Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 From the Editor B eing based in southern Maine has its advantages and disadvantages. ere's a tendency to think that everything is happening in Portland. I admit I fall into that thinking at times. While Portland is a big part of Maine's growth, it's far from the whole story. Senior Writer Renee Cordes spent time in Auburn, whose famously pro-growth Mayor Jason Levesque is advocating for housing growth. At the same time, some retailers are clamoring to get space in Auburn as well. Having a Target store is often thought of as a sign of validation for a city. I was in Philadelphia when it got its first Target, and people there saw it as a major accomplishment. Now Target is planned in Auburn, with a Black Friday opening. Restaurants, including Five Guys and Olive Garden, are coming to town. Manufacturers are also growing. As one company's business development director told Renee, "ere's a buzz here in Auburn, I feel like we have some momen- tum, and I'm very excited about the future." See "Target market," which starts on Page 14. Our other feature story, "Skowhegan comes alive," had its roots in the profile we did of Amber Lambke, co-founder and CEO of Maine Grains, for the Mainebiz Business Leaders of the Year awards. I was fortunate to be the writer on that profile and spent some time touring the Maine Grains site in Skowhegan. At every turn, it seemed, Amber was introducing me to a business or product that was started as a result of Maine Grains or received a boost by association. e Miller's Table cafe at Maine Grains features a beautiful, copper-domed wood-fired pizza oven. As one of my colleagues later remarked, it could have been made in Italy, but in actuality was made in Skowhegan. A cheesemaker in the same building was recruited to open there by Amber. A pizza dough com- pany exclusively uses wheat from Maine Grains. ere were too many ties-ins to ignore, and they called for another story, which starts on Page 18. Elsewhere in the issue, we have an interview with the new leader of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association, on Page 22. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our most popular content for the period from May 23 to June 6. 1. Maine's largest public company, Covetrus, agrees to be privately acquired for $4B 2. Roux Institute's plans for former B&M factory raise razing questions for historic pier 3. 17-property real estate megadeal is one of Maine's largest this year 4. Stock ownership roll-out begins for employees of Maine eatery with 14 locations 5. Clark Insurance is acquired by New York-based conglomerate 6. Newly named UMA president declines role amid flak over hiring process 7. South Portland medical campus sells for $30M 8. Two Maine credit unions agree to merge, with aim to serve more farmers 9. Growing resort developer to open another cottage property in Kennebunk 10. Saddleback CEO Andy Shepard steps down, will focus on resort's philanthropy P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N 1 Maine's growth is reaching new places Dedicated independent investigators when you need the facts. bernsteinshur.com Be informed. BE SHUR. Conducting investigations for a broad range of clients. Schools & Universities | Corporations | Non-Profits | Sports Organizations | Governmental Entities Maine is about more than southern Maine.

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