Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 39 FA C T BO O K / D O I N G B U S I N E S S I N M A I N E B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S "Maine has always had a piece of land to build a house on," Damicis said. "But there was a huge undersupply of multi- family and rental properties within com- muting distance of employment centers. As job growth occurs, the people fi lling those jobs want to live closer to them." 3. Health Care A raft of health care expansions were announced and continued around the state in 2017. As aging demographics continue to stoke demand for health care services, that growth is expected to continue. Maine Medical Center won state approval for a $512 million renovation and expansion, expected for completion in 2022. In Bangor, Eastern Maine Medical Center continued its $305 million modernization project that began in 2013. e project includes the addition of a neonatal intensive care unit, a cardiac telemetry fl oor, consolidated cardiovascular services and a 24-bed cardiac critical care unit. Mercy Hospital fi led a letter of intent with state regulators to proceed with the planned consolidation of hospital operations to its Fore River campus in Portland. Mercy expects to fi le a sepa- rate certifi cate of need with the state this year for an estimated $75 million project that would add 108,000 square feet for inpatient, outpatient, surgical, support and administrative services. 4. Breweries e brewery industry continues to grow. Last year, 22 breweries opened, expanded or announced intentions to grow. Maine-based breweries and related local businesses had a nearly $228 million economic impact to Maine in 2016 and employed 2,177 people, according to a study released in March 2017 by the University of Maine School of Economics and the Maine Brewers' Guild. Larger operators are establish- ing themselves as destination breweries, says Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers' Guild. In Freeport, Maine Beer Co. tripled the size of its footprint. In Gorham, Sebago Brewing Co. opened a new headquarters and on- site pub. Orono Brewing Co. had plans to add a third location. e local indus- try is part of a national trend. Craft beer "is transcending its reputation as just for young people or hipsters, and more into those who like great food, locally-sourced goods and community engagement," Sullivan says. "People enjoy the sense of discovery that comes with trying new beer styles and getting to know how the product is made, and the people behind it." Maine Brewers' Guild also made an eff ort to stoke international thirst for craft brews. In 2017 they commissioned a Maine Beer Box — a 40-foot refrigerated ship- ping container with 78 beer taps and a self-contained draft system — to go to Iceland to market the state's craft brew- ers. e group plans to send another one to England in September. 5. Trade Trade supports 180,500 Maine jobs, or nearly one in four. Since 2009, Maine jobs related to trade increased by 25.9%. Last year, 2,262 Maine compa- nies exported $2.7 billion in goods and services to 176 countries. Wade Merritt, president of the Maine International Trade Commission, notes that while that's down by 7% from the year before due to declines in key sectors like forest products and lobsters (after a 2016 spike that was an anomaly), the future for Maine's international business com- munity remains bright. One reason is recent investments in transporta- tion infrastructure that have increased volume through ports like Portland by 41% to $262 million in 2017. Merritt said the global appetite continues to grow for products made in Maine, even beyond the lobsters, forest, agricultural and other natural resources that have traditionally led export activity. Now, there is growth in biotech, composites, advanced materi- als and life-science products like veteri- nary vaccines and geriatric medicines. Icelandic shipping giant Eimskip USA has increased its container ship service to Portland by 45%, to weekly trips, 52 calls a year. Maine Department of Transportation moved ahead with plans to bring a second crane to Portland's International Marine Terminal, which is expected to help support additional traffi c. Also in Portland, all eyes will be on proposals for a cold storage facil- ity, which could work with the port to warehouse food-and-beverage prod- ucts going through the port. While Americold Logistics LLC pulled out of its plans to build such a facility, the city is optimistic it will get built. J V A, a writer based in Yarmouth, can be reached at @ . What do the following industries have in common? • Banking • Food Processing • Software Development • Consumer Product Manufacturing • Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals ALL of the industries above (and more) have potential R&D Tax Credit opportunity. Talk to Bedford to find out if you qualify, the conversation is free! (207) 405-4149 | sshaffer@bedfordteam.com | www.bedfordteam.com (207) 405-4149 | sshaffer@bedfordteam.com | www.bedfordteam.com Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets Rural and urban markets are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on are not competitive on their own.They need each other to survive in a symbiotic relationship. — Jim Damicis Camoin Associates

• Cover