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COVID-19 Resources

With funding from the US Economic Development Administration through the US CARES Act of 2020, CBER is providing a pool of resources, analysis, and technical assistance to Maine's businesses, communities, and policymakers supporting the response and recovery to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Please find an evolving  collection of resources below. These resources are intended to compliment and not replace other economic and labor market data and analysis provided by state agencies and other outlets in Maine. If you have questions, ideas, or would like to be connected with one of our experts, please contact us at usmcber@maine.edu. Thank you for visiting.

CBER's network of Maine-based experts provide critical insights and share relevant research and information related to the impacts and implications of COVID-19 to Maine's economies, communities, and workforce. To access research papers and commentary click here.

The data dashboard provides statewide and community data from a selection of economic and public health sources that assist with monitoring the economic and community conditions during the response and recovery to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data is sourced from both public and proprietary sources, including Opportunity Insights, Economic Modeling Specialists Inc., SafeGraph, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Maine Centers for Disease Control, US Census, and others. The dashboard will also enable users to view the most recent regional economic forecast data prepared by CBER. The dashboard will be updated bi-weekly and more frequently as subsequent underlying data sources are updated and released. Access by clicking here.

In partnership with the 7 economic development districts (EDDs) in the state, CBER conducts semi-annual and other period updates to regional economic forecasts of the state and EDD regions. The Center also conducts region specific analysis and prepares updated regional economic, demographic, and labor market profiles. Access by clicking here.

COVID-19 has disrupted economic and social life across the state and nation and has had significant implications for how work and commerce is conducted and how communities function. Abruptly, roughly half of the US workforce shifted to working remotely while nonessential businesses and were forced to innovate business models and service and product delivery. Residents of large, dense urban areas left cities for places deemed safer, with less density and accessibility to alternative recreation and entertainment options. Shifts in education and health care delivery were also switched to remote delivery placing greater demand for broadband and internet connectivity. Consequently, these changes pose important implications for the state of Maine and the need to understand what opportunities and challenges have emerged and what to do about them.

 

Our experts are conducting research are these issues, specifically related to the labor market and community impacts of large shifts to remote work, the migratory response of remote workers and opportunities for Maine to attract them, and the impact of broadband expansion in the state, among other topics. This research is ongoing and will be updated periodically. Access by clicking here.  

Other general data, research, and information resources related to COVID-19 can be found here.

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