What's Happening at MAMe?
The MAMe Health Insurance Plan will be announced at the Manufacturing Summit on May 5th! Plan to send an HR staff or person in charge of benefits to the Summit to learn about the partial self-funded health care plan.
We are in the development stages of the MAMe Compliance Plus Program. A design team will be meeting soon to begin designing the MAMe Compliance Plus Program.
We are keeping up with a number of legislative bills including LD1 regulatory reform, and the Chemical bill (hearing to be announced soon).
Check out http://www.maine.gov/legis/ for the list of bills, hearings and status that pertain to the business and manufacturing community.
We’ve seen a number of companies joining MAMe! Just in the past two weeks the following companies have joined including Fancy Stitchers, AirGas East, RE-Gen, LLC and Solaris, LLC. We are thrilled with the major increase in membership.
The MAMe presented at the Maine Jobs Council on a proposed Industry Partnership Initiative model that aligns education and training needs of the businesses to the workforce and education system programs and services.
MAMe would like to publicly acknowledge, thank and support the following:
• LL Bean—Jack Samson, Patrick Steiner and Jake Doherty for a tremendous tour and presentation!
• Phil Congdon, new DECD Commissioner, for meeting with MAMe board and staff on programs, services and how to increase economic development for manufacturing in Maine.
• Steve Bowen, new Education Commissioner! We look forward to dialogue on how to increase the number of youth entering the manufacturing sector and support the CTE’s.
• Betsy Biemann, President, Maine Technology Institute and the MTI board of directors for approving the MAMe Medical Device Manufacturing Cluster proposal.
• Kathy Leonard, President, Auburn Manufacturing, for being selected as Maine Biz’s “Women to Watch” in Maine!
• And the following organizations for agreeing to partner with MAMe at the Manufacturing Summit on May 5th:
- Bioplastics Council of Maine
- Bioscience Assoc. of Maine
- Maine Aerospace Alliance
- Maine Food Producers Alliance
- Maine Composites Alliance
- Maine Marine Trades Assoc.
- Maine Pulp and Paper Assoc.
- Maine Wind Industry Initiative
- Maine Wood Products Assoc.
Please check our calendar of events for upcoming tours, events, seminars and the manufacturing summit!
Manufacturers Association Receives Medical Device Study Grant
The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) recently approved a cluster enhancement feasibility study award that will support and enhance Maine’s medical device manufacturing industry cluster. The $50,000 award to the Manufacturers Association of Maine is matched by a co-investment of $61,152.
The Manufacturers Association, in partnership with the Bioscience Association of Maine (BAM), University of Maine/Manufacturing Application Center and Maine International Trade Center, along with several businesses, will work to further unify manufacturers across Maine in the medical device industries creating a stronger and more sustainable cluster of businesses and service providers who are better positioned to capitalize on contracting and subcontracting opportunities.
Lisa G. Martin, Manufacturers Association of Maine executive director, “This industry-led, industry driven initiative will work to identify and strategically assess gaps in capital investments, workforce and infrastructure, as well as strengthen this cluster’s capacity to attract and secure future contracts. Already, over 30 companies and 15 service providers are working with us on this exciting endeavor as we continue to reach out to more Maine manufacturers.”
For more information, please call MAMe at 207-854-2153 or email info@mainemfg.com
MEAA News
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama
On March 24th, MSFC will host the Marshall Small Business Alliance Meeting at the Davidson Center. Unlike past events, this meeting will, at the request of the NASA Office of Small Business Programs, serve as one of several Agency events supporting the new "Enhancing and Expanding Outreach to Small Business Contractors White House Initiative." What this means for small and large businesses is an expanded agenda that will include presentations from Charlie Bolden, NASA Administrator, Robert Lightfoot, MSFC Center Director, Glenn Delgado, Associate Director, NASA Office of Small Business Programs, and others. MSFC is honored to have been selected to support this exciting event, and like previous MSBA meetings, registration will begin at 7:15, but due to the expanded agenda will likely not end until 2:00. Following the morning presentations, there will be networking time for small businesses to meet with MSFC procurement and technical personnel, and large businesses. We are still working the agenda, and will forward a copy ASAP.
If interested in attending, please RSVP Ms. Amy Watson at amy.l.watson@nasa.gov. Due to limited seating, registration will be handled on a first come first serve basis. If you should have any questions, please contact our office at 256-544-0267.
Please send any registration forms and/or the forms to add you to the MSFC Supplier list directly to Amy Watson at the e-mail above. We have had a number of members e-mail them to MEAA.
Brunswick Naval Air Base
The Brunswick Naval Air Base will officially become the Brunswick Executive Airport on Saturday, April 2nd at 1:00PM in Hanger #6. The Link to the Midcoast Region Redevelopment Association is http://www.mrra.us/. Because of the substantial assets and aggressive marketing efforts, there is a significant level of interest in new business growth at Brunswick Landing. Currently, approved leases total 563 jobs and $147.5 million in investment with the following companies:
- Kestrel Aircraft Company will locate manufacturing facility in Brunswick: Up to 300 employees, $100 million in investment.
- Mölnlycke Health Care plans to occupy a 78,000 S.F. new build-to-suit manufacturing facility that will be owned by MRRA and leased to it: Up to 100 employees, $40 million in investment.
- Resilient Communications plans to occupy 75,000 S.F. of existing buildings for a data center and secured communications operations: Up to 150 employees, $7 million investment.
- Maine Tool & Machine is expanding its precision manufacturing operation in Brunswick: up to 7 new jobs and $500,000 in investment.
- FlightlLevel Aviation will be the airport's Fixed Base Operator in time for the airport's opening in April 2011: up to 6 new jobs.
- MRRA is currently working with several companies in precision machining, composites manufacturing, information technology, aircraft manufacturing and repair, and general office development.
Members in the News
L.A.W. Calibration, LLC is pleased to announce that they have moved into a new laboratory located at 2 Main Street Suite 17-225 in the North Dam Mill Complex in Biddeford. This move will allow them to better serve their customers and expand their capabilities.
L.A.W. would also like to announce that they have expanded their Torque Device calibration and repair capabilities to include torque devices from 2.5 in/lbs all the way up to 1100 ft/lbs including 3/4” drive wrenches.
Business Day at the Statehouse
Mark your calendars for Business Day at the Statehouse sponsored by the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.
Tuesday, March 25, 2011
8:00am- 12:00pm
in the Hall of Flags (Statehouse Second Floor)
For more information contact Linda Caprara, director of grassroots advocacy, by calling (207) 623-4568 ext. 16. or by emailing lcaprara@mainechamber.org.
Identity Theft Regulation
Q: Why should I be worried about identity theft?
A: We should ALL be worried about identity theft. It's a growing and lucrative crime. Unlike stolen cash or drugs, identities can be sold over and over again globally. People whose identities are stolen spend countless hours and dollars trying to fix their credit rating and reestablishing their reputations and staying focused on their jobs. Often, irreparable damage is done to the victim's identity. Identity theft is NOT only a financial problem. It can include any aspect of your identity, including your medical, driver's license, Social Security, professional, criminal and financial identities.
As a respected member of the business community, you have ethical and legal responsibilities to protect your clients' and employees' personal information as much as possible. You don't want it to happen to you, and you certainly don't want to be blamed for the theft of a client's identity either.
Q: What is the "Red Flags" Rule?
A: The "Red Flags" Rule is basically a regulation issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), a federal law passed in 2003 to strengthen protection against identity theft. For complete details visit: www.ftc.gov
Q: When does the "Red Flags" Rule take effect?
A: After five extensions to the enforcement deadline, the rule took effect on January 1, 2011.
Q: What are the basic aspects of the "Red Flags" Rule?
A: Simply put, the "Red Flags" Rule requires you to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program which is updated as needed; train all employees to implement the program; and oversee your vendors and service providers to ensure they also provide sufficient precautions to prevent, detect and mitigate identity theft.
Q: How do I know if this regulation applies to my business?
A: The rule applies to businesses (creditors) that "regularly and in the ordinary course of business" obtains or uses consumer reports in connection with an “in-house credit account” and furnishes sensitive information to consumer reporting agencies.
Q: How do I comply with the "Red Flags" Rule?
A: If your business falls into the definition of "creditor," compliance with the Rule means developing a written policy that thoroughly details the measures your business will take to protect the personal identifying information of its employees and clients. As always, a written plan is worthless unless all of the staff understand and implement the plan; therefore, all staff must be trained and sign documents that confirm they have been trained. Last, but not least, all vendors and service providers who have physical or electronic access to sensitive information (e.g., insurance agents, accountants, copier companies, cleaning services, etc.) should be contacted and notified that you also expect them to comply with the Rule and take all reasonable measures to protect the practice's information as well as those of the clients. Documentation in writing of your program is critical; not just the policy and its updates, but also the training and notifications.
Q: Where can I get training and information for my business to protect against identity theft?
A: Maine Business & Employee Solutions has made the compliance process easy! We’ve developed a unique program that meets all of the Red Flags Rule requirements and it’s at NO cost to your company.
For more information, contact us directly at: 207-504-2990-Regina Krause, Managing Partner.
Q: What are the penalties if I do not to comply?
A: The FTC can seek both monetary civil penalties and injunctive relief for violations of the Red Flags Rule. Where the complaint seeks civil penalties, the U.S. Department of Justice typically files the lawsuit in federal court, on behalf of the FTC. Currently, the law sets $3,500 as the maximum civil penalty per violation. Each instance in which the company has violated the Rule is a separate violation. -Federal Trade Commission