Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 2 3 F O C U S L E W I S TO N / AU B U R N / W E S T E R N M A I N E CDL DRIVERS ROCHESTER PORTLAND AUBURN BRUNSWICK BOOTHBAY HARBOR DAMARISCOTTA BELGRADE FARMINGTON SKOWHEGAN FAIRFIELD GREENVILLE CALAIS BANGOR BUCKSPORT BELFAST CAMDEN ROCKLAND ELLSWORTH BLUE HILL BAR HARBOR CHERRYFIELD MACHIAS AUBURN • BANGOR • BAR HARBOR • BELFAST • BELGRADE • BLUE HILL • BOOTHBAY HARBOR • BRUNSWICK • BUCKSPORT • CALAIS • CAMDEN • CHERRYFIELD DAMARISCOTTA • ELLSWORTH • FAIRFIELD • FARMINGTON • GREENVILLE • MACHIAS • PORTLAND • ROCHESTER (NH) • ROCKLAND • SKOWHEGAN 22 LOCATIONS ACROSS MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE 1 - 8 0 0 - H A M M O N D W W W . H A M M O N D L U M B E R . C O M R E A D Y T O P I V O T W H E N E V E R Y O U R J O B D O E S . As Maine's second largest city, Lewiston boasts a diverse economy that includes health care facilities, manufacturing, financial institutions, technology telecommunications, higher education and a growing community of arts, culture, diversity and business. Neighboring Auburn has been dubbed "America's YIMBYest city" with new highs in permits for commercial and residential development and the arrival of chain stores, expansion of local factories, and national headlines. Certified business-friendly Located on the banks of the Andro- scoggin River, Lewiston has a slo- gan — "Opportunity lives here!" — that signals its certification as a business-friendly city by the state of Maine. Lewiston and neighboring Auburn form the business and cultural center of Androscoggin County. Lewiston is also home to Bates College, University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College and the Maine College of Health Professions. Fine arts and cultural venues include LA Arts, the Public Theatre, Schaeffer Theatre, Olin Arts Center, Museum LA, Maine Music Society, Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, Franco-American Collection at USM Lewiston, the Riverfront Performing Arts and Events Center and the Bates Dance Festival. Goals of the city include promoting the develop- ment 2,000 new housing units by 2025 and boost- ing its population of 24,000 by 25%. Up, up and away In addition to multiple festivals such as the Riverfest, BrewFest, Greek Festival and World Refugee Day, one of Lewiston/Auburn's most colorful events is the Great Falls Balloon Festival, whose mission is to provide fundraising opportunities for local nonprofits while also promoting the area as a visitor destination. Established in 1992 by a group of business peo- ple, civic leaders and friends, the Great Falls Balloon Festival features hot air balloons, attracts approxi- mately 100,000 visitors throughout the weekend and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for an economic impact in excess of $2 million. High-tech textiles With two manufacturing facilities in Mechanic Falls and Auburn, and employing over 50 people, Auburn Manufacturing Inc., a manufac- turer of advanced textiles for extreme-heat environments and member of the National Council of Textile Organizations, recently hosted Jennifer Knight, deputy assistant secretary for textiles, consumer goods, materials industries, critical minerals and metals with the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. Auburn Manufacturing CEO Kathie Leonard high- lighted textile innovations and products that help fuel the Maine economy and contribute to the broader U.S. textile and apparel industry which produced $65.8 bil- lion in output in 2021 and employed 538,000 workers. She also discussed policy priorities that have far-reaching implications for AMI, Maine manufac- turers and the U.S. textile industry — including the importance of policies directed at holding China accountable for unfair trade practices and the dump- ing of products on the U.S. market. Earlier this year, Leonard learned that she won a second trade lawsuit against China that challenged subsidized products dumped on the U.S. market. S O U R C E : Auburn Manufacturing Inc. S O U R C E : Great Falls Balloon Festival S O U R C E : City of Lewiston

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