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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 M A R C H 4 , 2 0 1 9 FAME will back development of Rumford hotel A 63-room Best Western hotel planned for downtown Rumford will get loan backing from the Finance Authority of Maine. FAME's board of directors approved 75% commer- cial loan insurance on a $4.1 mil- lion loan by First National Bank to Pennacook Falls Investments Ltd. toward construction of the hotel. e Best Western Plus Inn and Suites, at 50 Prospect Ave. near the inter- section of U.S. Route 2, is expected to create about 19 jobs and help meet growing lodging needs in the Rumford area. FAME's commercial loan insurance program insures a portion of a loan to a business made by a participating financial institu- tion. Pennacook Falls Investments is an investment group established by Rumford-area business lead- ers to build a brand-name hotel in the downtown. Carter in 2016 said the loss of 50 rooms last year in a fire at the Linnell Motel was a large motivator for the construc- tion of the hotel. e hotel proj- ect began in 2016, when the town approved $125,000 in Community Development Block Grant money to start the project, which is on the site of a former lumber yard. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Meadows Golf Club and Doolin's Pub in Litchfield completed renovations in- cluding golf and game simulators from Full Swing Golf. Aquafarm asks citizens' board to review permits Nordic Aquafarms will move its Q: They say first impressions are important. How can I be sure to make a good first impression? ACE Advises: First impressions are formed in seconds, and can have a perma- nent effect on relationships. It's possible to overcome a negative first impression, but it's not easy. Far better to get off on the right footing and go up from there. Start with your attitude. That will control all the unconscious signals you send. As you go through the activities of your days, maintain a positive, open attitude. Don't ignore people. React as a problem solver, not a complainer. In your professional role, think constructively — especially in advance of events and situations. Don't assume "just being me" is OK. People interpret their impressions of others through their own lenses. You have no idea what recent happenings and longterm understandings determine what they think of your words, facial expressions and behavior. And account for your own unconscious assumptions and reactions. Certain surroundings and kinds of people can cause you to behave in defensive or withdrawn ways. All that being so, it's a good idea to give yourself a little talk, an internal Q&A exchange, as you approach any situation. When I meet a person and am favorably impressed, what is the person doing? Most likely, the person is smiling, making direct eye contact, asking friendly questions, listening attentively and responding appropriately. The person is prepared, shows quiet confidence, is knowledgeable and con- fident. At the end, I feel good about the interchange. When you can genuinely be such a person, your first impressions will take care of themselves. A S K AC E Answered by Jim Milliken, Communication Skills Consultant The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Have a question for ACE? Jim Milliken can be contacted at lifeisaprojectmaine@gmail.com The University of Maine System is an EEO/AA Employer. Full information is available at chancellorsearch.maine.edu and at academic-search.com Submit confidential inquiries to UMSChancellor@academic-search.com. Review will begin promptly and continue until an appointment is made. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by March 18, 2019. CHANCELLOR The University of Maine System (UMS) welcomes nominations and applications for its next Chancellor to advance the Maine statewide system of higher education. The Chancellor is the executive and strate- gic leader for UMS and its six universities and many centers, institutes and units, as well as system-wide service offices. The Chancellor will be committed to public higher education, a strong communicator and advocate, a strategic and collaborative leader, and a successful executive leader. High-tech manufacturing demands more than a typical building. We built Enercon's home in Gray to stand as a reflection of its industry stature —a technology leader. At Sheridan, this is how we build on our promise. W W W . S H E R I D A N C O R P . C O M ENERCON TECHNOLOGIES Gray, Maine A signature facility for a technology leader. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N

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