Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. I JA N UA R Y 8 , 2 0 2 4 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 biomedical research institute, based in Bar Harbor, received $142 million in grant funding. In 2021, the lab's record haul was $152 million. Factors included fewer COVID-related research grants. From 2020-22, the lab received more than two dozen COVID-related grants. N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T Coastal Mountains Land Trust in Camden acquired three properties totaling 162 acres in December as part of the Waldo County Conservation Initiative, an effort that launched in November 2022 with the goal of conserving open space in the 12 Waldo County towns served by the trust for wildlife conservation, recreation, out- door learning and climate mitigation. The Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth said its Welch Charitable Fund awarded a total of $285,641 to 18 organizations that serve Greater Portland. The fund supports organiza- tions that assist people in need with preference to nonprofits focused on youth, education, health care, sub- stance abuse recovery and/or arts and culture. The foundation also an- nounced that its Equity Fund awarded a total of $106,500 to 12 nonprofit organizations across the state that support people in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community in Maine. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust announced that its employee-driven charitable giv- ing program, Casual for a Cause, has donated more than $250,000 to over 115 nonprofits serving residents of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont residents since 2018. Regulators nix Aroostook proposal A transmission line that would have sent wind-generated electricity from Aroostook County to the New England power grid isn't going anywhere, after the Maine Public Utilities Commission called off a deal with the project's devel- oper. e PUC last year selected LS Power to construct a 160-mile line that would transmit power from a compan- ion project, the 1,000-megawatt "King Pine" wind farm to be built by Longroad Energy near Houlton. e net cost of the two projects was estimated at $1.8 billion over a 30-year period. But after LS Power said it could "no longer hold" to its original pricing for the line's devel- opment, the PUC said the agreement was no longer valid. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation announced a total of $195,000 in grants to 22 nonprofit organizations in Maine and New Hampshire. The largest in Maine was a three-year, $75,000 grant to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta to support the expansion of the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care. The town of Madawaska launched a redesigned website, www.townofmadawaska.com. B I Z M O N E Y After Dec. 18 storm, relief fund aims to help small businesses B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r S evere flooding, road washouts and prolonged power outages during the Dec. 18 storm resulted in substantial losses for retailers, grocers, restaurants and other small enterprises. Now businesses that were affected can tap into the Maine Business Relief Fund, launched by the Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association. "Maine's retailers and small businesses have been through a lot for a few years now, but a storm like this dur- ing the final week of holiday sales was an incredible blow to many of our small businesses," said Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine. "It is our hope that the Maine Business Relief Fund will help provide some necessary support to help clean up, replenish lost inventory and help get them back on track in 2024." The fund offers grants from $2,500 to $10,000 to cover expenses such as equipment replacement, operating expenses, supplies and assistance with cleanup. The goal is to help meet immediate needs until further support is available. The application period will be open through Jan. 31. The associations received a commitment of $250,000 in matching funds from an anonymous private donor. Major contributors include Hancock Lumber, Marden's, Old Port Candy Co. and Old Port Card Works. The associations are inviting businesses and individu- als to make tax-deductible contributions, payable to the Maine Business Relief Fund and mailed to 45 Melville St., Augusta, ME 04330. "A number of Maine's independent grocers lost perishable food, and equipment due to flooding, or prolonged power outages as a result of the Dec. 18 storm," said Christine Cummings, executive director of Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association. "Grocers operate on very small margins, so providing them a little help will go a long way for these critical businesses in Maine's rural communities." The fund was established under the Maine Business Education Partnership, a 501(c)(3) organization, in part- nership with the Maine Tourism Association, Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Maine Area Chamber of Commerce, Forks Chamber of Commerce, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, Maine Development Foundation and others. The fund was inspired by relief efforts in Vermont, which raised $800,000 and distributed grants of up to $10,000 to businesses following a similar catastrophe. "The severe storm and flooding was devastating for so many, including many businesses that suffered significant losses at the worst possible time — right before the holiday," said Gov. Janet Mills. P H O T O / P E T E R VA N A L L E N N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N A severe storm on Dec. 18 knocked out power to more than half a million Maine customers.

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