An Act To Provide Relief To Small Businesses Affected By Severe Weather-Related Events

This bill establishes two new relief programs in Maine to assist small businesses, landowners, and logging contractors impacted by severe weather events declared as disasters or civil emergencies by the Governor. The first program creates a fund to provide payments to eligible small businesses with 500 or fewer employees for damages such as inventory loss, equipment damage, property repairs, and lost revenue, provided the businesses plan to resume operations within the state. The second program creates a separate fund to offer grants specifically to landowners and logging contractors who have incurred costs related to salvaging trees and performing land reclamation following the same severe weather events. Both programs require the relevant department to set specific rules regarding eligibility criteria and the permissible use of funds, ensuring that financial aid is directed toward offsetting incurred losses from the declared emergencies.