When: Wednesday, October 28, 9:00am
Register: HERE

Maine PTAC is pleased to host Public Works Department (PWD) Maine on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 9:00am via Zoom. Local businesses can learn about exciting opportunities to bid on construction contracts as a prime or subcontractor at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. James Pineau, Senior Area Manager for the SBA, will provide an introduction to Government Contracting to kick off the event.

As part of Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), PWD Maine supports the mission of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) and its area of responsibility (AOR) by providing products and services that maintain the installation’s facilities and infrastructure. Annually, PWD Maine executes over $40M in construction contracts that are targeted for small business set-asides. This trend is expected to increase over the next several years due to programs that include the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) and the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP).

Plan on attending to hear about how your company can take advantage of these opportunities at the shipyard and develop mutually beneficial relationships with NAVFAC and other contractors working at the shipyard.

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, today released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

“The PPP has provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to American small businesses, providing critical economic relief and supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.  “Today’s action streamlines the forgiveness process for PPP borrowers with loans of $50,000 or less and thousands of PPP lenders who worked around the clock to process loans quickly,” he continued.  “We are committed to making the PPP forgiveness process as simple as possible while also protecting against fraud and misuse of funds.  We continue to favor additional legislation to further simplify the forgiveness process.”

“Nothing will stop the Trump Administration from supporting great American businesses and our great American workers. The Paycheck Protection Program has been an overwhelming success and served as a historic lifeline to America’s hurting small businesses and tens of millions of workers. The new form introduced today demonstrates our relentless commitment to using every tool in our toolbelt to help small businesses and the banks that have participated in this program,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “We are continuing to ensure that small businesses are supported as they recover.”

SBA and Treasury have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly.  

SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers on October 2, 2020.  SBA will continue to process all PPP forgiveness applications in an expeditious manner.

Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application.

Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less.

The six Seacoast region Chambers of Commerce, including the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce, The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and The Falls Chamber of Commerce, representing over 2,500 businesses, are excited to announce that they have formed a partnership with the State of New Hampshire, to work on business recovery efforts surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Sununu and the State of New Hampshire's Governor’s Office for Economic Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) Committee, had previously announced the creation of a Chamber Partnership grant, funded by the CARES Act, to partner with chambers of commerce in the state on business recovery efforts. Managed by the NH Business & Economic Affairs Department, this seacoast regional partnership is one of seven regional partnerships across the State of New Hampshire, that will develop and deliver programs and services that support COVID-19 economic recovery efforts, through the end of the year.

As our members continue to face challenges to their businesses due to the impact from COVID-19, our goal is to use the funds allocated to our region to bring programs and services that will strengthen our region’s economy and lead our business community through a successful recovery. To that end, the Seacoast Chambers have been developing a series of programs and marketing campaigns to be conducted, including:

● a Seacoast economic recovery program to assist business owners with recovery plans,

● a Seacoast destination marketing campaign to help rejuvenate affected businesses in the tourism industry,

● a Seacoast workforce development program to respond effects on the region’s workforce and bring relief to businesses and workers,

● a Seacoast Safe program designed to support businesses and increase consumer confidence,

● A Seacoast business to business plan to ensure businesses in the region have the tools to recovery successfully, and

● the development of a Seacoast landing page to provide area businesses with a dedicated place to obtain uniformed resources and materials designed to aid in COVID-19 relief and recovery.

According to Valerie Rochon, President of The Chamber Collaborative for Greater Portsmouth and the lead Chamber for this regional effort, “the Seacoast Chamber Alliance is well-versed in collaborating on regional efforts and we look forward to working together to support our members through economic recovery”.

The Seacoast region’s Chambers of Commerce greatly appreciate the resources and opportunity the state has provided to us through this partnership. Our priority continues to be supporting our members and the business communities throughout the Seacoast in recovery and beyond, and we look forward to implementing the initiatives these critical resources have offered us.

SBA and Treasury Announce Simpler PPP Forgiveness for Loans of $50,000 or Less WASHINGTON—The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Treasury Department, today released a simpler loan forgiveness application for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $50,000 or less. This action streamlines the PPP forgiveness process to provide financial and administrative relief to America’s smallest businesses while also ensuring sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars. “The PPP has provided 5.2 million loans worth $525 billion to American small businesses, providing critical economic relief and supporting more than 51 million jobs,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.  “Today’s action streamlines the forgiveness process for PPP borrowers with loans of $50,000 or less and thousands of PPP lenders who worked around the clock to process loans quickly,” he continued.  “We are committed to making the PPP forgiveness process as simple as possible while also protecting against fraud and misuse of funds.  We continue to favor additional legislation to further simplify the forgiveness process.” “Nothing will stop the Trump Administration from supporting great American businesses and our great American workers. The Paycheck Protection Program has been an overwhelming success and served as a historic lifeline to America’s hurting small businesses and tens of millions of workers. The new form introduced today demonstrates our relentless commitment to using every tool in our toolbelt to help small businesses and the banks that have participated in this program,” said Administrator Jovita Carranza. “We are continuing to ensure that small businesses are supported as they recover.” SBA and Treasury have also eased the burden on PPP lenders, allowing lenders to process forgiveness applications more swiftly.   SBA began approving PPP forgiveness applications and remitting forgiveness payments to PPP lenders for PPP borrowers on October 2, 2020.  SBA will continue to process all PPP forgiveness applications in an expeditious manner. Click here to view the simpler loan forgiveness application. Click here to view the instructions for completing the simpler loan forgiveness application. Click here to view the Interim Final Rule on the simpler forgiveness process for loans of $50,000 or less. ###

About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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• The Fisher Cats Food Trucks, Fireworks, and Face Maskswill be this Saturday, October 10 from 1P-6P, and will be followed by a 6:30PM Atlas Fireworks show! We’d love some help getting the word out if the chamber would be willing to share this event with your members and/or share our Facebook post or flyer attached with QR code for tickets.

  Tickets are going to be $10 each and people will have socially distanced seating on the field or in the stands. People can bring blankets and pillows, but no chairs are allowed.

  Here’s the list of trucks participating:

• ·        Empanada Dada
• ·        The G Spot Food Truck (gyros)
• ·        Jackson Effie Coffee Cabin
• ·        Dudley’s Concessions (Chicken Tenders , French Fries, burgers)
• ·        Dudley’s Fried Dough
• ·        Ben & Jerry’s
• ·        Dandido Sauce

Website/Ticket Info: https://www.milb.com/new-hampshire/events/food-truck-festival

Live Venue Relief Program

The application period is open now, from October 5, 2020, to October 13, 2020.

The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of the allocation of $12 million from the state's CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds for a new relief program to target New Hampshire live performance venues that have been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many live shows and sports have been postponed or canceled, and, although some live performance venues have been able to provide entertainment, they are doing so with fewer shows and limited capacity to maintain social distancing in comparison to the usually large groups of people coming and sitting shoulder-to-shoulder. New Hampshire’s live performance venues are struggling to pull through with little or no revenue while still facing the heavy expenses of owning a live performance venue.

The “Live Venue Relief Program” supports performance venues facing revenue losses due to COVID-19, provided that they are primarily engaged in hosting live theatrical presentations, musical entertainment, and/or sporting or racing events that are seated, ticketed, and open to the public. The program is open to both for-profit and nonprofit facilities meeting these criteria.

The application is Open now. Click here to apply to the Live Venue Relief Program. The deadline to submit a completed application is Tuesday, October 13, 2020. You are encouraged to submit your completed application as early as possible before the deadline, in case you need help during the application process. If you miss the deadline, you cannot be considered for a Live Venue Relief Program award.

The program funding will be shared among eligible live performance venues using a pro-rata formula based on revenue losses, adjusted for other COVID-19 relief funds received from state and federal sources. The program will provide recipients up to $1.5 million.

Important Dates

• Application Period: October 5, 2020 – October 13, 2020
• Application Deadline: October 13, 2020

  Workforce Recruitment – BEA working with NHES to launch Covid-19 Response Recruitment

https://business.nh.gov/NHESJobSearch/

o    Businesses with openings need to complete the attached spreadsheet and send it to NHES using the email addresses below. Please note that:

§   Each different job title needs to be listed individually on its own line

§   Positions with multiple openings only need to be listed once, as they are not differentiating the number of openings at this time

§   Once completed it should be sent to covidrecruit@nhes.nh.gov

§   An individual from NHES will then follow-up with you to verify the information provided

https://www.nheconomy.com/businessfaqs

Are restaurants with outdoor seating in tents allowed to close the tent sides?
The Governor’s Office and the Division of Public Health have agreed to modify the Restaurant and Food Services Guidance so that tent sides of outdoor restaurant seating areas can be partially closed on the following conditions:

1. Local officials who approved/permitted the outdoor seating areas must be consulted and must agree with the actions for partially closing the tents that each restaurant wants to take prior to the restaurant implementing those actions;
2. Cross-ventilation must be established through the tents;
3. Spacing of 6 feet between the guests at each table must be maintained; and
4. Guests shall not stand/mingle inside the tent area.

 

https://www.covidguidance.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt381/files/files/inline-documents/guidance-restaurants.pdf

 

Except for seating at bars, tables and back-to-back booths can be positioned closer than 6 feet between parties if protective, non-porous, rigid barriers separate the tables and booths (e.g., structural walls or Plexiglas/rigid plastic dividers) provided the following:

i.                    Pliable materials (i.e., shower curtains or plastic sheeting) or porous materials (i.e., cloth dividers) shall not be used as barriers.  

ii.                  Any barrier used must be at a height that extends at least 6 feet from floor level and must be installed between tables and high traffic areas.  

iii.               All barriers must allow for adequate airflow and air exchanges for each table.  Each restaurant must consult with its HVAC contractors to ensure that any barriers that are installed do not cause issues with limiting air exchanges throughout the restaurant.

iv.                No barrier shall be installed within 18 inches of a sprinkler head.

v.                  Restaurant owners must consult with their local health, fire, and building officials to ensure that any barriers constructed inside their restaurants are compliant with life safety code regulations.

vi.                All barriers must be cleaned in accordance with CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidance.  

vii.             If a booth is equipped with a barrier, no table shall be placed directly at the end of the booth unless guests can be distanced at least 6 feet from the booth, or unless there is a barrier.

 

https://www.nheconomy.com/reopeningtaskforce

 

Somersworth, NH - September 22, 2020 – The Falls Chamber of Commerce welcomed Bangor Savings Bank to the Chamber with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, September 22nd.

The ceremony took place at the Chamber office in the Dumais & Ferland building at 472 High Street in Somersworth.

Bangor Savings Bank, a local institution with roots in Maine and a growing presence in New Hampshire, joined the Falls Chamber of Commerce to connect with local business owners and consumers in the “Falls” area.

“Bangor Savings Bank is pleased to join The Falls Chamber. We’re looking forward to collaborating with our fellow Chamber members and getting to know our neighbors in Somersworth, Rollinsford and The Berwicks.”

Bangor Savings Bank, with more than $5.4 billion in assets, offers retail banking to consumers as well as comprehensive commercial, corporate, payroll administration, merchant services, and small business banking services to businesses. The Bank, founded in 1852, is in its 168th year with 57 branches in Maine and New Hampshire and on the Web at www.bangor.com.

The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation was created in 1997. Together the Bank and its Foundation invested more than $2.5 million into the community in the form of sponsorships, grants, and partnership initiatives last year. Bangor Savings Bank is an equal opportunity employer.

The Falls Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Bangor Savings Bank, and we look forward to working together and partnering on community-focused initiatives to contribute to the growth and prosperity of our community.

Chamber board members Debbie Evans from Somersworth Housing Authority, Paul Edgar from Tri-City Christian Academy, and Michael Muise from Edward Jones were also in attendance to welcome the Chamber’s newest members.

The Falls Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit association of businesses, professionals, individuals, and organizations working together to advance the economic well-being of its members and the community. For details on The Falls Chamber membership, a schedule of activities, and information on other programs, please visit www.thefallschamber.com or email Allison at info@thefallschamber.com

Gov. Chris Sununu says New Hampshire restaurants will be allowed to move tables closer together starting Oct. 1 if they install barriers between them.

Currently, tables must be placed at least 6 feet apart to reduce the risk of the coronavirus. With the weather getting colder, restaurants have been asking the state to loosen restrictions for indoor dining. The official restaurant guidance from the state was updated Thursday.

It reads: "Except for seating at bars, tables and back-to-back booths can be positioned closer than 6 feet between parties if protective non-porous, rigid barriers separate the tables and booths (e.g., structural walls or plexiglass/rigid plastic dividers."

Pliable materials, such as shower curtains or cloth dividers, are not allowed. Restaurant owners must also consult with their local health, fire, or building officials to ensure barriers comply with safety codes.