Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. I V F E B R UA R Y 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 6 Pushback on paid leave mandate e Maine chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business says a proposed paid leave mandate would add a new expense and regula- tory burden for small businesses. If passed, the Maine NFIB said the legis- lation would burden thousands of small businesses and jobs in the state, espe- cially those that would lose vital protec- tions built into existing leave laws. On Nov. 2, 2022, the Maine Legislature cre- ated a 12-member statutory commission to draft a proposal that would provide 12 to 16 weeks of paid family and medi- cal leave, as well as so-called safe leave, which would pertain to issues related to domestic abuse. MCCS lifts vaccine requirement Maine's community colleges have ended the requirement for all on-cam- pus students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. e Maine Community College System board voted unani- mously to end the requirement, effec- tive immediately. At the same time, the system strongly recommends students receive the vaccination and boosters. e mandate went into effect for the fall semester of 2021. e policy change covers Maine's seven community col- leges and some 25,000 students. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said four proj- ects in the state of Maine will receive a total of $863,382 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for projects intended to improve pedestrian safety across the state. The Greater Portland Council of Governments received $263,382 while the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, the town of Bar Harbor, and the city of Sanford and village of Springvale each received $200,000. The Maine Veterans' Dental Network, which is overseen by Maine Bureau of Veterans' Services, received a $200,000 grant from Northeast Delta Dental to serve veterans who do not otherwise have dental coverage or can- not afford dental care. UScellular donated 50 wireless hotspots and two years of service valued at $56,300 to Through These Doors, a domestic violence resource center in Portland, as part of its After School Access Project. The company also announced that it invested a total of $3.9 million to add 5G service at a total of 16 sites in Aroostook, Oxford, Penobscot and York counties. Portland tops another national list Portland ranks No. 1 on Travel + Leisure magazine's "10 best places to live on the East Coast" feature. Portland edged out nearby Portsmouth, N.H., and Boston. Travel + Leisure says it looked for places that offered "the highest standard of liv- ing and a wealth of recreational oppor- tunities." It's the second time in the past year that Maine's largest city has taken the top spot in a national ranking of this kind. In June 2022, U.S. News and World Report ranked Portland No. 1 on its "Best places to live on the East Coast" listing, with Boston and Washington, D.C., rounding out the top three. Home goods retailer says goodbye to Brunswick Bed Bath & Beyond's Brunswick store is one of 149 newly named locations targeted for closure nationwide in the B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N B R I E F Good Shepherd Food Bank's director to step down in June B y A n n F i s h e r Kristen Miale, who has guided the Good Shepherd Food Bank for more than a decade, is stepping down as the president of the nonprofit on June 30. Miale has led the food bank since 2012, and, mostly under her watch, Good Shepherd has been instrumental in raising money and raising awareness about food-insecurity in Maine. In just over a decade, the food bank has nearly tripled the food distributed — from 10.7 million meals in 2010 to 29 million meals last year, with a focus on improving access to nutritious and culturally relevant foods. Good Shepherd is now leading a $250 million Campaign to End Hunger in Maine and continues to support its part- ners through innovation grants, distributing $4.2 million last year alone. "Good Shepherd Food Bank is incredibly fortunate to have had Kristen at the helm for such a long period of time," said Ben Sprague, chair of the board of directors. "Kristen and her leadership team have brought ending hunger to the forefront in Maine and have elevated the organization's reach and impact in terms of closing Maine's meal gap and addressing the root causes of hunger." As the largest hunger-relief organization in the state, Good Shepherd Food Bank sources nutritious food and distributes it to nearly 600 partner organizations across the state, including food pantries, meal sites, schools, health care centers and senior programs. During Miale's ten- ure, the organization has expanded its network of partner organizations to better understand the unique needs of Maine's locales. The food bank has also expanded its advocacy efforts, sought solutions to address the root causes of food insecurity and given a voice to those most impacted by hunger. "I'm incredibly proud of the work we've done over the past 10 years," Miale said. "We have shifted the organization's focus from simply distributing surplus food to improving access to nutritious and culturally relevant food and from talking about hunger as an individual issue to acknowledging that hunger is rooted in systemic inequities and injustices that cause and perpetuate poverty. "I have learned so much from this experience and the people with whom I've had the privilege of working." Miale said she is exploring opportunities for the future as she believes now is the right time for her to hand over the reins of the Food Bank to a new leader. "The food bank has never been in a stronger position in terms of partners, resources, staff and board leadership," Miale said. "At the same time, the organization is in the midst of strategic planning for the future, and it's the right time for a new leader to step in to join our team, partners and communities, and help guide the food bank as it con- tinues its mission of ending hunger in Maine." The board of directors has embarked on a nationwide search to fill the role of president. "While it will be hard to see such a talented leader and passionate visionary leave the organization in June, we are excited for Kristen as she explores what is next for her career," Sprague said. "The talent of the team here and the exceptional partnerships we've established ... will make this a very attractive position for a person who has a passion for ending hunger in Maine." F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Kristen Miale said she's looking for future opportunities as she's wrapping up a 10-year stint as president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. I'm incredibly proud of the work we've done over the past 10 years. — Kristen Miale Good Shepherd

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