Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1503152
V O L . X X I X N O. X V J U LY 1 0 , 2 0 2 3 4 A division of New England Business Media LLC C E O / GROUP PUBLISHER Peter Stanton P R E S I D E N T Tom Curtin DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster, Malcolm HOSPITALITY EMERITUS Zoey SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Ken Hanson Kerry Rasor Betsy VanderPloeg MARKETING/OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Alison Nason OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Allison Spies AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Leah Allen PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen SENIOR WRITERS Renee Cordes Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Alexis Wells C O N T E N T S Regional thumbnail An overview of Kennebec County and two of its cities 13 16 Dirigo Labs spurs innovation Accelerator program helps companies grow — with benefits for the local region 20 Waterville's rebirth With several projects underway, the downtown is changing A U G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E F O C U S Scan the QR code to learn more Are you ready for the retirement of your dreams? Whatever your destination, one of our CFP Financial Advisors can be your guide. Let's start a conversation... visit www.goldenpondwealth.com or call us at 207-873-2200 Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC ® 20 P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Garvan Donegan of Central Maine Growth Council Heather Desjardins, founder and CEO of i-Tell Alert, says Dirigo Labs connected her with additional mentors. Sabrina Jandreau, left and Susan Ruhlin, at Dirigo Labs in Waterville. P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D PH OTO / C OU R TES Y OF I -TELL ALER T 16 16