The Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Small Businesses

Franklin County Business Owners Facebook Group

CEI Business Directory Form

Maine Farm Product and Pick-Up Directory

MANP – Information on COVID-19 for Maine Nonprofits

Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Response and Resource Center

Governor Mills’ Newsroom

Congressman Golden’s Small Business Resource Guide

Senator Collins’ COVID-19 Resource Guide

MaineBiz: The Paycheck Protection Program featuring the SBA Wednesday, April 8 at 10 am | Via Zoom | Register

Listening Session with Congressman Golden, SBA’s Amy Bassett, Maine Chamber of Commerce’s Dana Connors, and state lenders The congressman wants to hear from small businesses about their challenges during the crisis and what resources they will need going forward. Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 PM | Register and Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 PM | Register

MaineBiz: EIDL Program & Other Programs featuring the Maine SBDC Thursday, April 9 at 10 am | Via Zoom | Register

Q&A Thursday with SBDC Business Advisors Thursday, April 9 at 12 pm | Via Zoom | Register

Lenders are handling the PPP directly at this point and things are changing quickly. If you’re interested in applying for the Paycheck Protection Program, contact your lenders.

SBA Approved Lenders in the Franklin County Region:

Androscoggin Savings Bank

Bangor Savings Bank

Franklin Savings Bank

Skowhegan Savings Bank

TD Bank

University Credit Union

We have reached out to every town in the region to learn what efforts are in place to address basic needs of their citizens. This is what we’ve heard about so far:

The United Way has established the Very Basics Fund to support organizations that are providing direct service to individuals in need. Many of our friends and neighbors will be affected by COVID-19 and this will help provide food, fuel, shelter, and other basic needs. Click here to donate. If you wish to volunteer with the United Way, visit their website here.

Kingfield has set up a Go Fund Me to raise funds for community support and food assistance, and would welcome you sharing with your network.

The Rangeley community has pulled together to assist everyone who needs help. Rangeley Health and Wellness is providing free Emergency Food Boxes to Rangeley, Oquossoc, and surrounding Plantation community members. These boxes will be available for curb side pick up once a week on Wednesdays from 10:30 am – 3 pm starting April 8th. Pick up location will be at the main entrance of Moose Alley. Donations for this can be made to RHW PO Box 722, Rangeley, ME 04970. For more information, please contact Joanne Dickson at 207-670-5236.

Additionally, several restaurants are banding together to prepare and distribute meals at the Oquossoc Grocery parking lot in Oquossoc and Sarge’s Sports Pub in Rangeley. To donate, cash can be delivered to either of the food pick up areas and checks can be mailed to SFCF, P.O.Box 1146, Rangeley, ME 04970.

Stratton Community Volunteers are organizing volunteers and raising funds for their Community Fund via their Facebook page.

The Greater Franklin Food Council is trying to keep this database of local food pantries updated with current hours. Call the pantry ahead to be sure that the hours are current.

If other communities are interested in developing similar projects, please contact us – we are happy to talk with you about how we can assist.

“The ConnectMe Authority, a state agency that promotes the expansion of broadband, estimates that it would cost between $150 million and $450 million in public and private investment to serve every part of the state. Not all of that has to come from taxpayers. State funds, like the money that would be raised by the bond issue, would draw federal matching funds would be used to attract private partners. Maine can multiply its investment, but we can’t just wait for the private sector to figure this out.”

Consider this a call to action from us at GFDC. Take this information to your fellow citizens in preparation for town meeting debates. GFDC has done a broadband plan for each town in the county (you can view that plan on our website here) and have been working to combine public and private resources to get our county connected. There is a path forward if the citizens recognize the need for investment and demand action from their towns!