Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U LY 2 3 , 2 0 1 8 Featured @ Mainebiz.biz Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our top content from the weeks between July 2 – July 16. For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews 1. The Lodge at Moosehead Lake goes on the market 2. Outdoor startup Flowfold gets a big break in partnership with L.L.Bean 3. Maine Girls' Academy alums target $1M in crowdfunding campaign 4. Bissell Brothers to 'test drive' Milo taproom 5. 'World's best lobster roll' isn't made in Maine, again 6. Former L.L.Bean senior VP picked to lead Maine Center Ventures 7. Fine woodworker swings a sledgehammer to carve out larger space in Biddeford 8. Winxnet merges with Calif. firm, giving it coast-to-coast market reach 9. New owner of Rumford paper mill will retain workers, eyes investment 10. Forbes names 4 Maine financial institutions 'best-in-state' P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y T H E BO R T I S FA M I LY 1 W e run lists all the time that off er Maine's economy or business climate in the context of the United States. Recently, CNBC ranked Maine No. 4 as a place to do business. Texas ranked No. 1. Among a range of 10 basic criteria, Maine ranked dead last for its work- force, which is apparently about the lack of workforce because business people I know are always talking about Mainers' work ethic. It ranked in the bottom half of all but one category, quality of life. WalletHub ranked Maine's startup community No. 2, which seems respectable. e state has a range of funding and mentorship programs for startups, and there are pitch competitions that stoke the fi re. We're all weary of the annual Forbes magazine ranking of Maine's business environment, which most recently pegged the state at No. 46. (North Carolina tops that list.) e magazine's listing, which is released in the fall, off ers a brutal assessment of the state's prospects for business, with the most recent list ranking it in the bottom fi ve for regulatory environ- ment (No. 49) and growth prospects (No. 48). As the race for governor heats up, the Maine's econ- omy will take center stage. Southern Maine has a strong real estate market, new hotels are being built and unemployment is at a historic low. But much of the rest of the state is still hanging on from the last recession, waiting for a return of an industry or outside investment. We can all look at success stories in Maine — the publicly traded companies, the new headquarters, the expanding businesses, the house in our neighborhood that had multiple bidders. It's entirely likely, much like the Census numbers and economic reports, those lists of business climate lag the reality, most likely by years. Our next governor would do well to look at Maine's image outside of the state. It's been pointed out more than once by the list makers that the Pine Tree State is known for its quality of life. CNBC's recent survey ranked Maine No. 1 in this regard, while Forbes put us at No. 1. But, as it's been said, you can't eat scenery. Whether it's a reality or the perception, prospective investors from outside Maine see those lists from Forbes and CNBC and others and form opinions. ose opinions have a lasting impact on our economy. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz From the Editor What do all these 'business climate' lists add up to? Be smart. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you want a law firm t hat puts your interests before [h]ours. In the July 9 print edition of Mainebiz, there was an error in the story about the Blue Hill Co-op's plans for a new store. The co-op has raised just over $1.1 million toward its $2 million goal; it has not raised $2 million, as stated in the story. "It is very important for our co-op community to know that we still have a way to go in meeting our fundraising goals," says General Manager Kevin Gadsby, who is also the relocation manager. Correction Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or Whether it's a reality or a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective a perception, prospective investors from outside Maine see those lists from Forbes and CNBC and form opinions. Those opinions have a lasting impact on our economy.

• Cover