Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1524150
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 J U LY 2 2 , 2 0 2 4 to filing fraudulent applications for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maine said. According to court records, between April 2020 and September 2021, Frederick Avery, 49, submitted two applications for PPP loans that claimed he was the 100% owner of Superior Cruise and Travel LLC. Avery sold the agency to a limited liability com- pany in Pennsylvania in November 2019. He claimed on the applica- tions that the loans, which totaled more than $215,000, were for payroll, lease/mortgage interest, utilities, and other items. Avery submitted falsified bank statements from a nonexistent account to support one of the applica- tions. e FBI investigated the case. WEX gains ground in trademark case WEX Inc. (NYSE: WEX), the Portland-based financial technology provider, has won an interim rul- ing in its trademark infringement case against HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ). e lawsuit, filed in April, claims that HP has illegally used the WEX name in a new digital platform enabled by artificial intelligence. HP calls the technology the "Workplace Experience Platform," branded as "WEX." HP, formerly known as Hewlett-Packard and based in Palo Alto, Calif., has a market value of around $35 billion. WEX is valued at $7.4 billion. WEX's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine, argues that HP's use of the WEX name "will cause irreparable harm to WEX and deceive consumers." Strawberry farm calls it quits After nine generations of farming in Cape Elizabeth and a curtailed sea- son, Maxwell's Farm is permanently closing operations, including its popular strawberry fields, the family- owned business announced. "It is with heavy hearts and many tears that we are announcing this year, 2024, was the FINAL season of Maxwell's Strawberry Farm," Maxwell's said in a July 7 morning email to custom- ers. "Believe when we say, we feel the weight of nine generations in this decision." Maxwell's closure comes as the number of farms, and farmland, continues to dwindle nationwide. In Maine, the number of farms declined from 7,600 in 2017 to 7,036 in 2022, according to the latest census by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 207-786-5705 We know how hard you work. Let us work hard for you. mainecb.com Working with Maine Community Bank feels like working with old friends. The process is seamless, decisions are made locally, there are no surprises, and our banker, Justin, is always accessible. JOHN LALIBERTE & MICHAEL BARTON REVELER DEVELOPMENT " Working with Maine " Working with Maine Working with Maine " always accessible. " always accessible. always accessible. HALEYWARD.COM 207.989.4824 100% Employee Owned ECONOMIC GROWTH INNOVATION and in Presque Isle NORTHEASTLAND HOTEL A Notable MEREDEA-recognized project by Haley Ward and Ignite PI, driving