Please call us at 603-749-9728 and we will assist in choosing a tag for you. Bring the unwrapped gift to our location at Somersworth Storage, 240 Route 108, Somersworth no later than Dec. 18th! We thank you in advance for spreading MAGIC during this holiday season!

Berlin Housing Authority Wraps Up Energy Efficiency Project at Historic St. Regis House

 

Energy company reminds customers to remain vigilant as scammers continue to exploit COVID-19 pandemic

 

BERLIN, N.H. (November 23, 2020) — As part of its commitment to affordable housing options for the community, the Berlin Housing Authority (BHA) recently partnered with Eversource and the Tri-County Community Action Program (TCCAP) to complete a comprehensive energy efficiency improvement project at St. Regis House. The energy efficiency upgrades – which included work on the windows, lighting, and heating and cooling systems – will help the BHA save an estimated $20,000 in annual energy costs.

 

“We run St. Regis on a tight budget and are always looking for ways to save on operating costs so that we can put more back into the community for our residents, such as purchasing new computers or providing social services,” said Berlin Housing Authority Executive Director Mary-Jo Landry. “In addition to the direct energy cost savings and improved comfort for our residents, I know the improvements will also have a significant impact on our maintenance time and costs – which has taken on even greater importance as we continue adapting to the pandemic. Eversource and the contractors performing the work have been so flexible and taking extra precautions to safely finish the work with little interruption to residents.”   The St. Regis House is a historic 42-unit four-story brick building that was built in 1910 and serves the city’s lower-income elderly and disabled population. The housing authority started its full renovation of the 32,000 square-foot building in April 2019 and connected with Eversource later in the year for recommendations on energy-efficient upgrades and financing assistance to offset the cost of the project. Completed through the Home Energy Assistance Program, Eversource partnered with TCCAP, who oversaw and implemented the project.   “We connected with BHA at the right time and advised them on taking a holistic approach to create a safer, more comfortable living environment for residents while also maximizing cost savings for the housing authority,” said Eversource Energy Efficiency Spokesperson Kate Peters. “Our completion of this project in partnership with TCCAP is a great example of how we can work smartly and safely to advance important energy efficiency solutions and help our partners save on costs during the pandemic. The housing authority has been a great partner every step of the way, and we can’t wait to see how the year-after-year savings help them re-invest in their mission to serve the Berlin community.”   BHA made efficiency improvements throughout the facility, including new efficient windows, LED bulbs and lighting fixtures throughout resident apartments and other areas of the building, attic insulation, bathroom exhaust fans, low flow showerheads, smart thermostats, mini-splits for common areas, and air source heat pumps for individual units.   “Residents keep telling me how much brighter and warmer the LED lighting is and how it has helped their eyesight,” Landry added. “Overall, the building is less drafty and better insulated, keeping the residents more comfortable, and with the new mini-splits and heat pump system, our air quality and overall comfort levels have improved.”   “The BHA serves many residents in our community, and they do a fantastic job utilizing the resources and programs that are available to them,” said City of Berlin Community Development Director Pamela E Laflamme. “We are pleased that Eversource could support their mission and keep a historic building in use, providing energy-efficient upgrades for the benefit of the residents who live there. This building is very visible in the city and keeping it in good condition makes it easier for BHA to do their work for the good of our city.”   Customers interested in an energy assessment or other energy efficiency services and rebates should visit the Save Money & Energy section of Eversource.com for more information.   Photo caption: Berlin Housing Authority Executive Director Mary-Jo Landry stands in front of the St. Regis House.

The contact information for the ERZ applications is below . Your accountant  will likely be able to assist you with the ERZ details,  and  BEA’s  Bridgette Beckwith is a master of New Hampshire  Tax  Incentives and the ERZ program specially. Please do not hesitate to reach out to her for more information about the program and or it’s process.

ATTACHMENTS:

ERZ-App. Aug - 2020 (1).doc

Buisness Overview . PP . 2020.pptx

FAQs for Businesses. Aug- 2020 (1).pdf

Rochester, NH –HRCU is proud to present Community Partners with a donation of $2,500 to support the Dover Mental Health Alliance (DMHA). The DMHA is a community collaboration to educate and inform all citizens about mental health, mental illness and suicide prevention.

“We know that mental health is an area that needs a great deal of attention and focus in the community, and by supporting the Dover Mental Health Alliance and Community Partners it was a great way for HRCU to start to get involved”, said HRCU President & CEO Brian Hughes.

The DMHA is comprised of area business leaders, educators, administrators, civic leaders, therapists, community members, nonprofit staff, faith leaders, and frontline workers who have joined forces for the purpose of delivering education and awareness of mental health and its challenges to the Dover Community. They aim is to work with all facets of the community to empower its citizens to be able to recognize the signs of a mental health challenge and respond appropriately.

“When we understand and internalize that our mental health is part of, and as important as our physical health, then we can change the perceptions of what our society has long believed to be what mental health and mental illness is”, said Suzanne Weete of Community Partners. “HRCU is a leader in understanding that more work needs to be done to change our culture so that people can get the help they need without feeling shame or discrimination. The DMHA thanks HRCU for their generous support”, Weete added.

To learn more about the Dover Mental Health Alliance, you can visit their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DoverMHA/. Community Partners is the state designated nonprofit Community Mental Health Center in Strafford County. For more information about all of Community Partners’ services and programs, please go to www.communitypartnersnh.org.

Holy Rosary Credit Union - HRCU is a state-chartered and federally insured community credit union serving the New Hampshire community since its inception in 1962 and now York County Maine. With several locations and 24,000 members throughout the seacoast and beyond, HRCU prides itself on helping its members achieve their financial goals through convenient, up-to-date services and a compassionate, personalized approach.

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Most applicants should have received notification about your application last week.  If you are not happy with the outcome, please consider appealing “Immediately”

Important Dates & Timeline:

• Application Period: October 19, 2020 – October 30, 2020
• Deadline to Submit Completed Application: 4:00 PM on October 30, 2020
• Email Notifications: November 23, 2020
• Appeal Deadline: 4:00 PM on Friday, December 4, 2020

Appeals

If you believe you made an error in the information you provided in your application that might have impacted your eligibility, you may request an appeal by emailing mainstreet@goferr.nh.gov by 4:00 PM on Friday, December 4, 2020. The request should (1) be in reply to the email you received notifying you of the status of your application or include your business name and the application number; (2) include “Appeal” in the subject line; and (3) provide an explanation and supporting documentation to substantiate your claim about why your business is actually eligible for the program.  

Please note: In order to maintain program integrity and ensure compliance with federal CARES Act requirements, the state cannot consider appeals regarding gross receipts or COVID-19 assistance amounts except in the case of a typographical entry error. For MSRF 2.0 appeal purposes, a “typographical entry error” is defined as “an error in placement of a decimal point, or omission or addition of a single erroneous digit or transposing two digits.”

Appeal requests that are sent by any method other than by email to mainstreet@goferr.nh.gov or that are not received by the deadline will not be considered.       

1700ft² - Shared Space Commercial Kitchen (Berwick)

Are you or your business looking for a commercial shared kitchen?! Look no further!

Join the community at West Wellness Kitchen Co-op!

Whether you’re starting a brand new business or relocating an existing one, West Wellness Kitchen Co-op is a low risk/no lease option for hosting your consumer packaged goods, catering, and mobile food projects.

In the heart of downtown Berwick, Maine sits our 3 story historical building, with the most charming full commercial kitchen!

Right across from Corner Point Brewery and the town hall! Surrounding area currently projected to be redeveloped into a brand new downtown! This space has it all to offer: location, amenities, and a great community!

The building houses a tattoo studio and art gallery on the first floor, rentable fully compliant commercial kitchen on the second floor, and a yoga studio/function hall on the third floor. Fully handicap accessible with an elevator. You have to see this space to believe it!

Would be great for a restaurant in need of more kitchen space, catering company, baker, personal chef, and more! A great start up space for anyone looking to take the next step.

Is this the space you have been looking for?

Membership based, low risk/ no lease month to month payment options available!
Reach out and set up an appointment to come check out the space or for any other questions! :)

Check out the listing at: 

https://maine.craigslist.org/off/d/somersworth-shared-space-commercial/7221643886.html

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Support Local Businesses: Shop Small this Holiday Season… and Everyday

By: Wendell G. Davis New England Regional Administrator U.S. Small Business Administration As we all know, 2020 has been a year fraught with challenges.  Our nation’s small businesses dealt with unimaginable changes and setbacks as they weathered the storm of the coronavirus pandemic.  Through it all, the U.S. Small Business Administration has been at the forefront of our country’s recovery effort.  In fiscal year 2020, the SBA approved more loans in value and volume than it had in its entire 67-year history.  In six days, with the Treasury Department, the SBA built and launched the largest economic response program aimed at small businesses in American history – the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). PPP was an undeniable success across New England and the entire country. In New England more than 266,000 businesses received approximately $29 billion in forgivable loans over the life of the program. PPP was a lifeline for small businesses and helped the American workforce by providing critical economic relief, allowing businesses to stay open and keep workers on the payroll. Now it is time for us as citizens in our communities to do our part to support the continued recovery of our Nation’s 31.7 million small businesses.  This year, we know that small businesses, need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool, and pivot from the effects of the pandemic. Shopping and dining local this holiday season will help our communities as they continue with their recovery efforts.  We can show our support by shopping small on November 28, 2020 – Small Business Saturday.  Celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is a way for consumers to make an impact in their community by supporting independently owned businesses during the holiday season. The day is designed to support local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods around the country. It was created to help independent businesses capture a larger piece of the critical holiday season consumer spending, while also helping address small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers through their doors. Since 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration has been a formal cosponsor of Small Business Saturday, which was founded by American Express. Each year, we encourage independent businesses to leverage Small Business Saturday to help drive more traffic to their businesses – whether it is through their doors or their e-commerce site during the holiday shopping season. The holidays might look a little different this year; however, we can still share joy by shopping small and supporting our favorite small businesses and their employees on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season. If you do not want to head out to the shops because of safety concerns or restrictions, you can always shop online.  Many businesses have built up their online shops so that they can continue serving customers even when heading to the store isn’t feasible.  Do some research and search the web to find out what your community is doing to support businesses on Small Business Saturday and during the holiday season. Some communities and chambers of commerce are hosting virtual shopping events to showcase local businesses. Visit your favorite store’s website to see what your shopping options may be. Although finding the best way to support independent retailers might require a little advance planning, it is worth the extra effort, because the money you spend goes directly back into our communities. I want you to join me in shopping small not only on Small Business Saturday and through this holiday season, but as often as possible. Our local shops and restaurants are depending on our continued support.

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Wendell Davis is the New England Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration who oversees agency activities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Reminder! If you are a small businesses, nonprofit organization of any size, or a U.S. agricultural business with 500 or fewer employees that have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you can still apply for the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan. Learn more

November 19, 2020

Starting tomorrow, certain businesses statewide will close every day by 9:00 PM; Keep Maine Healthy Program Extended; Additional Walgreens Testing Sites Open

Following an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates in the State of Maine, the Mills Administration today announced new measures to mitigate the spread of this deadly virus.

Beginning tomorrow, Friday, November 20, 2020, through Sunday, December 6, 2020, all outdoor and indoor amusement venues, movie theaters, performing arts venues, casinos, and businesses that provide seated food and drink service, including social clubs, restaurants, and bars and tasting rooms currently open for outdoor service, will close for the night by 9:00 p.m. This limit on hours is designed to limit extended gatherings at a time when many students and family members are returning to Maine and at a time when social gatherings are more common, both of which will likely lead to more COVID-19 transmission.

This latest measure is consistent with actions taken by other states, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, and New York, which require early business closures to minimize extended evening gatherings while preserving standard business operating hours.

“As we enter the colder months and a holiday season when we customarily gather with friends and family, we are also entering a new and dangerous phase of the pandemic,” said Governor Mills. “Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have been performing a balancing act, basing our decisions on science and medical expertise, weighing the safety of reopening with the necessity of getting back to business. This targeted and temporary step will reduce extended gatherings while keeping the businesses open. Other steps may be necessary in the coming weeks if we do not get this virus under control. I ask all Maine people, please wear your face covering, wash your hands, watch your distance and avoid hosting or attending gatherings with friends and loved ones unless it is absolutely necessary. Returning to normal life sometime next year first requires us to survive the holidays this year.”

A previous Executive Order delegates authority to Commissioner Heather Johnson of the Department of Economic and Community Development and Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew of the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Maine CDC and the Attorney General’s Office, to adjust public health and safety requirements contained in COVID-19 prevention checklists to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Checklists for Indoor Amusement; Outdoor Amusement; Movie Theaters; Performing Art Venues; Casinos and Seated Food and Drink Service have been updated to reflect this temporary change. All COVID-19 Prevention checklists can be viewed on the Department of Economic and Community Development’s website.

On Thursday, Maine reported 215 new cases, 1 additional death, a woman in her forties, 88 current hospitalizations, and a seven-day test positivity rate of 2.66 percent.

“Every part of Maine is seeing community transmission,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Each of us can help limit further spread of the virus by considering how our actions affect others. Extended gatherings provide an opportunity for the virus to infect others. At this time of year, those others are more likely to be loved ones. By adjusting or delaying our shared celebrations, we deny the virus that opportunity and demonstrate our respect and care for others.”

To ensure broad compliance with public health and safety measures that limit the spread of COVID-19, including wearing face coverings, avoiding gatherings, and maintaining physical distancing, the Mills Administration will also invest $100,000 in Coronavirus Relief Funds to extend its statewide Keep Maine Healthy public awareness campaign into January 2021 with social media, digital, television and streaming media advertising. DHHS launched the campaign in June to encourage Maine people to continue taking actions that are proven to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“The course that the COVID-19 pandemic takes in our state over the coming weeks and months is up to the people of Maine,” said DHHS Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew. “We know what works to limit the spread of this virus: wearing face coverings, avoiding gatherings, keeping distance, and washing our hands. This campaign will remind us of actions we can take to keep our loved ones and communities safe and healthy.”

The Mills Administration is working with the Attorney General’s Office to provide clear guidance to businesses on current public health requirements and their right to enforce those requirements to protect the health of their customers and staff. That guidance is forthcoming and will be released publicly.

Additionally, DHHS announced today that another 52 Walgreens pharmacies will begin offering free drive-through rapid COVID-19 antigen testing Friday to people in Maine experiencing symptoms of the virus. Three more Walgreens sites in southern Maine will begin offering antigen testing next week, bringing the total to 65 Walgreens sites throughout the state.

November 20, 2020

MaineHousing to Extend COVID-19 Rental Relief Program Through December

To support Maine families struggling economically because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Governor Janet Mills today announced she is dedicating an additional $6.2 million in federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to Maine Housing’s COVID-19 Rental Relief Program. MaineHousing will extend the program through December for renters who cannot afford to pay their rent due to COVID-19.

“I join my fellow governors of both parties nationwide in calling on the U.S. Senate and the President to pass desperately needed relief for Maine families struggling to make ends meet during this pandemic. In the meantime, I will do all I can to keep people secure in their homes this holiday season,”said Governor Mills. “I thank MaineHousing for extending this important program and I encourage all eligible people to apply.”

Maine Housing’s COVID-19 Rental Relief Program will continue to help cover October and November rent. Both previous and new applicants may apply for a maximum of $1,000 per month for October, November, and December rent payments.

“In the last weeks, we’ve heard from people who are thankful for this program because it’s helped them keep a roof over their heads,” said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. “We’re grateful for Governor Mills’ continued support of this program, and for the work that Maine’s Community Action Agencies are doing day in and day out to help Maine people.”

Program requirements remain the same. Applications for December rent will be accepted beginning Monday, November 23, 2020 at mainehousing.org/covidrent. Awards are on a first-come, first-served basis.

MaineHousing and the Mills Administration have dedicated a total of $28.4 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds for the COVID-19 Rental Relief Program since April.

The Mills Administration’s use of federal funding awarded to the state can be viewed on the Bureau of the Budget website.