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News

  • 05/12/2020 5:02 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    A new grant opportunity will be available online on May 26, 2020, called the Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program (DCIP). Its purpose is "to address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation, if the Secretary determines that such assistance will enhance the military value, resilience, or military family quality of life at such military installation." These upgrade can ranges from $250,000 to $25 million.

    Eligible community infrastructure projects are any complete and use-able transportation project, school, hospital, police, fire, emergency response, or other community support facility; or water, waste-water, telecommunications, electric, gas, or other utility infrastructure project, that:

      *   Support a military installation;
      *   Are owned by a state or local government or a not-for-profit, member owned utility service;
      *   Will enhance military family quality of life, resilience or military value at the supported military installation;
      *   Endorsed by the local installation commander representing the installation benefiting from the propose project; and
      *   Are construction-ready.

    Community members are welcome to participate in the public comment portion of the process, which is going on until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18.

    Here is the link to the public comments<https://oea.gov/defense-community-infrastructure-pilot-program-dcip

    View the attached PDF for more details.

    Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program.pdf

  • 05/12/2020 5:00 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Concord, NH – Tomorrow, the State of New Hampshire is launching a new testing site in Concord, NH. The testing location will be at 28 Stickney Avenue and will be open seven days a week 11:00 AM — 7:00 PM. Residents with any COVID-19 symptoms, with underlying health conditions, over the age of 60, or who are healthcare workers can request and reserve a test.

    Interested individuals can sign up and reserve a test by going to the online portal here. They can also email covidtesting@dhhs.nh.gov, call the COVID-19 Coordinating Office at 603-271-5980, or by going through a health care provider.

    The state’s volunteer medical corps, MMRS, is also partnering with the New Hampton Fire Department to increase community-wide access to testing by mobilizing a one-day testing site in New Hampton on Saturday, May 16, at the New Hampton Fire Department at 26 Intervale Drive.

    “We are ramping up our capabilities and rapidly expanding access to testing,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “This is one of our top priorities, and we are making huge strides every day.”

    The COVID-19 Testing Registration portal is key to the State’s ongoing efforts to increase access to COVID-19 testing by ensuring qualifying residents can schedule a test without a referral from a medical provider.

    There are now seven drive through testing sites as part of the Community-Based COVID-19 Testing Program. The fixed drive through testing locations are in Claremont, Concord, Lancaster, Milford, Plymouth, Tamworth and Rochester.


  • 05/12/2020 4:59 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Governor Chris Sununu Directs State and U.S. Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Peace Officers Memorial Day, Declares Law Enforcement Memorial Week

    May 12, 2020

    Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu announced that in accordance with the President's proclamation recognizing Peace Officers Memorial Day, all U.S. and State flags in the State of New Hampshire should be flown at half-staff on May 15, 2020, in recognition of Peace Officers Memorial Day.

    Governor Sununu has also proclaimed the week of May 10-16, 2020 as Law Enforcement Memorial week in the State of New Hampshire.

    "During this Law Enforcement Memorial Week, we are especially grateful for the bravery and dedication of the men and women who serve to keep New Hampshire's communities safe and strong," said Governor Chris Sununu. "New Hampshire's law enforcement officers exemplify the time-honored American ideals of public service - a commitment that is especially appreciated during these difficult times."

    Portable Document Format Symbol Portable Document Format (.pdf). Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.


  • 05/12/2020 4:57 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Governor Chris Sununu Issues Emergency Order #42

    Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order #42 as part of the state's efforts to respond to COVID-19.

    Emergency Order #42 pdf file: Authorizing temporary health partners to assist in responding to the COVID-19 in long-term care facilities

    Portable Document Format Symbol Portable Document Format (.pdf). Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems.


  • 05/12/2020 4:49 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Governor Chris Sununu Letter to Senator Rosenwald, Representative Campion Regarding Emergency Health Care System Relief Fund

    May 11th, 2020

    Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu sent a letter to Senator Rosenwald and Representative Campion regarding the Emergency Health Care System Relief Fund.


    Portable Document Format Symbol Portable Document Format (.pdf). Visit nh.gov for a list of free .pdf readers for a variety of operating systems


  • 05/08/2020 3:47 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Grafton County

    GRDC Introduces Website Assistance Program
    New Program Provides Financing for Website Development

    Grafton Regional Development Corporation, a non-profit organization that supports Grafton County small businesses, announced today a program that provides funding to help businesses develop new or update existing websites.

    Read More Here

    Strafford County

    The city of Rochester recently created a new microloan program to provide small businesses with interest-free loans of up to $5,000 to help them cover operational costs like payroll, utilities, rent and other capital needs.

    The city of Dover recently created a similar $5,000 small business bridge loan program.

    Hillsborough County

    Small businesses and nonprofit groups in Nashua will have access to more than $1 million to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nashua Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved the creation of a $1.2 million Coronavirus Impact Fund to help businesses get back on their feet

    Sullivan County

    The Greater Sullivan County COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, with funding from Dartmouth-Hitchcock, is available to non-profits who are struggling to meet the needs of their service population due to the current pandemic. The request form is available at HERE.

    Cheshire County

    Virtual town hall meeting for local business hosted by The City of Keene and the Greater Keene Chamber is Friday, May 8, 2020 at 08:00 AM - Join Zoom Here

    List of resources 


  • 05/08/2020 3:29 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Governor Mills Introduces Rural Reopening Plan

    May 8, 2020

    Plan will allow for reopening of certain businesses in rural Maine with safety precautions, timeline aligns with neighboring New Hampshire

    Governor Janet Mills today announced a rural reopening plan aimed at reopening certain additional businesses in rural Maine over the course of the next two weeks with added health and safety measures. The plan comes after Governor Mills stated last week that her Administration was considering opportunities for regional variation as part of its Restarting Maine’s Economy plan. It also follows the announcement of a partnership with IDEXX Laboratories that will more than triple the State’s testing capacity.

    Under the plan, retail stores and restaurants will be permitted to open to in-store and some dine-in service, respectively – with enhanced safety precautions – in counties where community transmission is not present. Those counties are Aroostook, Piscataquis, Washington, Hancock, Somerset, Franklin, Oxford, Kennebec, Waldo, Knox, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc.

    Retail stores in these counties are permitted to open on Monday, May 11, 2020 with added health and safety precautions. These include but are not limited to: restricting the number of customers in a store at one time, enhanced cleaning practices, and touch-free transactions whenever possible.

    Restaurants in these same counties are permitted to open on Monday, May 18, 2020 with added health and safety precautions, including physically distancing customers, ensuring employees follow enhanced hygiene and sanitation practices, and controlling customer flow through reservations whenever possible. The May 11 and May 18 timelines align with the opening of the same businesses in New Hampshire.

    Additionally, remote campsites as well as sporting camps, which provide access to wilderness activities such as canoeing, hiking, hunting or fishing, are also permitted to open with public health safeguards in these same counties only on Monday, May 18th to Maine residents or those who have completed the 14 day quarantine.

    “With low case counts, no evidence of community transmission, and, now, expanded testing capacity, we believe it is appropriate to gradually lift some limitations on certain businesses in our rural counties with health and safety precautions to protect public health,” said Governor Mills.

    “Small businesses are the backbone of rural economies, and we are glad that expanded testing allows for additional rural businesses to more safely open while following guidelines that will help keep Mainers healthy,” said Heather Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development. “Businesses have given us constructive suggestions on how they can improve the safety of their work, and we look forward to that continued engagement as we examine how to reopen the economy while protecting public health.”

    In announcing these changes, the Administration today also released the health and safety guidance that rural retail stores and restaurants must follow. This guidance comes in the form of the COVID-19 Prevention Checklists, which have been created by the Department of Economic and Community Development in close collaboration with industry and public health experts. Review the checklists here. Sporting camps guidance is expected next week.

    As with other businesses under the Governor’s plan, these establishments are permitted to open, but are not required to do so. Additionally, while the Governor’s strategy determines which types of businesses may reopen and when, it does not preclude a municipality from adopting additional public health measures related to reopenings, including applying additional restrictions on establishments within their jurisdiction.

    “We are very pleased that Governor Mills and her team worked closely with us to allow a considerable number of retailers to safely reopen next week,” said Curtis Picard, President and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine. “In addition to helping the economy recover, the ability for people to help support their local stores will help everyone's mental well-being. Make no mistake, it is imperative that retailers and customers shop safely and abide by the guidelines. Doing so will help the industry continue to open in the coming weeks.”

    Throughout the process, the Maine CDC is monitoring epidemiological data, such as case trends and hospitalization rates, as well as health care readiness and capacity, to inform decisions on the safety of proceeding through stages and lifting restrictions. The Administration will also continue to evaluate standards outlined in the Governor’s vision statement, such as testing capacity and contact tracing, to inform decisions about proceeding. Yesterday, Governor Mills announced that her Administration secured a major expansion of testing through a new partnership with Maine-based IDEXX Laboratories Inc.

    Adjusted for population size, Maine as of yesterday ranked sixth lowest in the nation in terms of positive cases; 36th in the nation in terms of deaths; 27th in terms of patients ever-hospitalized out of the 32 states reporting; and 10th in the percentage of people who have recovered out of the 38 states reporting.

    “The IDEXX agreement adds an important testing safeguard,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. “Coupled with increased contact tracing, it provides Maine CDC with essential resources needed to continue the process of protecting public health.”

    For now, retail stores and restaurants in York, Cumberland, Androscoggin, and Penobscot counties, where community transmission of COVID-19 has been established, will not be permitted to reopen until June 1, the proposed start date for Stage 2 of the Governor’s Restarting Maine’s Economy plan. However, all retail stores in Maine can provide curbside pickup while restaurants can continue to provide take-away and delivery services, as they have been allowed to do throughout the state of civil emergency. Guidelines issued today for rural retail stores and restaurants will apply to retail and restaurants in counties of community transmission slated to open June 1.

    The Mills Administration today also announced the following statewide adjustments to Stage 1 of Restarting Maine’s Economy plan:

    • Fitness and exercise gyms, initially categorized in Stage 2, will now be permitted to open on May 11th for outdoor classes of 10 or less. One-on-one personal training inside fitness centers will be also be permitted.

    On April 28th, Governor Mills presented her Administration’s plan to gradually and safely restart Maine’s economy. The plan established four stages for reopening, the first of which took effect on May 1st and builds upon the Governor’s previous Executive Orders that already allows grocery stores, pharmacies, financial institutions, home repair services, child care agencies, and car repair services, among others (PDF), to operate.

    The Administration continues to work closely and collaboratively with various sectors of Maine’s economy as well as public health experts to determine the best path forward to protect the health and safety of Maine people and gradually restart the economy. The Administration continues to work closely with the tourism and hospitality industries to develop strategies that will allow for a safe tourism season.

    Governor Mills continues to urge Maine people, especially those who are more vulnerable to the virus such as older Mainers and those with underlying health conditions, to stay healthy at home. Physical distancing and practicing good hygiene, like frequent hand washing with soap and warm water, are effective strategies to stay healthy and protect yourself against COVID-19.

    Get more information about Maine’s Restarting Plan.


  • 05/08/2020 3:27 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Mills Administration Secures Major COVID-19 Testing Expansion for Maine

    May 7, 2020

    State of Maine partners with IDEXX to more than triple its testing capacity

    Governor Janet Mills announced today that her Administration has secured a major expansion of COVID-19 testing for the State of Maine. The Administration has partnered with Maine-based IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. to purchase enough of the company’s recently authorized COVID-19 testing kits to more than triple the State’s testing capacity. The breakthrough will soon allow anyone in Maine suspected of having COVID-19 to receive a test.

    IDEXX, a worldwide leader in animal diagnostics, also has deep expertise in human diagnostics through its human health business, OPTI Medical Systems. Earlier today, IDEXX announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted OPTI Medical Systems an Emergency Use Authorization for IDEXX’s OPTI SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR laboratory test kit for the detection of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The Mills Administration is purchasing enough of these test kits to run at least 5,000 tests per week for the foreseeable future.

    “This changes everything,” Governor Mills said. “Acquiring this testing capacity is a major breakthrough for all the people of Maine. We have worked closely with IDEXX over the last month to position the state to benefit from this new and exciting product. Now we are poised to more than triple the State’s testing capacity, remove testing barriers for health care providers, and make sure that anyone who needs a test can get one. On behalf of this Administration and on behalf of all the people of Maine, I thank IDEXX for their ingenuity, generosity, and partnership. Acts like this demonstrate to us the heart of Maine’s extraordinary companies and the power of public-private collaboration.”

    “I am grateful to the frontline workers in Maine and around the world who have been working tirelessly to help treat and contain the spread of Covid-19,” said Jay Mazelsky, President and CEO of IDEXX. “Assisting governments with infectious disease management is core to what we do and all of us at IDEXX are proud to be able to leverage our capabilities in support of these efforts in our home state of Maine.”

    Taken in combination with Maine CDC’s current capacity of 2,000 tests per week, the partnership with IDEXX more than triples the State of Maine’s testing capacity. These tests are in addition to those conducted for Maine residents by nongovernmental labs in and outside of the state. Additionally, IDEXX is loaning a testing instrument to the Maine CDC’s laboratory to help accommodate the higher testing volume and is generously donating enough test kits to conduct 3,500 tests.

    “This is a game changer,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine CDC. “It will allow us to move to a next level of testing that is crucial to monitoring the public health implications of a phased reopening of Maine businesses and gathering places.”

    This significant expansion of testing will ultimately allow Maine CDC to eliminate its testing prioritization system, which most states have had to implement as a result of the limited national supply of testing materials. After testing with the new instrument and materials is operational, which is expected as early as the end of next week, health care providers in Maine will be able to seek testing for anyone they suspect of having COVID-19. This includes people with symptoms, as well as those who have had significant, close contact with a person with COVID-19, such as a spouse. The breakthrough will also allow the State to more fully implement universal testing in congregate care settings, such as nursing facilities and shelters, and enable the State to work with providers to conduct voluntary sentinel testing, or “spot checks”, on patients in different parts of the health care system.

    The tests will be run at Maine CDC’s Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) in Augusta. Maine CDC is hiring additional staff at HETL to support the expansion.

    The expansion of testing is also crucial to gradually restarting the economy and is one of the four guiding principles in the Governor’s vision for reopening Maine. With this additional capacity, Maine CDC will be able to better gauge the prevalence of the virus throughout the State. These data will help inform the appropriateness of lifting restrictions and moving through reopening stages.

    Even with this announcement, the Administration will continue its efforts to secure more testing as part of its ongoing commitment to Maine’s public health. For example, Maine CDC has also recently received testing supplies for its second King Fisher testing platform, which will further expand capacity. Additionally, the Mills Administration continues to press the Federal government to ensure that health care providers have a reliable and adequate supply of materials, such as swabs, to collect samples from patients for testing.


  • 05/08/2020 3:26 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Governor Mills Convenes Expert Committee to Advise on State’s Economic Recovery

    May 6, 2020

    Business leaders, education officials, non-profits, labor and tribal representatives, economic development experts, and elected officials to shape economic recovery

    Governor Janet Mills announced today that she is convening an Economic Recovery Committee charged with developing recommendations to mitigate the damage to Maine’s economy caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to jumpstart a long-term economic recovery for Maine people, businesses, and organizations.

    The thirty-seven member Committee, co-chaired by Laurie Lachance, former Maine State Economist and President of Thomas College in Waterville, and Josh Broder, CEO of Tilson, includes representatives of small businesses, non-profits, financial institutions, unions, municipalities, tribal and immigrant communities, hospitality and tourism industries, and educational institutions as well as a bipartisan delegation of legislative designees.

    “This pandemic is wreaking havoc on our national economy and dealing heavy losses to businesses of all sizes and millions of people who find themselves newly unemployed. Like all states, Maine will be impacted both in the short- and long-term,” said Governor Mills.  “While we work to protect public health and safely restart Maine’s economy, I am convening a committee of experts and stakeholders from various industries and with vast experiences to develop recommendations that can guide our economic recovery. Together, drawing on the hard work and resilience of Maine people, we will rebuild and strengthen our economy and rise from this unprecedented challenge to be a stronger state.”

    “I’m honored to serve Maine in helping to plan for the future,” said Josh Broder, Co-Chair of the Committee and CEO of Tilson. “This emergency has devastated families and our economy in unprecedented ways. We will have to be strategic in our investments, harness all of the diverse capacity in state, and be competitive in our approach to stimulus.”

    “In this time when it feels like there is little we can do as individuals, I am deeply honored to work closely with such an experienced and passionate group of leaders to use our collective wisdom and ideas to help move Maine past this extremely disruptive period,” said Laurie Lachance, Co-Chair of the Committee and President of Thomas College. “As we have seen so many times in our history, with focus and hard work, Maine can and will emerge stronger and will move towards the vision we share of a more prosperous economy.”

    The Economic Recovery Committee, which the Governor established by Executive Order today, will gather input from experts and industry sector representatives on the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Maine’s economy and offer specific policy recommendations to mitigate those impacts. Those recommendations should address essential issues such as:

    1. Strengthening Maine’s key industries and small businesses;
    2. Strengthening workforce development;
    3. Improving opportunities for lower-and middle-income families;
    4. Expanding economic opportunities for rural communities; and
    5. Attracting new investments and innovations in key sectors such as business, communication, health care, recreation and education.

    The Committee will not address public health matters, including the reopening timeframe; however, it will provide guidance on the importance of good public health as a precondition for good economic growth. 

    The Committee will convene its first meeting as soon as practicable and deliver a preliminary report no later than July 15, 2020 and a final report by December 1, 2020. The Committee may also form subcommittees at the discretion of the co-chairs. All meetings of the Committee and any subcommittees will be conducted virtually in a manner accessible to the public with advance online notice. To allow for public input, the Committee will create a portal to receive public comments.

    The Committee may also call upon economists and other experts, including the Maine State Economist, to inform its members. The Committee may also continue to meet after delivering its final report if requested by the Governor. 

    These recommendations will serve in part as a bridge between the economic emergency caused by the pandemic to the restart of the State’s 10-year economic development strategy released last year.

    Photo of Josh Broder

    A native of Cumberland, Maine, Josh Broder serves as CEO of Tilson, a leading information infrastructure development firm which under his leadership has grown from less than 10 employees to more than 500. Prior to joining Tilson, Josh served as an Army Signal Office on missions in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia where he was awarded a bronze star for his service.

    Photo of Laurie Lachance

    A native of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, Laurie Lachance is Thomas College’s 5th President and the first female and alumna to lead the College in its 126-year history. From 2004-2012, Laurie served as President and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation. Prior to MDF, Laurie served three governors as the Maine State Economist.

    The complete membership of the Economic Recovery Committee is as follows:

    Chairs:

    • Josh Broder, Co-Chair, CEO of Tilson
    • Laurie Lachance, Co-Chair, President of Thomas College

    Legislators:

    • Representative Joshua Morris, R-Turner
    • Representative Brian Hubbell, D-Bar Harbor
    • Senator Lisa Keim, R-Oxford
    • Senator Michael Carpenter, D-Aroostook      

    Economic Development:

    • Lee Umphrey, President & CEO of Eastern Maine Development Corporation
    • Betsy Biemann, CEO of Coastal Enterprises Inc

    Business:

    • Curtis Picard, President and CEO of Retail Association of Maine
    • Dana Connors, President of the Maine Chamber of Commerce
    • Meredith Strang Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Advertising and Marketing
    • Ben Waxman, Co-Founder American Roots
    • Jessica Masse, Partner, Design Lab
    • Steve Schley, Board Chair, FOR Maine Initiative
    • Vaughan Woodruff, Owner of InSource Renewables
    • Jean Ginn Marvin, Owner of Nonantum Resort, Board Chair, Maine Community College Board of Trustees
    • Kevin Raye, Realtor and Former Senate President
    • Deanna Sherman, President and CEO of Dead River Company
    • Wick Johnson, President of Kennebec Technologies
    • Robert Dorko, Utilities & Recovery Manager at Sappi North America
    • Luke Holden, Co-Founder and CEO of Luke’s Lobster

    Financial Institutions:

    • Bob Montgomery-Rice, President and CEO of Bangor Savings Bank
    • Sam May, Maine Harvest Federal Credit Union Board Chair
    • Larry Shaw, CEO of MMG Insurance
    • Tim Agnew, Masthead Venture Partners

    Municipal, Immigrant and Tribal Community Representatives:

    • Tae Chong, Councilor, City of Portland, and Social Enterprise & Workforce Development Manager for Catholic Charities Maine
    • Lincoln Jeffers, Economic Development Director for the City of Lewiston
    • Angela Okafor, Councilor, City of Bangor
    • Susan Hammond, Executive Director of Four Directions Development Corporation

    Health Care

    • Bill Burke, Chair of the MaineHealth Board of Trustees and the Portland Sea Dogs 

    Education:

    • Jim Herbert, President of the University of New England
    • Rebecca Wyke, President of the University of Maine at Augusta
    • Joe Cassidy, President of Southern Maine Community College

    Nonprofits:

    • James Myall, Policy Analyst for the Maine Center for Economic Policy
    • Jennifer Hutchinson, Executive Director of the Maine Association of Nonprofits
    • Susan Corbett, Founder and Director of the National Digital Equity Center

    Unions:

    • Matt Schlobohm, Executive Director of the Maine AFL-CIO

    Members of Maine’s Congressional Delegation are also invited to participate in an ex-officio capacity.


  • 05/08/2020 3:23 PM | Bonnie McNair (Administrator)

    Governor Chris Sununu Proclaims Teacher Appreciation Week

    May 7, 2020

    Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu issued the following statement after having proclaimed May 4-8, 2020 as Teacher Appreciation Week in the State of New Hampshire:

    "New Hampshire's educators have gone above and beyond to ensure that students in the Granite State continue to receive a quality education as we confront the COVID-19 pandemic," said Governor Chris Sununu. "Thanks to their dedication - not just during these unordinary times, but every day - our students are receiving one of the best educations in the country. We can't thank our educators enough for all that they do."

    "There are many paths to bright futures, and it's easier for students to find their paths with a great teacher," said Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. "During Teacher Appreciation Week, we pause to thank the dedicated educators who do so much to teach New Hampshire Students."


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ABOUT THE FALLS CHAMBER

The Falls Chamber of Commerce is a professional association of businesses in  the falls area.  We are the catalyst that facilitates business growth , prosperity, partnership and success for our members. 

CONTACTS

Bonnie McNair 

Executive Director

info@thefallschamber.com
603-973-0169
Office hours by appointment: PO Box 606, Somersworth NH 03878

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