Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 2 0 up to $250 in utility expense assistance. e funds come through the federal CARES Act. e program is designed to alleviate the housing burden for low- income households that have lost their employment income as the result of the pandemic. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Full Plates Full Potential, a nonprofit in Portland working to end child hun- ger statewide, said that it received a $25,000 donation from Brookfield Renewable in Lewiston to be used to assist the organization's Summer Meal Emergency Fund. The organiza- tion also announced that its Summer Meal Emergency Fund has awarded $401,545 in its current grant cycle compared to $77,540 in its 2019 summer grant cycle. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine said it received a $50,000 do- nation from Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution to help fund a 15-room expansion of its Portland House. Freedom Realty, offering brokerage firm services in York and Cumberland counties, opened. MaineHealth in Portland said it re- ceived $803,268 from the Federal Communications Commission's Telehealth Program for costs associ- ated with rapidly expanding the health system's telehealth infrastructure and technology in response to the corona- virus pandemic. Portland Ovations was approved for a $50,000 National Endowment for the Arts Art Works award for a series of projects in partnership with Indigo Arts Alliance and Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, centering the work of Black, Brown and Indigenous artists within contexts of deep collabora- tion, community engagement and artis- tic exchange and mentorship. The Maine Medical Center Research Institute in Portland was awarded a five-year, $1.9 million grant by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health to sup- port research into how fat cells cause tumor cells to resist current treat- ments for the incurable blood cancer multiple myeloma. The town of Yarmouth, in partnership with the Greater Portland Council of Governments, committed to lending up to $100,000 from its Tax Increment Financing development fund and launched a small business loan program to assist local businesses impacted by COVID-19. United Way of Greater Portland an- nounced it awarded $222,655 in the third round of grants from the Greater Portland COVID-19 Community Relief Fund, bringing the total amount invest- ed to support rapid response efforts to $710,967. Fund recipients in this round included 32 local nonprofits, schools and faith-based groups. Auction of seized properties set for Aug. 4 Six properties in Anson and Embden owned by Claudia Viles, the former Anson town clerk convicted of embez- zling more than $500,000, will be auctioned in an attempt to recoup some of what Viles owes. She was convicted in 2016 of embezzling $500,948 between 2010 and 2015 from town excise tax pay- ments. She was ordered to pay $566,257 in restitution to the town. Property to be auctioned includes a parcel on Kennebec River Road and two lots at 211 Ellis Road in Embden. Four properties in Anson will also be auctioned: 34 Hall St., 3 Hall St., 65 Elm St. and a prop- erty off Elm Street. e auction will be Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 10 a.m., at the Anson Town Office. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Skowhegan Savings Bank awarded $14,000 to seven students through its 2020 Skowhegan Savings College Scholarship awards program. Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn received a $248,000 donation from Raytheon Technologies, an aerospace and defense company in Waltham, Mass. It also received $10,000 from Consolidated Communications, a broadband provider in Portland. New Dimensions Federal Credit Union opened a new branch at 94 Silver St. in Waterville. Kennebec Savings Bank in Augusta awarded a one-time, $10,000 C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N New data shows 27,000 Maine businesses got over $2B in federal relief loans — Question remains, Will it be enough? Portland offers $500K in pandemic-related rent and utility assistance — Helping the people who need it most right now Strong tenants push through strip center sale despite pandemic — Topsham tenants provide heft to push a deal through MaineHealth will buy power produced at 10 Maine solar farms — A smart move that may influence other hospitals and businesses Property owned by Anson town clerk convicted of embezzlement to be auctioned — A real estate portfolio built on stolen excise taxes Fate is unclear for high-profile national governors conference in Portland — Before the pandemic, this was expected to be one of the bigger stories this year Bar Harbor-Nova Scotia CAT ferry cancels rest of season — Another setback for the international ferry service Kevin Waters, whose air service connects Maine's islands, dies unexpectedly — He was a key link between the mainland and island communities C R E D I T S & D E B I T S Q: I've just been promoted to manager of a group that I've been a member of for three years. Some people in the group aren't taking my new role seriously, and one of them told me today that he's too busy to get to an assignment from me that has some urgency. How do I straighten this out? ACE advises: Welcome to your first bump on the management road, and be aware it's only the first. You can be sure everybody will be watching to see how you handle it. First, settle the immediate problem. Meet privately with the staffer who's "too busy." Start by explaining that managing his workload is a responsibility you share with him. Do not accept any hint that it's none of your business. Go over his assignments with him. Organize a reasonable schedule. Jointly determine which tasks, if any, can be modified or assigned to others. If he has time management issues, include them in the problem-solving process. No matter how he reacts, maintain an even, confident tone. You're the boss, and you don't have to be at all shy about acting like one. Your story suggests you didn't launch into the new situation by conducting a staff meeting to set up the relationships. That would have been best, but if it didn't happen, most definitely do it now. That kind of session is often uncomfortable, but you'll pay a heavy price if you don't conduct yourself assertively. Invite ideas and candor, and agree to any changes that are reasonable. But you're there to inform everyone, not to soothe them. Make sure you explain exactly how your own boss specifies your responsibili- ties. Explain any changes you are making in organization and process, listen respectfully and answer any questions fully. Keep promises to a minimum. And then, in the long run, manage consistently and predictably. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y J i m M i l l i k e n , a P o r t l a n d C o n s u l t a n t The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. If you have a question for an ACE expert, contact Jim Milliken at jim@millikenproject.com. You are there to inform everyone, not to soothe them.

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