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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 A P R I L 5 , 2 0 2 1 Delegation cites need for more worker visas With an expected return of tourists this summer, members of Maine's con- gressional delegation called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to more than double the number of H-2B worker visas to help small businesses fill seasonal job openings. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine 1st District, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, calling on him to increase the existing 66,000 H-2B visa cap to 135,320. at number was the total available in fiscal year 2007. e Labor Department has received requests for more than 96,000 worker positions for the 33,000 available slots in the second half of the current fis- cal year. e DHS has used similar authority in prior years. Employment stable in February Maine's unemployment rate fell slightly in February to 4.8%, which is 0.4% lower than an uptick in January and about the level at which the rate hovered during the fall. In October 2020 Maine last hit 4.8%, the low- est percentage since the start of the pandemic. e rate was 4.9% for September, November and December last year. Also in February, the num- ber of jobs increased by 2,800 to a total of 605,800, according to the state Department of Labor. Most of the job increases were in professional and business services, retail trade and manufacturing. However, the number of jobs in Maine is still 34,200 fewer than a year ago, with a decrease of 16,100 jobs in the leisure and hos- pitality sector and 5,800 in public and private education. Nationwide in February, the unemployment rate was 6.3%. Compared to the rest of New England, Maine's rate was in the middle: e rate was 3.3% in both New Hampshire and Vermont, but 7.2% in Massachusetts, 7.9% in Rhode Island and 8.5% in Connecticut. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation will distribute up to $3.4 million worth of additional PPE to school systems in the 142 S T A T E W I D E C R E D I T S & D E B I T S 'Quintessential' Old Port building, a frequent photo backdrop, sold — No Instagramers were harmed in this transaction Camden one step closer to development plan for former tannery site — A positive step forward for a one-time Superfund site Auburn's development vision is quickly becoming reality — Surging toward the goal of 2,000 new homes Former Maine contractor indicted for allegedly bilking customers out of more than $400K — Home remodelers, don't forget to vet the contractor Maine Port Authority CEO Jonathan Nass to leave for Mississippi role — A loss for Maine Maine business survey shows tempered optimism, short-term money worries — We're not out of the woods by any means Building a business? TALK TO A NEIGHBOR. Our experienced lenders are more than bankers Our experienced lenders are more than bankers —they're problem solvers and will work with you —they're problem solvers and will work with you to design a commercial loan that's right for you. to design a commercial loan that's right for you. We're proud to support local Maine businesses We're proud to support local Maine businesses with products and services to help your with products and services to help your business grow. business grow. Custom lending solutions are here for you — Custom lending solutions are here for you — and so are we. Let's talk. and so are we. Let's talk. MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.com James Perkolidis Vice President, Commercial Lending P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F N A I T H E D U N H A M G RO U P W On a typical summer day, 10 Dana St., complemented by a picturesque cobblestone lane, is a popular photo backdrop, as seen here.

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