Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 2 2 Gov. Janet Mills and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston announced that six Maine Working Communities Challenge teams were selected to receive three-year, $375,000 grants to begin implementing proposals that ad- dress local economic problems, includ- ing poverty and lack of work opportuni- ty. Recipients included Greater Bangor, Katahdin Region, Lewiston and Auburn, Maine Highlands, Washington County and the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Sagadahoc County. The Maine Department of Education awarded a total of $1.2 million in Rethinking Responsive Education Ventures funding to East Grand School in Danforth, Belfast High School, Portland School Department, Telstar High School in Bethel, RSU 22 in Hampton and RSU25 in Bucksport. The funds will be used to support projects focused on workforce development, environmental stewardship, outdoor education, a marine institute and intern- ship opportunities as well as supporting unique approaches to remote learning. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that five workforce development programs in Maine were awarded a total of $4.6 million in funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor Appropriations bill. Northern Maine Community College Mechanized Logging Operations Training Program and Maine Community College System Accelerated and Expanded Manufacturing Training at Southern Maine Community College each received $1 million; Northern Maine Community College Expansion of Safety Training for Wind Turbine Technicians, $988,000; Building the Next Generation of Maine's Seafood Workforce at Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, $977,000; and Agricultural Worker Training, Placement and Support Program at Eastern Maine Development Corp., $600,000. Saco & Biddeford Savings said it donated $23,990 to school nutrition programs in York and Cumberland Even as gas prices soar, predictions of a strong tourism season haven't waned — Clearly, this will be an evolving situation University of Southern Maine erases $2M in student debt — 750 students singing 'Hallelujah' In Portland, 4 new eateries are coming to sites where old ones stood — A good sign of rebirth in Portland Maine ski resorts grapple with more people on the slopes, fewer people on the payroll — An all-too-familiar predicament in the hospitality industry today 100 lobstermen sign petition to quash proposed salmon farm in Frenchman Bay — Can two types of fishing co-exist in a major bay? 'Big Al' reflects on the end of an era, after closing his iconic Wiscasset discount store — Maine's version of Crazy Eddie C R E D I T S & D E B I T S P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E S T A T E W I D E N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N S O U T H E R N

• Cover