Note: This program was originally launched in August and we only have a few spots left. Please sign up only if you have not yet received assistance.

Our organization, the Strafford Regional Planning Commission, has launched a program to help small businesses recover from the economic impacts caused by COVID-19 by providing them with professional technical support in key areas of business operations. To do so, we have partnered with local private consultants that are working to provide technical assistance to small businesses in the following areas:

Website Development

Marketing and Advertising

Graphic Design

Audio Visual Support

Generic IT

Cybersecurity

THIS SERVICE IS BEING OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE TO SMALL BUSINESSES. SRPC will cover the cost of up to 3 hours of services in one of the above-mentioned categories. Services will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis, so sign up soon!

To request assistance for your business in any of these categories, you can sign up here.

DOVER, N.H. – A local support group for families facing pregnancy and infant loss has donated $5,000 to the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation to support the purchase of a special bereavement cradle at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

 

The cradle, which is almost indistinguishable from ordinary hospital bassinets, features a unique cooling system that enables families who have experienced a stillbirth, or loss of an infant, to have additional private time with their baby during their hospital stay.

 

“A bereavement cradle provides families time to meet and make memories with their baby, and that can be really helpful in the grieving process,” says Perinatal Loss Coordinator for Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Women and Children’s Center, Amy Peterson, and founder of the support group behind this fundraising effort. “Although it may be difficult to think about, for families facing loss of a baby, the time after death may be the only time they have with them,” Peterson added.

 

While Wentworth-Douglass Hospital has allowed grieving parents to spend time with their babies during their hospital stay for several years, this new cradle has an improved, integrated cooling system, eliminating the need to send the baby immediately to the morgue. Studies have shown that families benefit from spending time with their baby after death.

 

“My son died suddenly. The option to use a bereavement cradle gave me time with Jasper that I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Aubrey Lamontagne, a member of the group Seacoast Families Facing Perinatal Loss.

 

Peterson, with help from the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation, created a GoFundMe Charity donation page to streamline the process of collecting tax-deductible donations. Members of the group helped promote the fundraiser through personal and social media contacts. Donations from $10 to $500 were collected until the goal of $5,000 was reached in only nine months.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stillbirth affects about 1 in 160 births, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States. That is more than 10 times as many deaths as the number that occur from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

 

A small group of Wentworth-Douglass Hospital employees and private donors attended a dedication ceremony for the new cradle. The event was held outdoors in Wentworth-Douglass Hospital’s Healing Garden.

 

To learn about how you can make a difference for patients and families of the Women & Children’s Center or fundraising for Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, please contact Emily.Moore@wdhospital.org.  If you would like more information about perinatal bereavement resources, please contact Amy.Peterson@wdhospital.org.

 

About Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, a member of the Mass General Brigham Family, (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 3,500 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, 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.

 

October 4, 2021

CoverME.gov marketplace to launch on November 1 for Open Enrollment

Governor Janet Mills and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew announced today that Maine’s State-based Health Insurance Marketplace (SBM) has been approved by the Federal government, allowing Maine to run the online health insurance market to make it easier and more convenient for Maine people to get affordable, quality health insurance coverage.

Individuals and families will be able to use the Marketplace, called CoverME.gov, beginning November 1, 2021 to explore health plan options, shop, and enroll in private insurance, with most people qualifying for Federal financial assistance to make premiums more affordable.  Since additional financial assistance was authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act earlier this year, nearly 25 percent of consumers in Maine have enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2021 with a monthly premium of $10 or less.

“My Administration is committed to ensuring that Maine people can see their doctor, receive care, afford their medications, stay healthy, and contribute to our state. That’s why we expanded MaineCare to 85,000 people and why, now, we’re taking another important step forward in ensuring access to affordable health care by transitioning to a fully state-run Marketplace,” said Governor Mills. “The CoverME.gov State-based Marketplace will help Maine people get the health care they need in 2022, and we thank the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its continued support.”

“Federal approval means Maine can capture funding currently going to Washington, D.C. and use it to customize the enrollment process to fit our state’s needs,” said Jeanne Lambrew, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services. “The CoverME.gov Marketplace will give Maine people better access to affordable health insurance options when open enrollment kicks off on November 1.”

The State-Based Marketplace is central to the Mills Administration’s work to improve access to affordable health care. In addition to expanding access to MaineCare for more than 85,000 Maine people, Governor Mills’ Made for Maine Health Coverage Act authorizes the Department to run a State-based Health Insurance Marketplace and makes some of the most common medical visits free or less costly, as part of a larger plan to improve private health insurance for Maine people and small businesses.

“The Mills Administration’s plan to fully operate Maine’s health insurance Marketplace won broad, bipartisan support in the Legislature because it will improve access to high-quality, affordable health care through a system tailored for Maine people,” said Senator Heather Sanborn and Representative Denise Tepler, chairs of the Legislature’s Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services committee. “We were proud to support this effort and welcome this federal approval as we look forward to the Marketplace’s launch in November.”

The approval from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services earned praise from several stakeholders in Maine, who welcomed it as a victory for Maine health care consumers:

“This Federal approval is welcome news for consumers in Maine, who will have access to new tools built specifically to help them choose the plan that best fits their needs and budget,” said Ann Woloson, Executive Director of Consumers for Affordable Health Care. “We look forward to working with the Department to continue to make the process of applying for and enrolling in quality coverage easier for Maine people.”

“We are excited about the roll out of the Maine Marketplace,” said Kimberly Vance, President of the Maine Association of Health Underwriters, the leading trade organization in the State representing health insurance brokers and agents. “We think that by being in control of the entire process, from outreach to enrollment, Maine is taking an important step in providing consistency and certainty for the citizens of Maine who rely on the insurance they obtain through the Marketplace.”

“The state-run Marketplace is one of the most important steps Maine has taken in providing individuals a strong avenue to gain coverage and, thereby, remove one barrier to seeking care,” said Barbara Leonard, President and CEO of the Maine Health Access Foundation. “It is also an important milestone in the continued journey toward equitable care for all people in Maine.”

The Department of Health and Human Services 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. The hybrid Federal-State Marketplace allowed the State to assume greater responsibility for some Marketplace functions, such as marketing, outreach, and consumer assistance, while continuing to use the Federal HealthCare.gov platform to process applications, determine eligibility, and enroll participants.

For the 2022 open enrollment period that runs November 1, 2021 to January 15, 2022 and in future years, CoverME.gov will serve as Maine’s fully state-based marketplace platform. The Department launched the website in October 2019 as a resource for Maine people to explore affordable health insurance options. With the new State-based Marketplace, CoverME.gov will expand to become the official platform where Maine people can shop for and enroll in private coverage. This fall, the Department plans to launch a marketing campaign to raise awareness of the transition and Maine consumers’ options for coverage through the State-based Marketplace. In mid-October, Maine residents will be able to see the plan options for 2022 on CoverME.gov so they can begin thinking about their options.

Currently, 15 other states run a State-based Marketplace, including all other New England states except New Hampshire. The ongoing operation of Maine’s State-based Marketplace is funded by a user fee charged to health insurance companies that use the platform to sell their plans.

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. Consumers will receive information about the re-enrollment process directly from CoverME.gov in October. 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.

Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu issued the following statement as the reduction in the Meals and Rooms Tax from 9% to 8.5% takes effect today:

“Order’s up!,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “We’ve got a five-star delivery for Granite Staters today with the reduction in the meals and rooms tax to its lowest level in over a decade. As if the main course wasn’t good enough, on top of this reduction cities and towns will see an increase in the share they receive back from the revenue stream with up to $15 million in additional money for municipalities – money that goes directly to benefitting property taxpayers. That’s a deal that can’t be beat.”

Governor Sununu first proposed this reduction in the Meals and Rooms Tax in his 2021 Budget Address. Additionally, the budget signed by Governor Sununu:

• Contains over $171 million in across-the-board tax relief for Granite State families,
• Cuts and phases out the Interest & Dividends Tax for retirees,
• Provides tax relief to employers and small businesses,
• Reduces property taxes by $100 million,
• Delivers voluntary paid family medical leave,
• Spends more money per public for public education than ever before

Join SBA New England on Wednesday, October 13 at 10am to find out what you need to do to prepare your business for a disaster.   Disasters can take many forms and the financial cost of rebuilding after a disaster can be overwhelming. If you’re prepared for emergencies, you’ll be in a better position to recover and continue operations should disaster strike. In this webinar you will learn: How to assess your risk, knowing which disasters are most likely to affect your business can help you return to operations faster. How to create a disaster recovery plan Financial assistance available after disasters Register Here

SOMERSWORTH – John Hall, Executive Vice President of Profile Bank, is pleased to announce Sherry Norton has joined the Bank as the Vice President of Commercial Lending.

With over twenty years of experience in the banking industry, her wealth of knowledge made her the ideal candidate to support Profile Bank’s mission of serving its commercial customers. She has held various positions at other financial institutions and continues to be active in the communities she serves. Norton has volunteered for organizations such as Southern ME Alzheimer’s Association, Seeds of Hope and the Boy and Girls Scouts. Norton can be reached at Sherry.Norton@ProfileBank.com or by calling (603) 330-8470.

Profile Bank is a locally owned and managed true community bank. With branches in Rochester, Sanbornville, Alton and Somersworth, Profile Bank will continue to support and invest in the communities it serves well into the future. For more information about Profile Bank’s products and services visit ProfileBank.com

• For Somersworth Businesses, courtesy of Economic Development Manager Robin Comstock. 

  • This Friday , October 1, 2021 at 4:00 pm is the deadline for your Covid Expense Reimbursement application , this application is for any business that closed for any amount of time,  during the pandemic.   Please reach out to either your bank or the Small Business Development Center ( SBDC)   for more information warren.daniel@unh.edu

   

  • Also, Please remember that the City of Somersworth is now offering business counselling (at no charge)  to members of our Somersworth business community . Our Councilor is Ed Miles  NH SBDC - On Site Business Advising - Ed Miles.pdf who  will have office space in our upstairs executive conference room,  on the second Tuesday of each month.  You are able to make an appointment with Ed,  by contacting  him  directly at : ed.miles@unh.edu

  
  

• •  And , Please take a few minutes to complete the SBDC “ Business Resiliency Survey - Part 3” , that can be found at the following  link . The SBDC needs to hear from  you to insure they are   developing programs and support systems that are most   beneficial to you !   https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1FvOFB8caaOvAxg?LK=DDL

   

David Wold Piano Studio in Somersworth is accepting new students and celebrating its 30th Anniversary this fall! With a K-12 focus, the private studio also includes all ages and abilities. Beginners and Adults welcome! 

Piano Lessons are exceptionally positive, fun, and geared to an individual learning styles approach. Flexible Payment and Family Discount are available. 

Call Today: 603 828 6402.

Dover, N.H. –  The Seacoast Cancer 5K, one of the largest road races in the region, is now exclusively virtual for the second consecutive year due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, and the Hospital’s commitment to the health and safety of its community.

The event, hosted by the Wentworth-Douglass Foundation, typically welcomes nearly 3,000 runners and walkers in support of the lifesaving care that takes place at the Seacoast Cancer Center. The 5K fundraising event is a celebration of life for those impacted by cancer, including patients, survivors, and their families.

“As heart breaking as this is for everyone, myself included, it is what we must do to keep everyone safe and our community healthy,” said Honorary 5K Team Captain and NBC Sports Boston Celtics color analyst and former Boston Hoops favorite, Brian Scalabrine, who has hosted the event for the past four years.  Scalabrine noted that while the energy and positivity felt at the in-person event is second to none, runners can still make their own race fun, energetic and even more personal with their teams, friends and families.

Originally scheduled for Sunday, September 26, runners and walkers can now run virtually, anytime, anywhere Saturday, September 18 through Sunday, October 3. The event already had a virtual race component for those who opted not to run in-person. As a now fully virtual race, the timeline has been extended, providing participants with two weeks to officially log their run. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome runners and walkers from all over the world to participate in the largest fundraiser for the Seacoast Cancer Center,” said Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors, Jackie Eastwood. “We’ve run a successful virtual event before that provides people with the opportunity to support cancer patients and families here on the Seacoast,” Eastwood added.

Last year’s race also transitioned to a fully virtual format six weeks ahead of race day. Thanks to generous donors, the 2020 race exceeded its adjusted goal and raised over $260,000.  The original fundraising goal for 2021 was $500,000 which has been adjusted to $325,000.

New this year was the first-ever Community Celebration scheduled for Saturday, September 25. The event was created to celebrate the communities’ support of Wentworth-Douglass.  It capped off the original virtual race timeline and simultaneously kicked-off the in-person race scheduled for the next day. Local food, a beer garden, live music, games and activities for the whole family were planned for this event which was open to the public. The Community Celebration has been postponed to 2022.

“This is the largest fundraiser for the Seacoast Cancer Center,” says Chief Philanthropy Officer, Cristine More, CFRE. “The funds raised from this event underwrite the Support and Wellness Services in its entirety. Proceeds from this event are critical to the hospital’s ability to provide these important services to our patients. It’s important and it makes a very real difference in the lives of families battling cancer,” More added.

Currently registered runners and walkers are encouraged to have fun with their own races and download the Race Joy app to log their official time. Anyone not yet registered is encouraged to sign up at www.SeacoastCancer5K.org to help support cancer patients and their families right here on the Seacoast.

Runners and non-runners alike can also support the Seacoast Cancer Center through the Seacoast Cancer 5K online auction. Open now through midnight on Sunday, October 3, visitors can place their best bids for a chance to win fantastic items including dining experiences, trips, sporting events, collectables and more. Bidders are encouraged to check frequently on your favorite items. A complete list of items and full descriptions is available at www.SeacoastCancer5K.org.

The Seacoast Cancer 5K is also raffling off a Celtics VIP Experience to raise additional funds for the Seacoast Cancer Center. Tickets are available for $10 each or five for $40. The lucky winner and a guest will enjoy: an all-inclusive trip to Boston with one night of luxury accommodations at the Marriott Courtyard Boston Downtown; dinner at Tavern in the Square ($150 gift card); $200 gift card to purchase Boston Celtics merchandise at the NBA store; two tickets to see a Boston Celtics game at the TD Garden; and a photo opportunity with Brian Scalabrine on the parquet floor. Transportation is included ($50 Uber Gift Card). To purchase raffle tickets, text CELTICSVIP TO 41444.

This year’s 5K is presented by our first-ever title sponsor, Somersworth Nissan. Over the last three years, Somersworth Nissan has raised $77,000 during their Drive for a Cure event, all in support of the Seacoast Cancer Center.

“Somersworth Nissan is proud to support the Seacoast Cancer Center. We’re excited to continue our partnership with Wentworth-Douglass Hospital as the title sponsor of the 8th Annual Seacoast Cancer 5K,” said Brendan Forget, executive manager of Somersworth Nissan.

On the switch to a virtual event, Forget said while they too were looking forward to an in-person event, they are excited to once again host the Closing Ceremony at the dealership, which doubles as the launch of their Drive-For-A-Cure Fundraiser for the month of October.

“We had a great time last year and are honored to celebrate the success of the 2021 Seacoast Cancer 5K at Somersworth Nissan,” Forget said.

Major sponsors include Somersworth Nissan, iHeart Media, The Hotel Concord, Townsquare Media, Blue Dolphin Screen Print & Embroidery, First Seacoast Bank, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Novocure, Radiation Oncology Associates, P.A., WDH Seacoast Cancer Center Medical Oncologists, D.F. Richard Energy, AstraZeneca, Hanger Clinic, Kennebunk Savings Bank, Knights Construction LLC, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., Thistle Communications, Dermatology & Skin Health, Cameron's Landscaping, LOCALiQ, Newburyport Bank, Seacoast Dermatology, PLLC, and The Generator Connection, Inc.

To see a full list of sponsors and sign up for the Virtual Anytime 5K visit www.SeacoastCancer5K.org.

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.

Concord, NH – Today, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) launched the COVID-19 Expenses Relief Program to assist New Hampshire for-profit Main Street businesses with COVID-19 related business expenses in 2020 and 2021.
 
"Thousands of New Hampshire small businesses have been helped through our state programs to address the economic impacts of COVID-19,” said Commissioner Taylor Caswell, Executive Director of GOFERR. “We realize, however, that as many small businesses have continued to adapt their operations throughout the pandemic many remain in need of financial assistance. The COVID-19 Expenses Relief Program will help small businesses offset a portion of these COVID-19 related costs.”
 
Eligible businesses can apply for reimbursement of a portion of their eligible expenses until 4 PM on October 1, 2021, via the GOFERR portal. Awards will be issued following the application deadline, on a capped, pro-rata basis dependent upon total eligible expenses.
 
Eligible expenses for reimbursement include but are not limited to the following categories:

• Costs incurred while closed due to COVID-19 (such as prorated rent, mortgage payments, and utilities);
• Costs incurred as a result of reopening after COVID-19 related closure (such as PPE, workforce safety training, and installation of physical safety measures); and
• Increased costs of doing business as a result of COVID-19 (such as 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).

 Note: More information on the program, including eligibility information, can be found here.