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V O L . X X V N O. X X I V O C T O B E R 1 4 , 2 0 1 9 6 UMS to waive tuition for Maine grads e University of Maine System said it will waive tuition and fees for more than 1,200 Maine high school students graduating in 2020. e initiative is part of UMS' new "Maine Values You" student outreach campaign. "e University of Maine System is backed by more than $400 million in public investment, research funding, and donors who give gener- ously to support our institutions and students," UMS Chancellor Dannel Malloy said in the release. University of Maine System's six-year tuition freeze, investments in financial aid and donor generosity has made it possible for the public university system to establish the initiative. e goal is being set pending a fiscal year 2021 state allocation for the UMaine System at funding levels recom- mended at the start of the state's biennial budget process. 'New opportunities' funds aimed at rural areas e Maine Development Foundation has been awarded $446,757 in fed- eral money to support and assist rural communities in Maine affected by mill closures. e award, announced Sept. 26, comes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce. It came on the heals of the reopening of the Old Town paper mill by ND Paper and Go Lab Inc.'s acquisition of a defunct paper mill in Madison, which it will convert to an insulation- manufacturing site. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said three Maine cities and the Maine State Housing Authority received a total of $14.8 million to address lead haz- ards in Maine homes through the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program, the Lead-Hazard Reduction Demonstration Program and the Healthy Homes Initiative. The city of Lewiston received a total of $5.2 mil- lion, Maine State Housing Authority received $3.8 million, the city of Biddeford received $3.2 million and the city of Portland received $2.6 million. B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E Medical records company will expand in Lewiston B y M a i n e b i z S t a f f L E W I S T O N — The digital health care firm Grand Rounds announced plans to double its space in Lewiston's Bates Mill No. 1 Complex, and is on track to have over 200 employees there by year's end. The San Francisco-based company, already up to 150 employees in Maine, said it will maintain its existing space and build out a new 46,900-square-foot space in the same building, with plans to move in by early 2020. Grand Rounds, which operates primarily on the West Coast, opened its East Coast office in Lewiston in 2016. Founded in 2011 as ConsultingMD, Grand Rounds uses technology to connect patients with local and remote specialty care. It also collects and digitizes medical records, manages appointments and employs medical professionals to answer patients' questions. It works with Maine-based employers, including Dead River Co., and national retailers with opera- tions here, including Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowe's. The company unveiled its expansion plans Oct. 1 in Lewiston at an event attended by Gov. Janet Mills as well as represen- tatives from the offices of U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins, and from the office of U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine 1st District. "We are honored to have Gov. Mills and so many other distinguished community and business lead- ers join us today to celebrate our growth and learn about that mission," said Danielle Snow, the Lewiston native who over- sees Grand Round's operations there and the company's senior vice president of patient care. She added: "We believe Grand Rounds will play an impor- tant role in helping the state realize the governor's economic vision, especially as we continue to grow and offer Mainers an opportunity for high-tech, high-touch work that makes a meaningful impact in people's lives." Snow told Mainebiz in June that hiring plans are driven by growing membership and that the company was open to hiring people currently living in Maine as well as those from out of state. Grand Rounds said that it continues to expand its recruit- ment efforts in Maine to bring on employees for new care and clinical roles as well as business and technical roles to support evolving business needs. University of Maine's Faye Gilbert, dean of the undergradu- ate business school, was among the speakers at the Lewiston event, called Grand Rounds "a true partner in the development of innovative connections that will drive economic develop- ment and prosperity in our state and region." "When people in successful and progressive companies such as Grand Rounds choose to partner with people in our universities and community colleges, we attract new talent to our state and we also keep young professionals here," she added. B R I E F F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY The Bates Mill Complex in Lewiston is home to Grand Rounds, which plans to double its space and surpass 200 employees by year's end. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y G R A N D RO U N D S Danielle Snow, senior vice president of patient care for Grand Rounds Grand Rounds uses technology to connect patients with specialty care.