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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 JA N UA R Y 2 5 , 2 0 2 1 F O C U S S O U T H E R N M A I N E inexpensive, high-bay manufacturing space with three-phase power. He built it out with walls and a mezzanine for a finished space of 3,700 square feet. "To get something like that in or near Boston would probably cost three times as much," he says. Creative fabricator Nate Deyesso started his business, DSO Creative, in 2004 in Portland. Originally from Massachusetts, he has an art degree from the University of Vermont but moved to Maine when a friend needed help building a kitchen. "I've always loved Maine. So I was happy to end up here," he says. Initially he did handyman projects, then grew to custom metal and wood fabrication for commercial clients. Most recently he's worked on building out retail cannabis stores. But his portfolio includes public sculptures, custom art- work and specialty furnishings. He was operating DSO, the phonetic spelling of his last name, in a lease. "We wanted to purchase, but there weren't any options in Portland, and not really anywhere," he says. His real estate agent identified the development just as Smaha and Barbano were getting going. "We were the first people to move in before the driveway was even poured," says Deyesso. Now he and six employees occupy two units, fitted with a plasma-cutting table, a full paint booth, a small wood shop and a large metal fabrication shop. "We're mostly cutting and welding – lots of tube steel, flat plate, solid bars," he explains. He adds, "I'm lucky this worked out. It was a good price and it's a great place because it's positioned near Biddeford and Portland. Portland is the most happening spot and Biddeford is on its way, and there will be more work com- ing from that region. So this was easy to say yes to." Demand continues For the future? Smaha and Barbano anticipate the start of construction of the development's last three units. But they're not stopping there. "We're looking for more land in Saco to put up more units because we have so much demand," says Smaha. "ere was a lull for a while: we lost a couple of sales from businesses that were affected by COVID. But now these small busi- nesses are doing really well. We think we have great formula." Laurie Schreiber, Mainebiz senior writer, can be reached at lschreiber @ mainebiz.biz "When you're running a company, you always have 99 problems, but my credit union is never one. They provide me with peace of mind so that I can keep my focus on continuing to run my small business. Whether it's a loan, or banking advice, I can call them, and they are there." - Will Savage Acorn Engineering #mymainecustory Maine's credit unions are here for you. mainecreditunions.org Industrial condos catch on A nother development of small industrial units is underway at the Innovation District at the Downs in Scarborough, where construction has begun on 10 industrial condominium and 10 lease units. "We know that there's a very, very low amount of inventory on the market right now," say Roccy Risbara, a partner in Crossroads Holdings LLC, developer of the 525-acre Downs project. "So we were pretty sure we would see some demand for this style of unit." The development, called Incube, will offer 1,500- and 2,000-square- foot industrial condos, expected to be available by spring 2021. Each condo will include one finished office space and bathroom, a drive-in door, access to fiberoptics and high-speed broadband, and three parking spots with overflow parking. "We've seen quite a lot of interest," said Risbara. "We've got some deals ready to come together." R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F A C E T O L A N D S C A P E A R C H I T E C T U R E Units are under construction at the Downs. DSO Creative owner Nate Deyesso with "trees" commissioned by the city of Portland for Deering Oaks Park. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y D S O C R E AT I V E

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