Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I N O. X V J U LY 2 6 , 2 0 2 1 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 its litigation practice. It now has 27 lawyers who specialize in litigation, arbitration and mediation, making it one of the largest litigation practices in Maine and New Hampshire. The combined firms will operate under the Drummond Woodsum name. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded The Opportunity Alliance in South Portland a total of $3.9 million for its Head Start and Early Head Start Programs. Cakes Extraordinaire moved to 305 U.S. Route 1 in Yarmouth. Consolidated Communications, a fiber provider based in Portland, said that it was selected by the town of Rumford to construct a high- speed, fiber-to-the-premises internet network, capable of delivering one gigabit symmetrical speeds, in its downtown area. Donna Brassard, former publisher of Mainebiz, launched Strategies+, a consulting service for business owners who need help in developing strategies to grow sales and move their companies forward. Skowhegan Savings opened a new location at 287 Marginal Way in Portland. Merrymeeting Food Council announced that its program, Merrymeeting Gleaners, will be run as a program of the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program in Brunswick to ensure the sustainabil- ity of the program. Preble Street, a statewide social service agency based in Portland, said it received a $95,000 Community Honesty, integrity and mutual respect are the values that guide us. Stephen Dumont, VP CONTACT (207) 490-5900 www.tpdconstruction.com CO N S T RU C T I O N M A N A G EM EN T s D E S I G N / B U I L D s G EN ER A L CO N T R A C T I N G B I Z M O N E Y FAME approves funding for two southern Maine ventures B y C a t i e J o y c e - B u l a y T he Finance Authority of Maine has approved a total of nearly $50 million in financing for two startups — Vertical Harvest L3C, which plans to launch a hydroponic greenhouse in Westbrook, and a Portland provider of "digital therapeutics," MedRhythms Inc. Vertical Harvest will receive $45 million in conduit bond financing. The company plans to produce over 1 million pounds of produce annually, and FAME's funds will be used to finance a portion of the construction costs to build a 70,000-square-foot Westbrook farming facility. The project ultimately is expected to create approximately 50 full- and part-time jobs, many of which are expected to be performed by individuals with disabilities. The project is part of a larger master-planned development that is expected to include affordable housing and parking in downtown Westbrook. Because the project will treat waste- water as an exempt facility, all or a portion of the bonds will be eligible for tax-exempt treatment under federal tax law. "We appreciate FAME's support for the agricultural com- ponent of this project," said Greg Day, president of TDB LLC, developer of the project. "This master-planned program estab- lishes a compelling business model for food production in an urban core that our firm is expanding to other communities throughout New England and the nation." Vertical Harvest plans to break ground on the facility in the fall. It's expected to be Maine's first vertical farm, and the country's second. The company's first location in Jackson Hole, Wyo., was the first of its kind and has been operating for five years. MedRhythms Inc. will receive tax credit certificates related to approximately $2.8 million in investments through the Maine New Markets Capital Investment Program to help with the costs of a commercialization strategy of its device and software for stroke rehabilitation. The certificates authorize the issuance by the state of approximately $1.1 million in tax credits through the program. "We are pleased to support MedRhythms' plans to advance their digital therapeutic for stroke rehabilitation, as well as additional research and development," said David Daigler, chair of the FAME board. "Digital therapeutics are a cutting-edge field that can help to improve the everyday lives of Mainers and other patients who will benefit from the company's technology." MedRhythms uses sensors, music, and software to build solutions that measure and improve walking. The company, which currently employs 18 individuals, with 13 full-time employees in Maine, hopes to triple its workforce in the next few years. "Digital therapeutics are the future of health care, and we appreciate the support of FAME," said Brian Harris, CEO and founder of MedRhythms. FAME uses tax-exempt private activity bonds, or "con- duit bonds," which are authorized by the Internal Revenue Code in order to stimulate economic development in certain targeted industries. The projects financed in recent years range from nonprofit health and higher education projects to solid waste improvements, public infrastructure and manufacturing. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F V E R T I C A L H A R V E S T A 300,000-square-foot Westbrook building is expected to house the Vertical Harvest indoor farm, as well as apartments, parking and commercial space.

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