Courtesy / Maine State Chamber of Commerce
Maine State Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors
April 29, 2020
Business leaders from Portland to Presque Isle concerned about reopening plan
Photo / Jim Neuger
Lots of businesses remain closed under Gov. Mills' stay-at-home order, which is to be extended through May 31 under a new order expected to be issued by the governor on Thursday.
Business leaders from Portland to Presque Isle are concerned that a phased plan to reopen Maine's economy might be too slow to save industries set to take the biggest hit from the coronavirus-related shutdown.
Under the plan unveiled by Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday, businesses will reopen in four stages, starting with hair dressers, pet groomers, drive-in movie theaters and other types of companies this Friday. Hotels and inns will have to wait until the summer, with a mandatory 14-day quarantine remaining in place for all individuals coming into the state.
While subject to changes, the timetable laid out in the plan has raised concerns from several business leaders, who worry about the impact on the tourism industry and the state's many small businesses.
"My initial reaction is a concern for all the independent hotel and restaurant operators and their employees whose life savings and livelihoods are in jeopardy," Steve Hewins, president and CEO of HospitalityMaine told Mainebiz. "We feel there are valid protocols and procedures we can implement to safely protect our customers and workers without closing the peak season, which is the net effect of two-week quarantine on out-of-state visitors."
Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, expressed similar concerns, and said his organization will work closely with the state's Department of Economic and Community Development and Commissioner Heather Johnson on possible adjustments.
"We're trying to find a way to be able to appreciate and respect the public health, but at the same time recognize the value that tourism has to our economy," Connors told Mainebiz in a phone interview from his home Wednesday morning.
Other Chamber of Commerce leaders echoed those sentiments.
"While this plan is promising for some, for others it means a month or longer before they can open, which very well may be more than they can financially weather," said Quincy Hentzel, president and CEO of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce. "There is an opportunity to maintain the gradual approach, which I support, but set it on a faster timeline."
She also said the 14-day quarantine requirement poses significant challenges for the tourism season, and it's unclear how that can be managed and regulated.
"It’s a difficult balancing act, but our chamber is committed to working with the administration to determine how we can quickly and safely open businesses from all sectors," she said.
As for northern Maine, "I am extremely worried for our small business community. Aroostook County is greatly made up of locally owned small businesses and most of them cannot open their doors, even if they have safety measures in place," said LaNiece Sirois, executive director for the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce in Presque Isle. "I am deeply concerned for the economy of Aroostook County at this point. It’s heartbreaking, really."
Retail sector also up in arms
Under the governor's plan, retail stores for broader in-store shopping would be allowed to open beginning June 1, the start of Stage 2. That's raising red flags with an industry that's already taking a big economic hit from being shut down since mid-March.
Courtesy / Retail Association of Maine
Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine
"Our initial take is that we are disappointed that most of retail is going to continue to be very limited throughout Stage 1. I am fearful that many small retailers won't make it to June 1 if they have made it this far," Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, which is based in Augusta. told Mainebiz.
"While we appreciate Gov. Mills putting forth a plan, we are hopeful that she will consider some modifications because I think today is leading to more confusion and frustration from our industry. We share the goals of all Mainers in wanting to keep people healthy, but we are concerned that waiting until June 1 to really starting to re-open will be too long a wait for many businesses."
Don Oakes, CEO of tote manufacturer and retailer Sea Bags, is equally worried, saying what he has heard and read so far about the plan "strikes me as a very conservative."
"We all know the economy of our state and the livelihood of many of our businesses rely heavily on the summer season," he said. "If we can’t get our stores open, our operations running, and people out shopping, it does not bode well for the future of so many Maine businesses. Not only is 100% of our product at Sea Bags made here in Maine, but it is also home to seven of our current 29 stores and a large portion of our revenue. If the summer is lost for-all-intents-and-purposes, there’s no way the shortfall can be made up, and while our company will hopefully survive, I fear that many will not.
Nevertheless, Oakes said he remains hopeful that the governor’s timeline will be revisited as this process continues to unfold and the impact becomes clearer, adding: "It seems to me that, given the pace of her plan, she’s left herself a lot of flexibility to accelerate things. I certainly hope she does."
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Anonymous
April 29, 2020
Heather Johnson, Commissioner, Maine Department of Economic Community Development, struggled to answer the most fundamental questions about the Governor's latest "plan" at her Zoom meeting today. At one point, she said "We misunderstood the complexity of the business side." Say what? This from the head of our Department of Economic Community Development? Unbelievable. It's clear that she and the Governor are way over their heads. We need new leadership.
Anonymous
April 29, 2020
I am a summer person, to Maine. I own a home and pay taxes there. I hate thinking of myself as a tourist, but I am in the sense, I am there about 4-5 months a year. Sometime the month of December for special occasions. Anyway, I respect the steps Gov. Mills has set before us. Much work and effort has been put forth to arrive at this flexible and safe plan. It affects all of us to some extent. We have to trust the Lord will take care of you, who depend on tourist trade.. My roots are there, and at 90 years of age, every summer in Maine is precious to me. I am willing to sacrifice what ever I have to sacrifice to be there even for a month or two.
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