples may include infrastructure tools to improve remote access, like contactless check in/out or take out);
• HVAC improvements, creation or addition of indoor or outdoor space for social distancing purposes, and increased costs due to supply chain disruptions or increased demand.

To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate at least 20 percent lost revenue in the year 2021. To allow for the maximum potential benefit to as many businesses as possible, the Department anticipates an award cap of $50,000. However, that cap is subject to change based on need and volume of applications. The minimum award will be $250. If the qualified application amount exceeds the available funding, the Department will pro-rate the awards.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on November 26, 2021.

The remaining $15 million will be made available in April 2022 so businesses and non-profits can easily utilize tax returns to demonstrate the financial impact of the pandemic on their businesses and their qualification for funding based on need. This approach – stabilizing businesses most in need now followed by larger grants later – was developed by the Department in conjunction with the business community.

“This small business grant program is another vital lifeline for Maine businesses that are continuing to struggle because of the pandemic,” said Dana Connors, President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “We applaud the Mills Administration for launching this important program and thank them for their ongoing work through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan to ensure that businesses have the capital and support needed to keep their doors open through this difficult time.”

“Throughout the pandemic, Governor Mills and her Administration have always asked how they can help Maine's businesses recover, and they have stepped up time and again with support like this,” said Curtis Picard, Presidents and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine. “The Maine Jobs and Recovery Small Business Grant Program will help businesses that continue to struggle due to the pandemic but that are critical to Maine's long-term economic success.”

“Many small businesses had unexpected expenses during the pandemic as they tried to keep their employees and the public safe while continuing to do business. This grant program keeps us moving in the right direction, including help for some who may not have qualified for previous grants,” said Kerrie Tripp, Executive Director of the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For additional information and to access the grant portal, please visit the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development website.  

The Maine Jobs and Recovery Small Business Grant Program continues the Mills Administration’s commitment to providing financial relief for small businesses that incur business disruptions and added expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In August of 2020, the Mills Administration launched Phase 1 of the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program. In Phase 1, the Administration awarded 2,407 businesses $120 million in awards. Awards averaged just over $49,000 per award with recipients spanning the entire state. The hospitality sector, particularly lodging and accommodations, represented the largest percentage of recipients, drawing 35 percent of the awards.

In September of 2020, the Mills Administration launched Phase 2 of the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program. In Phase 2, the Administration awarded 1,244 businesses grants totaling $53.9 million. Awards averaged just over $43,000 per award with recipients spanning the entire state. In total, the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program provided $174. 1 million to 3,651 businesses and non-profits.

In December of 2020, the Mills Administration also launched the Tourism, Hospitality & Retail Recovery Grant Program. The Administration awarded 1,642 tourism, retail and hospitality businesses a total of $52.9 million in additional support. Awards averaged just over $32,000 per award with recipients spanning the entire state.

In August of 2021, the Mills Administration launched the Charter Transportation and Border Business Assistance Grant Program. The Administration has awarded more than $5.6 million in economic recovery grants to 94 Maine charter transportation companies and businesses disrupted by the Federal government’s extended closure of the US-Canada border. 

Rochester, NH:  Cornerstone VNA, a local nonprofit provider of high-quality, skilled care at home, is pleased to announce that the 35^th annual Lights of Love event will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at 4:30pm in a virtual format. For over three decades, Lights of Love has thrived as an important community event due to the work and vision of Jane Cooper Fall. Jane Cooper Fall was the driving force behind Lights of Love, as a way for community members to pay tribute to those who had touched their lives in a positive manner. Although Jane passed away in October 2018, her legacy is continued with pride and honor by the Cornerstone VNA team alongside volunteers from the former Frisbie Hospital Auxiliary Board. According to Cornerstone VNA President/CEO Julie Reynolds, RN, MS, “We are honored to run the event in accordance with Jane's wishes for many years to come, thus providing a legacy to Jane's goodwill."

 

Community members are welcome to participate in this annual holiday tradition to honor, remember and celebrate those who have had a special impact on their lives. With each $5 donation, a tribute name will be added to a holiday light at Cornerstone VNA and will be a part of a virtual celebration. The virtual Lights of Love event will be available for viewing at cornerstonevna.org/lightsoflove starting at 4:30pm on December 1st and can be viewed and shared throughout the holiday season.

 

Hundreds of lights will shine on each tribute name, and community members are welcome to visit the Lights of Love display at 178 Farmington Road in Rochester, NH, starting on December 2nd. Visit cornerstonevna.org/lightsoflove for more information on reserving lights and to sign up to receive special event notifications. Please submit your Lights of Love order by November 15. If your order is received after the 15th, your tributes' names will be added after the event has started.

Cornerstone VNA currently serves Rockingham, Strafford, Belknap and Carroll Counties in New Hampshire and York County in Maine. The team at Cornerstone VNA provides award-winning care and support through five distinct programs: Home Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Life Care-Private Duty and Community Care. For 108 years, Cornerstone VNA has been committed to bringing services to people of all ages so that families can stay together at home, even when facing the challenges of aging, surgical recovery, chronic or life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life care. To learn more about Cornerstone VNA, visit www.cornerstonevna.org or call 800-691-1133.

Join a group of (almost) exclusively restaurant owners/managers to discuss challenges and opportunities in 2021 and 2022 for the Seacoast Food industry.

Organized by Emmett Soldati, owner of Teatotaller in Somersworth.

Please see below for details. If you would like a Zoom option available (we will pass along notes/recap after meeting), please shoot me an email to Emmett.(contact info below)

Please pass along to other industry friends that would benefit from joining:

Seacoast Food Industry, 2nd Meeting

An honest conversation with, and for, Seacoast food establishments.

 

Monday, November 9^th @ 9am

Venue: Ember Wood Fired Grill, 1 Orchard St. Dover NH

 

Topics:

Staffing + Labor Market (+housing!)

Winter Planning

COVID Updates

Join a group of (almost) exclusively restaurant owners/managers to discuss challenges and opportunities in 2021 and 2022 for the Seacoast Food industry.

To confirm attendance, email Emmett Soldati @ emmettsoldati@gmail.com

Earlier this week during a virtual event, the SBA announced the grantees for the Biden-Harris Administration’s Community Navigator Pilot Program, an American Rescue Plan initiative designed to reduce barriers that all small businesses, including those owned by disadvantaged groups such as veterans, women, and those from rural communities and communities of color, often face in accessing critical support. The Community Navigator Pilot Program will provide $100 million in funding to 51 organizations that will work with hundreds of local groups to connect America’s entrepreneurs to government resources so they can recover and thrive.  Watch the event Read the press release   Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced the agency reached $44.8 billion in funding to small businesses through more than 61,000 traditional loans for fiscal year 2021. In the midst of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, the SBA’s mission-driven team delivered a record number of SBA’s traditional loans to our nation’s small businesses – in addition to more than $1.1 trillion in COVID-related relief since the start of the pandemic. Learn more   Earlier this week, the SBA announced that more than $1 billion in disaster rescue funds have been delivered to small businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofits recovering from damages caused by Hurricane Ida. Read the press release Apply for assistance   The SBA's online learning programs are designed to empower and educate small business owners every step of the way. Take advantage of these free programs today. Learn more   During National Veterans Small Business Week, November 1-5, 2021, join the SBA and its extensive partner network for a series of virtual events hosted across the country. The events will feature information to help you start, grow, or expand your veteran-owned small business. Learn more   The SBA and Public Private Strategies Institute have teamed up to provide small business owners with a series of webinars that will cover resources to help small businesses grow and thrive. Join us for the next session on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET: Community Navigators and Supporting Women Business Owners Women’s Programs.  During this webinar, you will: Learn more about COVID EIDL and how you can take advantage before December 31, 2021 Discover tools and resources you can use to start and grow your business Have your questions answered by SBA leadership and small business experts Learn how you can become a vaccine leader in your community Get an update regarding programs and recent policy announcements made by the Biden-Harris Administration Register   Earlier this week, the SBA announced the launch of a new Women’s Business Center in Rochester, New York, which will be operated by the Urban League of Rochester, N.Y., Inc. The new center will carry out the mission of helping women-owned small businesses throughout Upstate New York start, grow, and expand their businesses. Learn more   Paycheck Protection Program borrowers: If your loan is $150,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for direct forgiveness through SBA using our online portal. Follow the steps below. Find out if your lender is participating.  Watch a video about how to use the portal. Apply for forgiveness. For additional information, visit the SBA website.   Thanks to vaccines, small businesses across America have opened back up. Keep the momentum going by getting vaccinated. Find a vaccine provider near you.  Learn more

PORTSMOUTH, NH – The Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Foundation has awarded a $427,500 grant to support the purchase of a second 3D Mammography machine at the hospital’s Breast Health Center located at its Portsmouth Outpatient Center.

 

The Foundation received grants from an anonymous donor, the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, TD Charitable Foundation, Telemachus, and the Irene Demoulas Family Foundation, which combined with the Foundation’s Annual Fund grant, made the purchase possible. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held October 20, 2021 at the Breast Health Center to celebrate the purchase and launch of the machine. 

 

“We are thrilled to bring this live-saving technology to patients of the Breast Health Center,” said Jackie Eastwood, Chair of the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation Board of Directors. “The Foundation has been working on this important initiative since 2019. Cancer is the leading cause of death in New Hampshire, which means we are ranked nationally as the state with the highest breast cancer rate. 3D mammography has revolutionized breast cancer screening and we couldn’t be happier for the support we have received to make this available to women around the Seacoast.”

 

3D Mammography provides early detection of breast cancer. The technology reduces the need for unnecessary callbacks to patients, which helps streamline care and reduce anxious waiting periods for patients. The second unit will allow the facility to meet increased demand for services including routine screenings, diagnostic mammography, and most biopsies.

 

“Some women need time to process information and make decisions how to proceed from screening to diagnosis to biopsy to treatment, other women are ready to move through the process in the same day. Having a second 3D mammography unit available helps providers maximize patient choice throughout the process while simultaneously continuing to serve more women who come to the Breast Health Center for routine screenings,” said Helene Langley, Breast Nurse Navigator at the Breast Health Center.

 

“Our goal is to make the experience as streamlined as possible for patients. It’s such an anxiety producing time that we want to make sure if there is a cancer diagnosis, we can move forward with a treatment plan as quickly as possible,” she added.

 

“This machine is one of many initiatives we have that is so vitally important to all of us. It provides a critical linkage to our colleagues at Mass General as we deliver advanced services for those patients at higher risk of developing cancer. We are thrilled to be able offer this at our Portsmouth campus. It is just one of many endeavors we plan to offer to bring this campus to its full potential,” said Ellen Caille, Executive Vice Present at Wentworth-Douglass.

 

Wentworth-Douglass’ Portsmouth Outpatient Center also includes the Seacoast Cancer Center, which works closely with the Breast Health Center on a multi-disciplinary breast plan for patients.

 

In addition to 3D mammography and advanced screening capabilities, the Breast Health Center at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Portsmouth Outpatient Center offers comprehensive breast diagnostic services, screening and diagnostic 2D mammography, breast ultrasound and MRI; image-guided needle biopsy; and bone density screening. Patients at increased risk for breast cancer have access to the High-Risk Clinic and work with a certified breast health nurse navigator to help coordinate treatment and schedule appointments.

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital (wdhospital.org) is a not-for-profit charitable health care organization located in Dover, New Hampshire with a 115-year history of compassionate care and innovation. Serving the Seacoast communities since 1906, it is a family of 3,000 employees including 500+ registered nurses and a medical staff of over 480 physicians and advanced practitioners dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of residents and visitors to the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Southern Maine. Wentworth-Douglass Hospital was awarded Magnet® designation in 2016, which was renewed in 2021, joined the Massachusetts General Hospital family in 2017 and includes a 178-bed hospital, several urgent care and walk-in facilities, multiple testing centers, Wentworth Health Partners (primary and specialty provider practices), The Works Family Health and Fitness Center, and the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation.

 

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