As of July 1, Maine has entered its third stage of the COVID-19 recovery process, marked by the reopening of businesses, including performance venues, spas and movie theaters. And while this is a godsend for many of our state’s local businesses, we are also preparing for a future that will certainly pose a number of challenges. Small businesses employ more than 56 percent of our state’s workforce, one of the highest percentages in the nation. And during the pandemic, they have been hit hard—especially our restaurant, hospitality, healthcare, and retail businesses. As a small business owner myself, I know that…