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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 J U N E 1 3 , 2 0 2 2 options available through the Maine Venture Fund. e fund will participate in Dirigo Labs accelerator program- ming and work directly with companies. Maine Venture Fund said it expects to leverage its new microfund pro- gram, with investments of $25,000 to $100,0000, versus its traditional invest- ments of $100,000 to $300,000. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Norway Savings Bank donated $200,000 to the Equality Community Center as part of its capital campaign to purchase and renovate its new building at 15 Casco St. in Portland. The center is a collaborative workplace for LGBTQ+ and allied social justice seeking nonprofit organizations. An Angel's Wing, a nonprofit thrift store, opened its second location in the Auburn Mall. New lobster gear rules could cost industry $7M Less than a month after much- debated new federal lobster gear rules took effect, Maine's two U.S. senators, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce failed to give the industry more time to get the required equipment. e new rules are meant to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales by requiring specialized "weak" rope and links, so the animals can break free if caught in the lines. e rules took effect May 1 despite a request by Maine's congres- sional delegation to give lobstermen until July 1 to modify their gear. e new regulations are expected to cost lobstermen more than $7 million in lost fishing time in May and June. 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 Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employ- ees presented a total of $12,000 in donations from the bank's employee- driven charitable giving program to five nonprofit organizations in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The recipi- ents of the contributions collected in Q1 2022 were Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and the Ark Animal Shelter in Maine; Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter in New Hampshire; and Otter Valley Activities Association and White River Valley Education Association in Vermont. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T C R E D I T S & D E B I T S Ready for a local bank partner who works as hard as you do? Maine Community Bank's willingness to be fl exible and creative sets them apart from the other banks. They are trustworthy and responsive, and helped us through the process. Jonathan Culley Redfern 45, LLC " who works as hard as you do? " who works as hard as you do? Maine Community Bank's willingness to be fl exible and creative " Maine Community Bank's willingness to be fl exible and creative " sets them apart from the other banks. They are trustworthy " sets them apart from the other banks. They are trustworthy and responsive, and helped us through the process. " and responsive, and helped us through the process. 1-833-762-0313 mainecb.com Pictured Left to Right: Haynes Johnston, Justin Laverriere, Drew Sigfridson & Jonathan Culley CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GRADUATING MEMBERS OF MDF'S INSTITUTE FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP (ICL) CADILLAC CLASS. GRADS Timothy Bath: Acadia Insurance Danielle Berube: City of Old Town Randy Bliss: Town of Madison Julia Breul: Greater Portland Council of Governments Rich Brooks: Flyte New Media Marina Chakmakchi: University of Southern Maine Angela Cote: Town of East Millinocket Samantha Cote: Designlab Lance Cunningham: Irving Woodlands LLC Tim Curtis: Town of Madison Amos Dean: Daaquam Lumber Maine Sol Dostilio: Ethos Marketing & Design Peter Jamieson: Town of Millinocket Shiloh LaFreniere: Town of Jay Kai Loundon: Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine Robyn Raymond: RSU 73 Spruce Mountain Adult Education Cole Richards: Daaquam Lumber Maine Travis Roy: City of Old Town Eva Tartaglia: Portland Symphony Orchestra Ashley White: IDEXX Tanner White: Woodland Pulp LLC Jill York: Martin's Point Health Care MDF is now accepting applications for the 2022–2023 ICL class. For more info and to apply: mdf.org/leadership-development/application Maine's largest public company, Covetrus, agrees to be privately acquired for $4B — With its headquarters still under construction, the deal seems to bode well for Maine Mills announces $12M to more than double apprenticeships in Maine — Much needed workforce development funding After 7-year void, a new hotel opens in Rumford — A vote of confidence for the Rumford area's economy Food truck operators protest lottery for Portland spaces, urge delay in restrictions — Food trucks attract people and their dollars, so why mess with them? King, Collins blast fed failure to delay new lobster gear rules — Lobster industry in Maine could take a $7M hit, but changes loom Saddleback CEO Andy Shepard steps down, will focus on resort's philanthropy — After leading the resort's comeback, he will be missed P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N The new Covetrus headquarters under construction in Portland.

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