UPDATED MAY 22, 2020
When and how you may reopen your business after the COVID-19 shutdown is a question that initially will be answered by federal and State government, and then by individual business owners and managers. For example, Maine Governor Janet Mills has set out a four-stage program for when Maine businesses may reopen with specific checklists for each business to follow, but whether to reopen on that schedule or later is up to each business owner or manager.
The attorneys at Perkins Thompson are monitoring the orders, policy documents and guidance on reopening being issued by various government agencies and business and industry trade groups, and we are providing links to those resources below to help our clients make the determination of when and how best to open their individual businesses that addresses their individual needs and circumstances.
Here are some resources that you might look to for guidance as you begin to look at reopening your business establishments:
Federal Resources
- United States Center for Disease Control
- CDC Guidance for Cleaning & Disinfecting
- United States Chamber of Commerce
- Small Business Administration—Loan Forgiveness Application
- United States Department of the Treasury [NO SPECIFIC REOPENING RESOURCES]
- OSHA Industry Check Lists
State of Maine Resources
- Restarting Maine’s Economy
- Restarting Maine’s Economy Booklet
- Stage One Reopening Checklists
- Checklist Compliance Submission Form
- Plan to Re-open Maine Retail: Recommendations from the Retail Association of Maine
- Maine CDC Virus Control in Eating Establishments
- Maine State Chamber of Commerce—Caring for your Business
- Maine State Chamber of Commerce—Caring for your Employees
- Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce—Back to Business Toolkit
- Hospitality Maine—Best Practices for Take-Out Curb-Side Service
- Hospitality Maine—Lodging Reopening Checklist
- Hospitality Maine—Restaurant Reopening Checklist
- Free ServSafe Courses