Protecting your business and ensuring your employees are safe
Maine’s small businesses and their workers are the backbone of our economy, and there is no question that the coronavirus is impacting them. To protect small businesses, Governor Mills requested that the Small Business Administration (SBA) provide economic support loans to Maine small businesses in order to help them overcome any temporary loss of revenue due to COVID-19. To protect Maine workers, Governor Mills submitted emergency legislation that temporarily expands eligibility for unemployment insurance to individuals whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19.
For more information on resources available to help your business recover from losses as well as best practices to protect the safety of your customers and the health of your employees, please visit:
Essential Service Designation
List of Essential Businesses (PDF), if the function of your business is not listed, but you believe that it is essential, you may request designation as an essential business.
Questions may also be directed to business.answers@maine.gov.
Financial Resources
Financial Resources in Response COVID-19-related closures and economic disruption (PDF)
Maine Small Business Development Centers Videos to Help Small Businesses Apply for SBA’s Disaster Loans.
Small Business Administration’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Other Resources for Maine Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
Resources for Maine Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF)
Paycheck Protection Program (PDF)
Maine Department of Labor’s Guidance on Coronavirus Response and Updates
Maine Department of Labor Bureau of Unemployment Compensation
U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (PDF)
U.S. CDC’s Resources for Businesses and Employers
U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Guidance for Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Help the health care response
Volunteer your medical experience. To meet immediate health care needs, those with medical or public health experience or backgrounds are asked to register to volunteer.
- Please visit MaineResponds.org
Contribute medical supplies.
If you wish to help Maine government purchase critical medical supplies, please use this form:
COVID-19 purchase form
If you have critical, certified medical supplies* to donate to combat COVID-19, please use this form:
COVID-19 donation form
Contact Business Answers at the Maine Department of Economic & Community Development with your COVID-19 business-related questions and for information on resources. HOURS: weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST
1-800-872-3838 in Maine
1-800-541-5872 from outside of Maine
You can also e-mail us with your business questions at business.answers@maine.gov. Please note that we can’t provide help with unemployment claims. For questions on unemployment, please visit https://www.maine.gov/unemployment/
The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development works with statewide and local partners, private industry and small businesses to enhance and sustain economic prosperity in Maine.
What is DECD?
DECD and its partners show companies how to benefit from millions of dollars in tax credits, reimbursements, R&D credits, capital loans, even direct investment. Every year, we help Maine communities attract jobs and grow their infrastructure with unique financing programs.
Strategic
Planning
Task Force
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Maine average
hourly wage
$21.78
Maine
population
1.35 million
Produces 90%
of the nation's
lobster supply
Read the State’s New
Economic Development Strategy
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Bureaus and
Offices
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Tax Incentives
and Credit
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