Governor Janet Mills recently announced 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, 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.

The grant program utilizes $30 million in funds remaining from the Maine Economic Recovery Grant Program and $10 million in additional CRF monies dedicated by Governor Mills.

According to Kevin Jensen, Gorham’s Economic Development Director, businesses must be a customer-facing service business or organization highly impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions, including restaurants, bars and taverns, tasting rooms, lodging, and/or retail establishments, that have experienced a 20 percent or greater loss in gross sales as reported to Maine Revenue Services. This must be substantiated by Sales Tax Returns comparing March 2019 through September 2019 to March 2020 through September 2020 for monthly filers, and April 2019 through September 2019 to April 2020 through September 2020 for quarterly filers. Additionally, gross sales must be between $24,000 and $12 million annually.

Funds will be awarded to the first 2,500 approved applications on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible businesses and organizations in the following industry classifications: Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade, as well as Arts, Entertainment and Recreation.

Eligible applicants may receive up to $20,000.

For more information, contact Kevin Jensen, Economic Development Director, at kjensen@gorham.me.us.