Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I I I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 2 10 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E 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 A 72-acre parcel of land in the Babson Creek watershed is now under perma- nent conservation easement as part of a collaborative project between The Community School of Mount Desert Island and Maine Coast Heritage Trust. The school will own the property while the trust holds an easement on all but two and a half acres adjacent to the school and along Sound Drive, limit- ing development in perpetuity. The Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth awarded $290,000 in grants to preserve 22 historic buildings across the state. Presque Isle slated for a bypass A bypass route for Presque Isle is expected to help keep the largest trucks off downtown streets, making it safer and easier for residents to reach local businesses. Money for the project was awarded to the Maine Department of Transportation by the competitive Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Program, which leverages federal grants to help communities invest in high-priority projects to fix crumbling infrastructure. MDOT will receive $44.1 million to complete Phase II of a commercial two-lane bypass route of Presque Isle's Main Street (Route 1), constructing an approximately 6.3-mile- long, two-lane highway that will con- nect U.S. Route 1 south of the city to the current bypass section already in service. Creating a limited access bypass of downtown Presque Isle will allow traffic — particularly large trucks — to avoid 25 street intersections, 12 cross- walks, nine stoplights and one railroad crossing. e bypass will reduce truck traffic at five known high crash locations in the project area and will also reduce emissions from traffic idling at intersec- tions in town. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N Brian Pelletier purchased and re- opened Tesoro Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria at 118 Harlow St. in Bangor. Hub Coffee opened at 342 Main St. in Presque Isle. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine in Augusta said it raised $44,207 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Maine during its fourth annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Southern Maine Golf Tournament. Realty One Group - Compass of Maine opened an office at 120 Center St., Suite 108, in Auburn. Kennebec Behavioral Health in Waterville said it was awarded $600,000 from The Pull Up Fund to support its Telehealth Coordinator Pilot for schools in Maine. College of the Atlantic expands reach e Mount Desert Center, a part- nership between College of the Atlantic and Mount Desert 365, opened in time for the fall semes- ter with apartment space for stu- dents and faculty and street-level retail space that's leased to Salt Market. e center, which is at 141 Main St. in Northeast Harbor, has living space for 15 students, an apartment for college staff or fac- ulty, and the new market. Mount Desert 365 is a community-based organization dedicated to promot- ing long-term economic vitality in Mount Desert. B R I E F Allagash Brewing will open a tasting room at the Downs B y R e n e e C o r d e s S c a r b o r o u g h — The Downs mixed-used development in Scarborough will be home to Allagash Brewing Co.'s second tasting room, which is slated to open in 2024. Allagash Brewing, led by founder Rob Tod, is Maine's largest brewer with 140 employees in Portland, where the company has its brewing operations and a tasting room that remains outdoors-only. A spokeswoman for the company said that once the Scarborough tasting room opens, the brewer will replace its current Portland tasting facility with a new space there. Tod founded Allagash in 1995, long before Maine became a craft-beer destination with more than 145 breweries across the state today in both urban and rural areas. "The Downs was one of the many places we looked at when considering a new location," Tod told Mainebiz. "Given our priorities, it offered the right space for us to create the best possible experience for our guests." About a 15-minute drive from Allagash HQ on Industrial Way, the new space "will be basically adjacent to the Portland community that we've always called home," Tod said. "We love the idea of being a part of two communities: Portland and Scarborough." Allagash said it is buying seven acres in the mixed-use development. It wouldn't disclose the purchase price for the land since the deal hasn't yet closed. Allagash doesn't yet have a design for the future build- ing or a date when it expects to break ground. Tod said the company will work with local design and engineering professionals to create the space. The real estate transac- tion, which has not yet closed, is being brokered by Drew Sigfridson and Jon Rizzo of the Boulos Co. Tod also said that once the layout is decided, the com- pany will have a better sense of the employee count in Scarborough, adding: "This is a great opportunity for our current staff, and also an area of the brewery where we'll be able to hire and retain staff." Naomi Neville, who oversees Allagash's tasting operations in Portland, will also head up operations at the new facility in Scarborough. Allagash will be the first hospitality business at the Downs, which will also include Maine's first Costco store under a plan recently approved by the Scarborough Planning Board. "We're very proud to welcome Allagash to Scarborough," said Peter Michaud, a partner in the Downs. "Allagash's presence will solidify the Downs as one of the best places in Maine to live, work and play." Allagash was ranked Maine's largest brewer in the latest edition of the Mainebiz Fact Book, based on 118,315 barrels produced between July 2020 and June 2021. The brewer was also listed at No. 23 among U.S. craft brewers in 2021 in the latest ranking by Boulder, Colo.- based Brewers Association, moving up from No. 29 the previous year. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F A L L A G A S H B R E W I N G C O. Allagash Brewing Co. founder Rob Tod said the company loves the idea of being part of two communities, Port- land and Scarborough. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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