Maine Co-op COVID-19 Resources:
Financial Resources:
SBA Disaster Loans for Small Businesses: SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets. See also: Standard SBA Procedure.
Cooperative Development Fund Disaster Recovery Fund The Disaster Recovery Fund helps cooperatives and cooperators get back on their feet after disasters or other emergency hardship situations.
Cooperative Fund of New England (CFNE) Cooperative Fund of New England remains fully open for business. We remain committed to working with our borrowers and any cooperative enterprise impacted by the coronavirus crisis to find solutions that match the different business needs that will emerge. Contact your local loan officer, if you would like business technical assistance or have a question about a loan or working capital.
Maine Specific Resources:
- Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) Coronavirus Page
– Maine FAQ’s - Maine Department of Labor Information for Employers
- Maine’s Price-Gouging Law
- 211 now available to answer general questions about COVID-19
- SBA to Provide Disaster Assistance Loans (added 3/13/2020)
- Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce COVID-19 Discussion from 3/13 (added 3/14/2020), YouTube link, 65 min runtime
- Governor Mills Takes Step to Protect Maine Workers Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (3/15/20 10AM)
- Governor Mills’ Civil State of Emergency Proclamation (3/15/20 7:30PM)
- Governor Mills’ Civil State of Emergency Press Release (3/15/20 7:30PM)
Food Co-op Specific Resources:
A comprehensive list of food business resources and related links that we feel should be a go-to source for anyone in the food retail industry.
Here are some of the top links from this site:Cooperative Grocer’s Network Preparing for Disaster Kit: What to do when disaster hits as a food co-op.
Other Grocery Store Strategies:This article lays out ways in which several grocery stores have dealt with demand and cleanliness and discusses smaller operations, including a co-op.
Unanticipated, potentially unstable boom for UNFI: How is UNFI handling the increased demand due to the COVID-19 outbreak? What are the consequences for food co-ops? “For smaller customers, UNFI has ‘begun executing a detailed strategy’ to help them take advantage of the distributor’s broad range of products and services and help them be more successful in the long term.”
Food City Grocery Stores to Open Early for Older Mainers
Other Resources:
- US Federation of Worker Cooperatives Library of Crisis-Related Resources for Co-ops: USFWC has pulled together an amazing library of resources. Please take a look!
- Take a look at this informative Video from the CDC to know if you’re at risk, how to prevent contracting the virus, and what to do if you get sick.
- Read through this CDC Situation Summary.
- COVID-19 CDC Website page
- Maine CDC recommendations for Maine schools
- Maine CDC COVID-19 Testing Data Updates
- City of Portland list of COVID-19 support
- What does the threat of COVID-19 mean for your workplace? BRCC Live Stream
Mutual Support Resources in Maine:
- Maine Coronavirus Community Assistance– Facebook group for Mutual Support
- Mainers Together– an initiative to share information and resources for Maine people
Crisis Management:
- Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
- Bushwick Podcast Episode 29 Cooperative Crisis Management
- Governing in Times of Crisis: Lessons from the Trenches of Board Service can be a valuable resource for Board members
- More than a Fire Drill: Planning for the worst may be the best thing a co-op can do
- A Crisis Communication Plan for Boards to read with a COVID-19 lense
- All About Crisis Management
External (Social Media) crisis communication sample from Portland Food Co-op:
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
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Today, March 16, the Co-op is closing at 6 P.M.
Our shelves need restocking and we have run out of bags and boxes for shoppers to take home what items we have left.
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On Tuesday, March 17, the Co-op will be open from 2-6 P.M. only.
We need this time to replenish our shelves so we can provide a better shopping experience for you.
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For the safety of staff and shoppers, please note that the following is in effect immediately:
We are no longer allowing the use of any reusable containers in our bulk department.
Our café space is closed to the public. This includes our water refill station.
We are no longer offering self-serve hot food from our deli.
This includes hot soup, our hot bar, and hot coffee and tea.
We are no longer accepting special orders.
We are no longer placing items on hold for customers.
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Please look for another announcement tomorrow via social media and email regarding our hours of operation and procedures moving forward. Thank you for your support!
Looking to the Future — The Need for More Resilient Systems:
- A More Resilient Supply Chain Infrastructure: Many markets were experiencing double digit sales growth prior to the Coronavirus; they are now experiencing record sales.
- Could that have unintended and negative consequences?
- How will a strained supply chain support this shift?
- Can smaller and midsize co-ops find innovative ways to develop a more sustainable supply chain?
- What are some opportunities we can consider now for decreasing the dependence on national distribution chains and global markets and building a more robust local distribution system?