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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 S E P T E M B E R 6 , 2 0 2 1 High-performance heating and cooling EFFICIENCYMAINE.COM • 866-376-2463 Learn about the Benefits of Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems: • Room-by-room temperature control • Reduced energy costs • Installation flexibility • Reduced maintenance demands • Incentives available from Efficiency Maine COOL HEAT working to stop the project. American Aquafarms has applied for permits to lease two sites in Frenchman Bay, between Bar Harbor and Schoodic Peninsula, of about 60 acres each. BIW does sea trials on newest Zumwalt destroyer Bath Iron Works' final Zumwalt-class destroyer is now out for sea trials. e future USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002) was launched onto the Kennebec River from the Bath yard on Aug. 27, and went into the Gulf of Maine for a series of tests. e open-water tests allow a shipbuilder's customer — in this case the U.S. Navy — to see how a new vessel performs. e DDG 1002 trials began on the birthday of the ship's namesake, the 36th U.S. president, and were expected to last several days. BIW laid the keel for the 610-foot-long guided missile warship in 2017, and it was christened in 2019. After it is fully tested, commissioned and outfitted, DDG 1002 will operate out of San Diego as home port. N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T The Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth awarded $37,980 from the A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y H i l l a r y L i s t e r 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. Q: How can my business keep up with changing regulations? ACE: Businesses must be prepared for new regulatory require- ments, but it can be difficult to stay up-to-date with constant developments. Change comes from many directions, including municipal ordinances, agency rulemaking and legislation — with 406 new pieces of Maine legislation going in effect this October. Rates of regulatory change reached new levels in response to COVID, and business viability increasingly depends on ability to adapt to rapidly evolving requirements. New regulations can determine business practices by restricting scope of operations, location, distribution, packag- ing and marketing. Regulations can affect safety protocols, recordkeeping and reporting requirements and can result in penalties for failure to comply. Monitoring legislation and rule-making is essential to being prepared for new requirements. State agencies and legislative committees maintain mailing lists for interested parties, with information available through maine.gov. Local ordinance changes can impact on day-to-day opera- tions of a business at least as much as federal and state policy revisions. Monitoring municipal websites for information on ordi- nance development and public hearings is helpful, though acces- sibility and timeliness of content varies between localities. By joining professional and industry associations you can gain access to valuable updates through workshops, networking, and newsletters. Many associations also provide advocacy on legislation and rulemaking affecting members; as a member, you can draw organizational attention to con- cerns about proposed regulations impacting your business that may otherwise go unnoticed. The work necessary to being prepared for regulatory change is time-consuming, but essential for long-term busi- ness viability. A regulatory compliance expert knowledgeable in local, state and federal regulatory structures can review current business practices and help you develop a plan to successfully adapt to changing regulations. Hillary Lister is a solo practitioner providing professional guidance for small businesses and organizations seeking to effectively navigate Maine's changing regulatory landscape. She can be reached at hillarylister@mainematters.net. For more on this topic, see "How to Keep up With Changing Regulations" at consultexpertise.com/blog/10949103 @

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