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Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of Labor Laura Fortman announced today that the Administration will provide certain individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19 with a one-time direct relief payment of $600 through the State’s newly-created Pandemic Relief Program (PRP). The relief payment is meant to assist unemployed Maine people at a time when they continue to face substantial economic hardship as a result of COVID-19 and are losing their Federal unemployment benefits at the end of the month unless Congress acts.

New brand to help consumers create restaurant-quality experiences with Maine Seafood from their home kitchens

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), with support from Governor Janet Mills, is launching a branding and promotion initiative to celebrate Maine Seafood and to help consumers find and enjoy it in the comfort and safety of their home.

In Line with New CDC Recommendations, Governor to Complete Quarantine on Tuesday

“Masks work!,” Governor Janet Mills stated today, as she received the results of her negative COVID-19 test on Saturday. “And I’m proof,” she added. Governor Mills was tested on Thursday, December 3, 2020, after an exposure to a member of her Executive Protection Unit who later tested positive for the virus. Governor Mills received her negative PCR test results today.

Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Heather Johnson announced today that the Administration is committing $10 million in federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) to a newly-created Agriculture and Food Processing Infrastructure Reimbursement Program.

Governor Janet Mills and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) Commissioner Amanda Beal today announced that the Administration is committing $2 million in federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funding (CRF) to DACF’s Food Security Network Reimbursement Program.

The Mills Administration announced today it will extend the requirement for certain businesses statewide to close by 9:00 p.m. through Sunday, January 3, 2021. The extension, which lasts beyond New Year’s Eve, is aimed at limiting activities that lead to COVID-19 transmission, amid a sustained and dangerous increase in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and positivity rates in the State of Maine.

Governor Mills: I feel well and will continue to work on behalf of Maine people, but this is a reminder: no one is immune from exposure. We’ve got to take this virus seriously.

Consistent with U.S. and Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, Governor Janet Mills announced today that she is quarantining following an exposure to an individual believed likely to have COVID-19.

Maine recognizes advances in HIV prevention and challenges ahead

Governor Janet Mills today welcomed the release of Maine Won’t Wait (PDF), the new four-year climate action plan from the Maine Climate Council and announced actions her Administration will take to protect Maine people and communities and spur economic growth in the fight against climate change.

Hospitals, nursing facilities and other providers serving MaineCare members may apply beginning tomorrow for up to $30M in relief funds

Governor Janet Mills and Health and Human Services Commissioner Jeanne Lambrew announced today a grant program to support health care organizations that serve residents with MaineCare and sustain vital health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor Janet Mills announced today an economic recovery grant program to support Maine’s tourism, hospitality, and retail small businesses. Backed by $40 million in Federal CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF), the Tourism, Hospitality & Retail Recovery Grant Program is focused specifically on supporting Maine’s service sector small businesses, such as restaurants, bars, tasting rooms, lodging and retail shops, which have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and now face additional challenges with the coming winter months.

Home-delivered meals to support older Mainers and caregivers during the pandemic

The Mills Administration announced today that it will dedicate more than half a million dollars in Coronavirus Relief Funds (CRF) to extend home-delivered meals to older Mainers and caregivers, ensuring food and nutrition for Maine people staying home during the pandemic.

Governor Janet Mills today extended the State of Civil Emergency (PDF) through December 23, 2020. The Governor’s decision to extend the emergency is in line with nearly every other state in the nation which have ongoing emergency declarations, according to the National Governors Association.

As the virus surges, expert Economic Recovery Committee makes federal stimulus a high priority to sustain Maine people and businesses and set stage for future growth

Governor Janet Mills today welcomed the release of the final report of the Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee (PDF), which outlines eight strategies to sustain Maine people and grow the Maine economy in response to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development Heather Johnson announced today that the Mills Administration has begun distributing the second round of financial awards to Maine small businesses and non-profits through the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program.

State to seek nation’s first floating offshore wind research array, located in the Gulf of Maine, to advance new technology in collaboration with Maine’s fishing industry

To solidify Maine’s leadership in floating offshore wind energy and collaborate with Maine’s fisheries on the industry’s development, Governor Janet Mills today announced the State’s plan to create the country’s first floating offshore wind research array in the Gulf of Maine.

More than 730 students in rural Maine will have access to highspeed broadband to support remote learning by the end of the year through the Governor’s ConnectKidsNow! Initiative

Governor Janet Mills announced today that her Administration has awarded $5.6 million in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) monies to fund the construction of permanent internet infrastructure that will bring high-speed broadband to more than 730 students across rural Maine.

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.

Governor Janet Mills today thanked Senior Advisor on Tribal Affairs Donna Loring for her service to the State of Maine. Loring, who has worked in the Governor’s Office since January of 2019, is leaving her position to pursue personal opportunities.

The Mills Administration announced that, effective Monday, November 16, 2020, Massachusetts is no longer exempt from Maine’s quarantine or negative test requirement. People coming here from Massachusetts must either quarantine for 14 days or receive a negative COVID-19 test with a sample taken no longer than 72 hours from arrival in Maine. This protocol applies to Maine residents returning from Massachusetts or another of the non-exempt states.

Please note that Maine’s COVID-19 Prevention Checklist for Community Sports already prohibits competition between hockey teams from different geographic areas until January 11, 2021. The joint announcement below is consistent with this policy.

Governor Janet Mills and Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Jeanne Lambrew released the following statements today as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the California v. Texas case challenging the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Maine’s bold renewable energy and climate change policies are supporting economic growth and workforce demands in thriving clean energy industry, new report finds.

A new report from the Governor’s Energy Office and Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future offers a detailed analysis of the momentum within Maine’s clean energy economy, and how the sector is emerging as a source of economic growth and workforce opportunities to help the state’s recovery from the economic disruption of COVID-19.

Governor Janet Mills issued the following statement on the election of Joe Biden as President of the United States and Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States: