South Thomaston Awards Workers At 3 Businesses $16,000 In Bonuses

Over the last few months, we have heard a lot about how municipalities have been using the federal pandemic aid they have received.  In some cases, the money was used to make much needed infrastructure improvements or to keep vital businesses operating.  In other cases, we have heard that the money was given to town employees as "thank you" bonuses for the work they did during the pandemic.

The Midcoast town of South Thomaston has gone in a slightly different direction. A large chunk of the federal aid the town got, nearly $20,000, went to workers in the small town who stepped up during the height of the pandemic.

According to WGME, 23 employees at three South Thomaston businesses, two daycares & a general store, took home a total of $16,000 for the work they did during the first 12+ of the pandemic.

The total amounts to an extra fifty cents for every hour those employees worked from March of 2020 through June of 2021.  Basically, each employee got about $700 in bonus money.

The bonuses were a way for the town's administrators to say thank you to the employees who continued to work at the town's essential businesses (like childcare providers) throughout the height of the pandemic.  While many people were able to work from home, these men and women stepped up to perform vital services so other important services and businesses could function.  Providing childcare for first responders or keeping local stores open.

We want to take a second to say thank you to everyone, no matter what town you live in, who stepped up to get things done during the biggest part of the COVID-19 pandemic.