Daily Brief: September 14
First Restaurant Relief Grants Issued
HospitalityMaine Education Foundation is pleased to announce that Smitty's Cinema in Windham and Rustica Cucina Italiana in Rockland are the premiere recipients of the Maine Restaurant Relief Fund.

During a livecast at O'Maine Studios in Portland Sunday, the grantees (pictured above) were announced and Zoomed in to accept the financial boost. Both operations will receive $5,000 to help rebuild and restore their distressed businesses.

“Every little bit helps,” said an emotional John Stowe, owner of Rustica, who was choked up by the unexpected windfall.

Albert Waitt of Smitty's said his cinema/dining hybrid was hit hard by the pandemic. The funds "allows us to provide PPE for staff," he explained.

While donations streamed in during the live fundraiser, a bulk of the grants are made possible thanks to Hannaford, Bangor Savings Bank, Cross Insurance and Oakhurst.

There is still time to apply or donate here. More recipients will be announced next week. Grantees are randomly chosen. Not all who apply will receive a grant.

Watch Sunday's episode on comfort food below:
State Adopts Final Rules for Earned Paid Leave Law
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Department of Labor
has adopted the final Rules for Maine’s groundbreaking Earned Paid Leave Law, which ensures employees of businesses with more than 10 employees can earn up to 40 hours of annual paid leave starting in January 2021.

Maine is the first state to permit using this leave for reasons outside of illness, as long as employees give their employer reasonable notice.

The Earned Paid Leave Law applies to employers with more than 10 workers in Maine for 120 days or more in a calendar year, except for seasonal industries as defined in the statute.


SURVEY of the Week
With autumn in the air, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development is looking for ideas on optimizing revenues in colder weather. They have asked us to share this survey.


Thank you!

Hospitality Hotlinks