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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 M A R C H 9 , 2 0 2 0 From the Editor Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews T he common perception that manufacturing is on the decline has not been the case in Maine. To be sure, manufacturing jobs are down from their peak a generation ago. But in the decade since the recession, the number of jobs in Maine has steadily increased, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maureen Milliken has the story of aerospace and aviation manufacturers in Maine. Her timing in visiting Fiber Materials Inc., a Biddeford maker of high-end aerospace components used by defense contractors and NASA, was good. e company was about to be acquired by Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR), which builds aircraft bodies and last year had $7.8 billion in annual sales. FMI specializes in 3D woven carbon-fiber components used in missiles and aircraft. She also visits Brunswick Landing to get an update on growing aviation companies there. Story starts on Page 18. On an entirely different scale, Laurie Schreiber visits with Maine's diverse manufacturers of musical instruments. She has a fascinating look at where they source wood for finely tuned guitars, violins and cel- los, and how the instruments literally come together to make beautiful music. As with any story by Laurie, she also explores how the craftsmen and women fell into this profession. See the story on Page 20. Elsewhere, Renee Cordes talks to Rob Tod and his team at Allagash Brewing about the efforts to reduce waste. See Page 12. We should point out, too, that for the first time Allagash has cracked the top spot on our annual list of Maine's largest brewers. See the list on Page 26. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz 1. NY investment firm acquires 9 boutique hotels in Kennebunkport, Kennebunk 2. Saddleback sellers, buyers say Rangeley region community came first 3. In Portland, a Bayside Bowl partner buys out the other 4. Inside Maine's 'hottest' real estate towns of 2019 5. Kennebunkport 'Captains Collection' features four historic inns 6. Cape Elizabeth's 'Lumbery' to serve small carpentry businesses, DIYers 7. Portland animal-health startup raises $40M 8. Portland Downtown launches search for new executive director 9. Furman Block in Portland takes shape 10. Sugarloaf, following two other top Maine ski resorts, unveils expansion plans P H O T O / . C O U R T E S Y E O S I N V E S T O R S 1 Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our most popular content for the two weeks from Feb. 17 to March 2. Be ready. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you need outside legal counsel that feels like par t of your team. Manufacturing is thriving not dying More feedback on proposed overtime bill Dear Editor: One has to wonder where businesses big and small would be today if government had just stayed out of their way. Government can tax them — that's bad enough — but telling businesses how to run their daily operations is contrary to the free enterprise concept. The only influence that govern- ment should be allowed is how many dollars the business community should contribute to the operations of the nation or state. That, I believe, was the intent of the founders — that industry should pay for the needs of government and protection of its people. Stop playing games. Stop changing the rules. Every time businesses start to succeed, government is compelled to interfere. Competition will force businesses to adjust wage and hour practices to remain competitive. And in markets where there is no competition, it is then the role of government to assure that any monopoly is truly the best option for the people. – Kenneth A. Capron / Retired CPA / Portland Dear Editor: As a former business owner, I would need to evaluate the cost of overtime as opposed to hiring a temp worker or full time employee. I think the Maine Center for Economic Policy figures will be off because owners will find another way to get the job done. – Earl Black / Holden L E T T E R S T O E D I T O R

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