Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1491489
V O L . X X I X N O. I I I F E B R UA R Y 6 , 2 0 2 3 4 A division of New England Business Media LLC C E O / GROUP PUBLISHER Peter Stanton P R E S I D E N T Tom Curtin DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen DIGITAL EDITOR Ann Fisher SENIOR WRITERS Renee Cordes Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Alexis Wells CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster HOSPITALITY EMERITUS Zoey SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Ken Hanson Kerry Rasor Betsy VanderPloeg MARKETING/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Alison Nason OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Allison Spies AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Leah Allen C O N T E N T S Lewiston levels up Maine's second-largest city draws developers and entrepreneurs seeking space, affordability – and opportunity 14 20 Word on the street Downtown rebound, office conversions top Maine development trends 24 Mixed preview of 2023 offered at MEREDA conference Higher interest rates, tight inventory and volatile construction costs present challenges C O M M E R C I A L D E V E L O P M E N T F O C U S M E R E DA R E G I O N A L F O R E C A S T T H U M B N A I L O N PA G E 1 3 » At Androscoggin Bank, we care about your business just as much as you do. Our dedicated team of business bankers go the extra mile to provide you with value at every step along your journey. To learn more about how we can help your business boom, call 800-966-9172 or, visit androscogginbank.com/ schedule-an-appointment WE'RE ALL BUSINESS. YOUR BUSINESS. Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine's employers target Maine's emerging workforce. It will feature information and stories about the jobs and careers in Manufacturing, Construction, Skilled Trades, Health Care, Hospitality and Business services, all of Maine's essential industries. High school and college students Professors and teachers Guidance counselors Career counselors Job training organizations Workforce development companies And Mainebiz subscribers TOTA L D I S T R I B U T I O N O F 1 6 , 0 0 0 CO P I E S TO : R E S E R V E Y O U R A D S P A C E B Y R E S E R V E Y O U R A D S P A C E B Y M A R C H 1 4 M A R C H 1 4 / I S S U E P U B L I S H E D I S S U E P U B L I S H E D M A Y 8 M A Y 8 Learn more about how to participate by emailing advertising@mainebiz.biz S A M P L E O N E P A G E P R O F I L E S Target Maine's emerging workforce IN PAR T NERSHIP WI T H S C R E E N S H O T Retail pop-ups at Festival Plaza in Auburn P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F A RO M A J O E ' S Tulio DeAlmeida, franchisee of Aroma Joe's 24 20 14 P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Greg Payne, senior advisor on housing in the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future