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V O L . X X I X N O. V I I I A P R I L 1 7 , 2 0 2 3 6 The Department of Educational and School Psychology at the University of Southern Maine in Portland said it was awarded a five-year, $1.6 million grant sponsored by the U.S. Depart- ment of Education's Office of Elemen- tary and Secondary Education to help increase the number of school psy- chologists in rural areas of the state. Zachau Construction in Freeport formed an advisory board consisting of seven business leaders to assist the company in its strategic growth and commitment to core values. Portland-based Coffee By Design said it plans to close its location in L.L.Bean's flagship store in Freeport by May 31. L.L.Bean plans a $50 million renovation of its flagship campus. The Maine Mariners hockey team will re- main affiliated with the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins for another two years under an extension agreement valid through the 2024-25 season. The Genesis Community Loan Fund in Brunswick received a three-year, B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state 207-294-2075 or www.browndogcarriers.com On Time — Every Time — Stress Free B R I E F Maine's 'new space' industry set to blast off B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r M aine could be an integral player in the "new space" industry by 2030 and, by 2042, the industry could be contributing up to $1.1 billion a year to the state economy. That's according to a new initiative called Maine Space 2030, a campaign designed to raise awareness of the economic potential of the new space economy for the Pine Tree State. "With over 85 aerospace companies already operating in Maine, world-class advanced materials facilities, and an unrivaled polar orbit geographical advantage, we have the hard and soft assets to launch a national environmentally respon- sible leading-edge hub for the NewSpace industry, particularly as it relates to small rocket and nanosatellite markets," said Terry Shehata, executive director of the Maine Space Grant Consortium and co-founder of Maine Space 2030. The new space economy is characterized by innovations that have reduced the cost of designing and launching small satellites and launch vehicles, and have increased participa- tion by private investors and startups in space exploration and the development of associated products and services. Examples include bluShift Aerospace Inc. in Brunswick, maker of the world's first commercial prototype rocket to be powered by near carbon-neutral, nontoxic fuel; and Biddeford manufac- turer FMI and Lewiston manufacturer Elmet Technologies, which work with NASA to produce components for various missions. Shehata said Maine can grow its new space economy by recruiting more space-related businesses; building on the research-and-development and educational capabilities in the state's institutions of higher education; and building a pipeline of students and workers. "Maine is at a critical crossroads," he said. "Our pathway to space leads through our schools and universities, our entre- preneurs and business leaders, and through the funders and believers who can envision Maine as a new space leader." Founding partners of Maine Space 2030 include the Maine Space Grant Consortium, Maine Composites Alliance, University of Maine, University of Southern Maine, Maine Community College System, Roux Institute, Educate Maine, Manufacturers Association of Maine, Maine International Trade Center, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Maine Department of Transportation, SHL Enterprise Solutions and DesignLab LLC. The Maine Space Corp. was established by LD1923, enacted by the Maine Legislature, and signed into law in April 2022. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E S T A T E W I D E N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N S O U T H E R N 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 M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T An inaugural Maine Space Conference will be held Nov. 5-7, at the Holiday Inn By the Bay in Portland. www.msgc.org/news @ P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F B L U S H I F T A E RO S PA C E BluShift Aerospace founder Sascha Deri views a prototype rocket test in early 2022.

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