Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 A U G U S T 5 , 2 0 1 9 funds to expand its central deic- ing area. e U.S. Department of Transportation award, announced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, will allow the jetport to deice planes concurrently on three aprons. ere will also be an apron for aircraft remaining overnight. More than 2.13 million passengers used the Portland International Jetport in 2018, mak- ing it the all-time busiest year in the jetport's history. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Identity Group, which creates cus- tom signs and décor for retailers, moved its visual décor division from the Scarborough Industrial Park to 43 Bibber Parkway in Brunswick. Former Skowhegan mill manager to lead Sappi NA Sappi Ltd., the South Africa-based company that owns paper mills in Skowhegan and Westbrook, has named Michael G. Haws as presi- dent and CEO of its North America subsidiary. Mike Haws succeeds Mark Gardner as CEO of Boston-based Sappi North America. Haws, currently vice president of manufacturing for Boston-based Sappi North America, will succeed Mark Gardner in October, according to a news release. Gardner, a 38-year Sappi veteran who's served as president and CEO for 12 years, will retire. Haws, 56, joined Sappi in 2012 as managing director of the Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, and was named 2014 Mill Manager of the Year by Pulp and Paper International, an industry magazine. In 2015, he was promoted to his current role, with responsibil- ity for both Maine mills and Sappi North America's other two manu- facturing facilities, in Minnesota and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Sappi, Haws held leadership roles with other paper makers including St. Regis, Champion International, International Paper and Verso Paper. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Sunday River Resort in Newry an- nounced it is installing four new surface lifts in preparation for winter Mills has signed 606 bills into law. What's next? B y M a u r e e n M i l l i k e n I n her first six months in office, Gov. Janet Mills signed 606 bills from the 129th Maine Legislature into law. With that many, it's hard to nail down all the implications, but there are several that may have flown under the radar that address Maine's workforce issues. A few are: Working on coworking The Coworking Development Fund, which was created in 2015, will get $300,000 to provide grants for coworking businesses start or expand. In its first year, it provided $100,000 in grants to busi- nesses in Brunswick, Portland, Biddeford, Augusta, Millinocket and Bethel, but was zeroed out by Gov. Paul LePage in the next budget. The 2019 version calls for a competitive application pro- cess rather than requests for proposals, has more stringent application requirements and gives more weight to those starting a business rather than expanding. Bill sponsor Rep. Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, said earlier this year the move will draw young workers to Maine and help revitalization efforts. Coworking spaces "are sought after by young professionals and are increasingly the cor- nerstones for communities revitalizing vacant spaces in downtowns," he said. One of the biggest barriers to establishing such spaces, he said, is the build-out. Think Tank Coworking owner Patrick Roche told Mainebiz after Mills signed the bill that co-working spaces "are a key component of any place-making initiative." Roche, who has locations in Portland, Biddeford and Yarmouth, and whose business benefited from the initial fund, said he's thrilled Mills supported the move. "Coworking spaces serve as catalysts for small business growth, foster community development and help revitalize our urban centers," he said. "If we are going to stay competitive as a state, our communities need to develop these spaces." Nixing the noncompete to compete A law aimed at keeping workers in Maine prohibits an employer from requiring or entering into a noncompete agreement with a worker who earns 300% or less of the federal poverty level. That's $36,180 for a one-person household (the federal poverty level is $12,060). It also sets stricter rules for all noncom- pete agreements and prohibits two or more employers from agreements that restrict one of them from soliciting or hiring the other's employees or former employees. License to work Electricians, speech-language pathology assistants and real estate appraisers have amended licensing requirements, thanks to a law aimed at making it easier to fill jobs. The law allows a master or journeyman electrician to supervise two helpers at a time rather than one. It also changes hours of work experience required for journeymen-in-training apply- ing for master electrician licenses. Real estate appraisers get a break with less stringent license requirements, and those with an associate degree may now apply to become speech-language pathology assistants. P O L I T I C S & C O. 2019–20. The surface lifts will include three covered conveyor lifts to access the learning terrain on South Ridge as well as a T-bar on Locke Mountain for alpine race and boardercross training and competitions. Collins, King: Acadia workers need housing Affordable housing should be a priority for Acadia National Park, U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, said in a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. e letter calls on Bernhardt to establish public-private partnerships that would open up seasonal hous- ing options in the area for Acadia employees. Allowing Acadia to form public-private partnerships to construct and maintain co-housing opportunities would not only be beneficial to the park, but to local Think Tank Coworking owner Patrick Roche says that co-working spaces "are a key component of any place-making initiative." F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY 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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