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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 A U G U S T 2 2 , 2 0 2 2 We partner with clients big and small to get the deal done. bernsteinshur.com Be valued. BE SHUR. You'll find a true partner in our Mergers & Acquisition team. Whether working solo or with a team of advisors, we regularly manage all aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures – allowing you to focus on the road ahead. From the Editor A mid the pandemic, when many universities were struggling with how to do remote classes, Husson University was opening its signature College of Business building. Harold Alfond Hall, as the building is known, was built at a cost of $17.5 million, $4 million of which was supplied by the Harold Alfond Foundation. We have Harold Alfond to thank — but also Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway bought Alfond's Dexter Shoe Co. for $433 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock. e Alfond name is on many schools and universities in Maine. e namesake Alfond Hall at Husson is now foster- ing a range of technology and innovation. As Laurie Schreiber reports in our cover story, Husson has created a new iEX (interactive experience) Center and the creation of a new XR (extended reality) degree program. As Laurie reports, the buzz phrases are extended reality, virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. As Marie Hansen, dean of the College of Business tells her, these cutting-edge tools are designed to expedite problem-solving for many types of businesses and organizations and can be used to help with job training. For more, see the cover story, "Digital realities." Elsewhere in the issue, freelancer Bridget Reed Morawski looks at efforts to create renewable energy in Aroostook County. e redevelopment of three buildings in down- town Bangor headlines Renee Cordes' roundup of northern Maine news. e list of largest industrial parks also starts in northern Maine, with Loring Commerce Centre. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz CORRECTION: In the Aug. 1 edition of the Fact Book, the following information should have been included in the SBA resources listing: 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 Aug. 1-15. 1. YMCA of Southern Maine will close one of its four branches for good 2. Adding dorms and degrees, Portland may soon become a college town 3. Portland OKs master plan to build hotel, condos, stores next to City Hall 4. Skowhegan's downtown Spinning Mill to have new life 5. Growing dental practice picks up two retail units at Hobson's Landing 6. Hotels in 4 Maine destinations among priciest 20 in US this month 7. 25 finalists announced for Maine Family Business Awards 8. Phippsburg restaurant and guest house sell for $2.15M 9. Redevelopment of former Mercy Hospital in Portland clears tons of debris, uncovers history 10. Nate Wildes reflects on the art and science of 'selling' Maine as a place to live and work P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F Y M C A O F S O U T H E R N M A I N E 1 Husson's College of Business is making the grade SCORE Northern Maine: northernmaine.score.org by appointment only: (207) 774-1147 SCORE Central Maine: centralmaine.score.org by appointment only: (207) 774-1147 SCORE Southern Maine: southernmaine.score.org by appointment only: (207) 774-1147 Husson University setting the pace for innovation and technology.

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