Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 2 3 When it comes to your real estate project, we'll keep you on track. bernsteinshur.com Be real. BE SHUR. Get to know us. We're the Real Estate Team at Bernstein Shur. Trusted advisors and advocates in all aspects of commercial real estate ownership, leasing, development, and financing. From the Editor N ew Balance will invest $65 million to expand its Skowhegan factory, which makes many of the shoes worn by military members. For a manufac- turer that touts "Made in the USA" products, having three Maine factories gives the Boston-based com- pany a key "foothold" in the market. It has other plants in Norridgewock and Norway. Now the maker of athletic shoes and apparel will add 120,000 square feet to its Skowhegan plant, allowing the site to double production. Once the factory is expanded, by the end of 2024, it will be on pace to make 1 million pairs of shoes a year. New Balance will add 200 employees, giving it nearly 1,000 statewide. is kind of investment didn't go unnoticed among elected officials. At the New Balance groundbreaking in Skowhegan, U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine, Gov. Janet Mills and state Legislators for the area were present. ey all had New Balance stories to tell. And most wore New Balance sneak- ers to the event. Just as noteworthy, for our cover story, Senior Writer Renee Cordes talked to an array of small busi- nesses with growth plans. ey range from a spice company to a car-detailing operation to a self-defense firm. As one SCORE mentor said, "e communi- ties in western Maine have been supportive of these new startups, and the entrepreneurs have been espe- cially effective with their outreach." See Renee's story, "Maine's Wild West," which starts on Page 12. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz CORRECTION: In the print edition of May 29, in the Ask ACE column, "How can I get ready to sell my business?," the bio incorrectly referred to columnist Carrie Green Yardley as a CPA. While she is a lawyer with business acumen, she is not a Certified Public Accountant. That was an editing error. Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's top business news daily at mainebiz.biz or by signing up for the Daily Report and the Real Estate Insider. Here is the top content from May 23 to June 6. 1. Breeze Airways debuts two new routes from Portland 2. Real Estate Insider notebook: Szanton plans 72 apartments in Lewiston; Gorham grants; a 'funky' boutique 3. A midcoast estate sells for $9.75M, the highest price for a Maine home this year 4. The Downs, marking 5 years, is ready for the next wave of development 5. Maine accounting firms merge and find new SoPo headquarters with a water view 6. This world is your oyster: A robust oyster farming industry thrives — despite hard work and nature's wily ways 7. With hotel under construction, Bar Harbor hotelier eyes year-round market 8. Hotelier donates $500k to SMCC's hospitality management program 9. Friday Food Insider: It's seafood season, but an iconic spot has been sidelined by repairs 10. Maine Law tackles the need for more young lawyers in state's rural communities F I L E P H O T O 1 New Balance, which plans a $65 million expansion in Skowhegan, will have nearly 1,000 Maine employees at three factories. Growth abounds in L/A, western Maine

• Cover