Governor Janet Mills (D) at a Portland Press Conference on the new Insurance Marketplace That Wet Into Effect Last Week.

Governor Janet T. Mills (D) announced yesterday the details of a $139 million investment in Maine people, small businesses and workforce through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan at a press conference in Lewiston.

The plan includes $20 million for a new mall business grant program, $39 million to help lower monthly health insurance premiums, and $80 million to replenish the Maine Unemployment Trust Fund and mitigate ax hikes for small businesses according to a press release issued from her office yesterday.

The $139 million in investments came on the first day that the state legislation enacting the Governor’s plan takes effect, reflecting the Governor’s commitment to delivering immediate support for Maine’s small businesses and workers a the state continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on Maine’s economy.

The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan is the Governor’s plan, approved by the state legislature, to invest nearly $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to achieve three goals:  immediate economic recovery from the pandemic; long-term economic growth for Maine and infrastructure revitalization.  It draws heavily on recommendations from the Governor’s Economic Recovery Committee and the State’s 10-Year Economic Development Strategy, transferring them into real action to improve the live of Maine people and strengthen the economy.