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V O L . X X I X N O. X X V I I N OV E M B E R 2 7 , 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 Foundation created the Lewiston- Auburn Area Response Fund within 36 hours of the mass shoot- ings, which left 18 people dead and 13 injured. Donors to the fund include L.L.Bean Inc., which con- tributed $250,000, and Bath Iron Works, which donated $100,000 to the response fund. Tourism funding approved for Skowhegan Main Street Skowhegan, a non- profit working to revitalize the Somerset County town, has been awarded $484,500 from the Maine Office of Tourism to create a master plan for marketing the region. e nonprofit will develop and pursue the plan in partner- ship with the Central Maine Growth Council and Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, accord- ing to a news release. e regional initiative is expected to bolster tourism, competitively attract new businesses and talent, and drive long-term economic prosperity for the Skowhegan/Waterville region. Partners will use grant funding to hire and work with a firm to develop a shared vision, marketing plan and brand strategy. Genesis is investing in solutions. Flax Studios www.genesisfund.org • info@genesisfund.org • (207) 844-2035 Lasting social value, with a fi xed fi nancial return Financial institutions enable Genesis to fi nance and guide community partners who create affordable housing and other critical facilities. Invest in Genesis! "At Gorham Savings Bank, we're proud to invest in the Genesis Fund because it aligns so well with who we are as a bank. We work every day to make things better for our customers and communities and, like Genesis, we're striving to build a stronger, more hopeful future." STEVE DECASTRO, chair of the Maine Bankers Association and president & CEO, Gorham Savings Bank • No minimum balance • No monthly fees Make your money work harder for you. Open your Rise Transaction Account today! empeople.com (800) 338-6739 Empeople Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration *APY = Annual Percentage Yield Rates. APY is accurate as of 9/25/23 and subject to change after account opening. 4.92 % in our high-yield checking account, Rise Transaction Account APY * Earn up to SAYGOODBYETO LOWINTERESTRATES Retail hiring keeps unemployment at historically low rate B y R e n e e C o r d e s T he number of Maine jobs rose by 1,100 in October to an all-time high of 650,300, with the retail sector accounting for close to half of the increase. The job count, of nonfarm wage and salary positions, was 8,900 greater than a year ago, the Maine Department of Labor said in its latest monthly report. The average for August to October climbed by 3,700 from the three months through July. The month-on-month increase follows a larger than unusual upward revision for September. Maine's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 2.8% in October from 2.7% in September. Unemployment has been below 4% for 23 consecutive months, the second- longest period of such low rates. The October rate is about half the monthly average since 1976. Manufacturing wages higher Hourly earnings averaged $30.48 in October, up 3.7% from a year earlier. The increase was led by an 11.4% jump in manufacturing wages. The work week averaged 33.6 hours, and was longest in construction and shortest in leisure and hospitality. Earnings were highest in professional and business services and lowest in leisure and hospitality. Among the state's three metropoli- tan areas, unemployment was below the statewide average in Portland- South Portland and close to the aver- age in Bangor and Lewiston-Auburn. Across the state, the unemploy- ment rate was lowest in Sagadahoc C o u n t y ( 2 . 2 % ) a n d h i g h e s t i n Piscataquis County (3.7%). The Maine Department of Labor is scheduled to release November unemployment data on Friday, Dec. 22. B I Z M O N E Y Overall earnings averaged $30.48 an hour in October, up 3.7% from a year earlier, helped by a jump in manufacturing wages.

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