Mainebiz

V O L . X X I X N O. X X I S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 3 8 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 federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the Overdose Data to Action program to strengthen ongoing efforts in combating the overdose crisis and reducing overdose-related harms. The 25th running of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race raised a record-breaking total for the 2023 race beneficiary, Valo. The $125,000 raised will help the Yarmouth non- profit as it takes a proactive approach in cultivating emotional well-being in Maine teens. Cianbro lands contract for work on National Mall Cianbro Corp. of Pittsfield has won a $113 million National Park Service contract to rebuild a portion of the National Mall Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. e construc- tion firm will rehabilitate 6,800 feet of failing seawalls around the basin, along the Potomac River through West Potomac Park. e Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund will provide the money. Cianbro is Maine's largest construction firm, with $1.3 billion in revenue in 2021 and 3,000 employees, including 900 in Maine, according to the Mainebiz 2023 Book of Lists. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine in Augusta raised $47,377 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Maine at its fifth annual Log A Load for Maine Kids Southern Maine Golf Tournament. Thomas College in Waterville an- nounced that it has received three grants totaling $72,000 to con- tinue to improve support of stu- dents' mental health. The school received a $20,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation to add clinical staffing for the counseling center; the Maine Health Access Foundation provided a $30,000 planning grant to develop a compre- hensive behavioral health strate- gic plan for campus; and the JED Foundation provided a $22,000 scholarship, allowing the college to pursue JED Campus certification, a program designed to help schools evaluate and strengthen its men- tal health, substance misuse and suicide prevention programs and systems to ensure that schools have the strongest possible mental health safety nets. Children's Center, an Augusta- based early childhood interven- tion and family support services organization for children with special needs, cut the ribbon on its $5 mil- lion expansion. The expansion has more than doubled the size of the facility, adding more classrooms, specialized service areas and ad- ministrative space. Cement factory to shut down Dragon Products Co., a long- time producer of cement with a omaston plant that's visible from miles around, said it will start shut- ting down operations in December and expects to lay off nearly its entire workforce. e company, owned by South Carolina-based Giant Cement Holding Inc., cited increased costs. A Giant Cement representative, Roberto Polit, told Mainebiz the shutdown will extend into the first half of 2024 but that Dragon will continue filling cus- tomer orders from omaston into 2025. A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed Sept. B R I E F City of Belfast considers buying former Waldo County Courthouse B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r T he city of Belfast is considering whether to buy a 19th cen- tury courthouse that happens to be right next to the city hall. The former Waldo County Courthouse could provide much- need space for city employees as well as document stor- age, members of the City Council said at a recent meeting. "We've got people here working virtually in closets. Very crowded," said Councilor Neal Harkness. "We have depart- ment heads who don't have adequate space. They could use the space." The old Waldo County Courthouse is at 137 Church St. The neighboring city hall is at 131 Church St. Most courthouse functions moved to a new building, called the Waldo Judicial Center, at 11 Market St., in 2019. The county still provides some services at the old court- house, City Manager Erin Herbig told the council. But she said the city has received word that the county is looking to sell the building. The courthouse was built in 1853, according to the National Register of Historic Places. The traditional Greek Revival-Italianate building, in brick with wood trim on 2.5 stories, was designed by architects Benjamin S. Dean of Bangor and Edwin Lee Brown of Boston. An extension was built in 1899-1900. A wooden belfry was removed in the early 20th century. Harkness said the city's code and planning department in particular needs more space, as does document storage. "There's the possibility that this is more space than we can use," Harkness said. But the city could consider renting out excess, he noted. "I don't think that building is going to be suitable for any purposes except a public building," he continued. It would be difficult to convert it for housing or retail uses, he said. Although the first floor is likely immediately usable, con- siderable work would have to go into the building overall, which would likely be a multi-year proposition, councilors said. That would include building an elevator shaft, putting in an elevator and upgrading energy systems. Councilor Michael Hurley said that, long-term, acquisition of the building would make sense for the city. "It's a natural growth area for the city and we wouldn't have that opportunity again if it were sold and gone," Hurley said. Mayor Eric Sanders said the building appears to be stable and sturdy. "When we have the opportunity to use something that's stood the test of time and be able to modernize it into the next 50 or 60 years for staffing, for people, for rentals — to me that makes sound sense, as opposed to allowing it to be sold and perhaps torn down," Sanders said. The council unanimously authorized Herbig to negotiate a contract for the purchase of the building from the county. The city of Belfast is considering whether to buy the 19th century county courthouse building next door to the city hall. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E A N E N C Y C L O P E D I A . C O M I don't think that building is going to be suitable for any purposes except a public building. — Councilor Neal Harkness M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N

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