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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 M A R C H 1 8 , 2 0 1 9 Trust, as well as Beginning Farmer Resource Network of Maine and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, among other collabora- tors. The grant is part of $18 million awarded to 36 organizations nationally. Maine Electric Power Co., a company jointly owned by Central Maine Power and Emera Maine, announced that it completed rebuilding a 51-mile trans- mission line between Orrington and Windsor six months ahead of schedule and $35 million under budget, reduc- ing anticipated project costs from $105 million to $70 million. Home sales down from a year ago February single-family home sales in York and Cumberland counties were well below the same time last year, according to Maine Home Connection, which tracks monthly residential sales in southern Maine. Overall sales in southern Maine were up slightly from January. Single home sales were down 13.7% in York County and 12.8% in Cumberland County from last February; statewide, sales were down 7.8%, the Portland-based residential brokerage reported. ere were 818 single family home sales in February in the two counties, versus 826 in February 2018. February sales in Cumberland County were up 2% from last month while York County was essentially flat, while median home prices were flat in Cumberland County, but rose by 5.6% in York County. e median price in Portland was up 3.4% from last February, $305,000 this year as opposed to $295,000 last year. e figure is based on 54 transactions this year as opposed to 62 last year. METRO proposes changes to fares, payment structure e Greater Portland METRO bus service, which has 2 million riders a year, plans changes in both the cost of rid- ing the bus and how people pay for it, and has scheduled a series of meetings across the seven communities that use the service for input. While part of the change is an increase to the basic fare from $1.50 to $2 and the introduction of mobile app and plastic card technology to pay, the biggest change is payment restructuring that eliminates decades- long inequities for low-income riders. e proposed "fare capping," means that riders can load as much money as they want onto a smart card or mobile app, but would never pay more than $6 a day or $60 a month for rides. Currently, discounts that kick in based on how much a rider uses the bus only come with a 10-ride ticket, which offers a small discount, or a $45 monthly pass, which riders pay for up front. S O U T H E R N UMA, YCCC agreement aims to fill veterinary technician gap — Addressing a growing demand for vet techs Sea Bags' seaside strategy, growth leads to five store openings — A Portland-based retailer with stores from Maine to Florida Maine brewers forge U.K. partnership to tap new market overseas — A sign of American beer's growing cache Maine Maritime Museum launches $3.3M 'first impressions' upgrade — Investing in a Maine attraction Three Greenlight Maine finalists selected for $100,000 pitch-off competition — Let the pitch- competition season begin! Fryeburg store owner sentenced for sales tax evasion — 'Three hots and cot' for this retailer Federal DOL proposes $35K overtime rule threshold — Businesses are girding themselves for this Southern Maine single-family home sales still down from last year — Inventory remains tight Steep decline in January visitation at Acadia blamed on several factors — January being one of them Michael Liberty charged with multimillion-dollar investment fraud — Hometown developer's career takes another turn C R E D I T S & D E B I T S MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Congratulations to This Year's Leaders! 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.com Partner with a neighbor and discover why the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber named Bath Savings 2019 Large Business of the Year.

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