Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. X I M AY 1 5 , 2 0 2 3 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 M&T Bank's Maine president steps down After 40 years in banking and finance, Dan ornton stepped down as regional president for M&T Bank, effective May 1. ornton decided it was time to retire for personal reasons. In an email to colleagues and business associates on April 28, ornton said he would stay on the Northern Light Health board as the finance commit- tee chair on the investment and stra- tegic planning committees. ornton served as Maine regional president of People's United Bank going back to 2013, stepping into a role held by a well-known banker in Sam Ladd. When People's was taken over last year by Buffalo-based M&T Bank, ornton was kept on as the Maine president. He also spent part of his career at TD Bank. Old Orchard Beach motel sold for $3.8 million A motel in Old Orchard Beach has sold outside of the family for the first time since it was built. Potentia LLC bought the Carolina Resort Motel, at 1 Roussin St. and 73 E Grand Ave., from Carolina Motel LLC and the Estate of Claire Boutot for $3.775 million. Nicholas Farrell and Bob Doak of Farrell & Doak/ Keller Williams Realty brokered the deal. e motel is built on property that's right on the beach and has been owned by the same family for generations. From one salty place to another Cousins Maine Lobster launched a new territory that is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, making this the eighth corporate-owned unit. e company held a grand opening at Talisman Brewery in Ogden, Utah. "We were looking for a strategic west- ern city for our next corporate food truck and Salt Lake City immedi- ately stood out," said Cousins Maine Lobster co-founder Sabin Lomac. "It is one of the top food truck cit- ies in America and we are thrilled to expand to such a strong market." Cousins Maine Lobster was founded in 2012 with a single food truck and a vision to make Maine lobster afford- able and accessible. e business took off after Lomac and his cousin Jim Tselikis appeared on the TV pitch show "Shark Tank" and partnered with Barbara Corcoran, one of the investors. e company has partnered with local franchisees to bring Maine lobster to more than 40 cities. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Hope Acts, a nonprofit in Portland that provides housing, English classes and other resources to new Mainers, received $276,000 in fund- ing over two years from the Maine Department of Labor to continue and expand its work permit clinic. In addition, MaineHousing will provide $100,000 in funds over two years to fund the agency's Asylum Application Assistance Program at the Portland Public Library. ORPC, a marine renewable energy developer in Portland, signed a con- tract with Shell Technology – Marine Renewable Program to initiate a Modular RivGen Power System demonstration project in the Lower Mississippi River. U.S. Sen Susan Collins announced $8.1 million in additional funding for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority was included in the 2023 gov- ernment funding law for the Downeaster's Wells Area Improvement Project. Cowbell, a burger and grill restaurant, opened at Rock Row in Westbrook. Fire at Auburn car dealership ruled accidental A fire that damaged a construction project at Lee Dodge in Auburn on May 4 has been ruled accidental. e Auburn Fire Department was dispatched to Lee Dodge Auto Mall for a fire that had started in the old Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram showroom. e former showroom has been the site of a building improve- ment construction project. According to the Auburn Fire Department, a demoli- tion crew witnessed hot embers emanat- ing from steel beams being cut and com- ing in contact with a rubber portion of the building. Fire units cleared the scene within an hour. A post on Lee Dodge's social media stated that the building was empty during the time of the fire. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Wheeler's Insurance in South Paris do- nated $10,000 to Team Hailey Hugs, a nonprofit in Bethel that champions fundraising, awareness and awards grants to families living with the finan- cial strain of childhood cancer. C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N

• Cover