Maine’s border businesses rely so much on tourism from Canadian neighbors to make ends meet, but with the federal government’s unfortunate decision to keep the border closed at least until August 21st, traffic from Canada has been very limited.
I keep calling on the U.S. government to safely reopen the border, but in the meantime, our border businesses need our support.
Last week, I announced a $10 million economic recovery grant program to provide direct financial relief to Maine transportation and border businesses that have been so impacted by the border closure with Canada.
Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening.
My Administration is committed to providing financial relief for small businesses that incur business disruptions and added expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2020, we launched the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program and we provided $174 million in grants to nearly 4,000 businesses and non-profits across the State of Maine.
Then in December last year, we launched the Tourism, Hospitality & Retail Recovery Grant program and provided nearly 2,000 tourism, retail and hospitality businesses with about $53 million in additional support.
In July of this year, I signed legislation to implement the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan which includes an additional $66 million in economic recovery grants, backed entirely by federal funding allocated to Maine by the American Rescue Plan.
Last week, after drawing on the recommendations from the tourism, hospitality and retail industries, I announced our newest grant program for Maine businesses — the Charter Transportation and Border Business Assistance Grant Program.
Using $10 million in federal Cares Act funds, these grants will help sustain charter transportation businesses statewide and public facing businesses and organizations within 25 driving miles of the US-Canada border with up to $100,000 each.
Priority will be given to businesses who have not received other relief funds to date.
Businesses can apply right now for these grants on the Department of Economic and Community Development website at maine.gov/decd.
The application portal will be open until midnight September 13th. Applications will be reviewed, and final determinations made after that date. If you’re selected for a grant, a notice of grant amount will be sent via e-mail.
As with other economic recovery grants, these funds will be used to cover expenses of a variety of sorts: including rent or mortgage payments; utilities; operating expenses; expenses to replenish inventory or other re-opening costs; or the purchase of personal protective equipment, for instance. Funds are to be spent on operations that are strictly within Maine. And the grants of course are subject to audit.
My Administration is committed to supporting the sectors of our economy that have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Along with this latest grant program, we look forward to distributing additional federal funds under the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan once that takes effect in October to support the economic recovery of small businesses statewide, as well as working families, childcare agencies, broadband, and so many initiatives that will jumpstart our economy and help us recover from this pandemic.
This is Governor Janet Mills. Thank you for listening.