Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I N O. V I I I A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 2 0 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E and was to take place for the 55th time from July 17-19, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. e Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce holds the three-day festival to raise money for local nonprofits."While we are disheartened at the thought of a summer without this traditional event, we feel that moving forward with the given uncertainty would be a risk to our community, volunteers, vendors and guests," chamber director Adrienne Nardi said in the release. "We also want to make sure we are able to provide the support our local business community needs at this time." Apartment complex planned for OOB Szanton Co. is proposing to build a 55-unit mixed-income apartment build- ing for older residents on land the devel- oper recently bought in Old Orchard Beach. e Portland-based developer said it will be on a 5-acre parcel behind the Old Orchard Beach Funeral Home, at 36 Portland Ave. Szanton pur- chased the land from Roger and Mary Tousignant, owners of the funeral home. All apartments would be set aside for those aged 55 or older, and roughly 75% of the units would be reserved for households earning below 60% of area median income, while the remaining 25% would be rented at market rate. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Spurwink, a Portland-based nonprofit that provides behavioral health and educational services for children, adults and families, launched the Access to Mental Health Care Fund in response to the need for critical mental health treat- ment during the COVID-19 crisis and due to the increased need for outpatient counseling. The fund will provide treat- ment for its 8,100 current clients and for anyone that needs support. Thermoformed Plastics of New England in Biddeford said it partnered with Alene Candle in Milford, N.H., to manufacture face shields to be donated to health care facilities and first responders in Maine and New Hampshire. Organizers of the Gorham Savings Bank Maine Marathon announced that Wayside in Portland, Teens to Trails in Brunswick, Team Long Run in North Bridgton, Port Resources in South Portland, The Pihcintu Multicultural Chorus in Portland, Shawnee Peak Adaptive Ski in Bridgton and Spurwink in Portland will be the beneficiaries of its 2020 event scheduled to be held in October. The race expects to donate $120,000 to local nonprofits. United Way of Greater Portland re- ported that it awarded $229,239 in the first round of grants from the Greater Portland COVID-19 Community Relief Fund to 31 local nonprofit and school- based organizations. Retail trade group cites growing impact of COVID-19 With all but so-called essential retailers shut down in Maine at least through the end of April., the head of the state's retail association is worried that many smaller businesses won't make it. "It's rough," Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Augusta-based Retail Association of Maine, told Mainebiz. "Most folks are shut down, and can't do curb-side pickup." Picard says his group has weighed in on what is considered an essential business, and looked at what other states have done. But he said Maine's rural economy makes it different from many of them. Retail establishments in Maine allowed to stay open include those selling groceries and household goods, such as convenience stores, home repair and hardware stores, pharmacies and animal feed and sup- ply stores. But it's the small ones which remain shut that have Picard most con- cerned, even if they're still able do some business online. "Maybe it's a little bit of cash flow," Picard said, "but consum- ers are really pulling back regardless. In households where both individuals have lost jobs, spending is going to be way down. Both my wife and I are thankfully employed, but we've really pulled back our expenses as well." He's equally con- cerned about small retailers' ability to get outside financing, whether through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which offers forgivable loans for small businesses during the crisis, or through the Finance Authority of Maine. Bethel development focuses on future train stop A 7-acre parcel near the Bethel train station will be the site of a $10 mil- lion, 38-unit residential complex, with a pad site for potential commercial use. Bethel Station LLC bought the property, located at 23 Cross St., from Bethel Station Associates for $399,000. NEED HR ANSWERS? VIRTUAL+ MAINE HR CONVENTION Education. Networking. EXPO. All Online. HR Beginners May 11-12 HR Professionals May 12-15 ALL Content On-Demand, All Year MaineHRconvention.com May 11-15, 2020 and Beyond C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N

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