Mainebiz

V O L . X X X N O. X X V I N OV E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 2 4 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 told Mainebiz. In the last two years, the institute has lost two promising new researchers because they were unable to find affordable housing. One scientist stayed with the institute for a couple of years but had to move because he couldn't find permanent affordable housing, she said. Another couldn't accept a position offered to her because she couldn't find an affordable place to live. "We're trying to make our location as attractive as possible," said Tilton. "It's attractive science-wise, but there are practical considerations." Horch Roofing looks toward Downeast expansion Warren-based Horch Roofing acquired 477 Washington Junction Road from Downeast Printing and Graphics for $500,000 — offering room to help build a Downeast client base. e 25,000-square-foot industrial build- ing is occupied by the seller along with NewLand Nursery & Landscaping and a rental storage tenant. e plan is to largely maintain the space as multi-ten- ant industrial.e roofing company will occupy part of the building. 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 The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association Certification Services in Unity announced the voluntary recogni- tion of their staff's new union with the Maine Service Employees Association (MSEA-SEIU Local 1989). BangorHousing upgrades admin building BangorHousing completed a $4 million renovation of its adminis- tration building at 161 Davis Road into an Opportunity Center that will accommodate expanded chil- dren's programming and resident services. BangorHousing, a quasi- governmental agency, has been in the building since the 1970s, Michael Myatt, the executive direc- tor, told Mainebiz. "Previously, the club was based in two small clubhouses across the street — and their staff was constantly walk- ing over to 161 Davis to utilize the gym and other spaces," Myatt said. BangorHousing offers resi- dent services programming geared toward parents and caregivers, such as financial advising, parenting workshops and driver's education. Renovation started in January. Dan Miller of TAC Architecture was the designer and Lajoie Brothers the general contractor. Half of the project cost was provided through a $2 million Congressionally desig- nated allocation supported by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. 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 BBS Team Sports, a retail out- let, opened at 450 Main St. in Presque Isle. Maine Savings Federal Credit Union in Hampden opened a branch at 878 Stillwater Ave. in Bangor. Northern Light Acadia Hospital in Bangor launched a comprehensive dementia care training program in rural Maine. This project, funded in full by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of an award total- ing $1.33 million, aims to improve access to dementia care specialists and provide contemporary care stan- dards in rural areas. The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation announced a total of $90,000 in grants awarded to 29 nonprofit or- ganizations across Maine and New Hampshire. B R I E F Waldo County hospital will restructure obstetrics department B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r R eflecting national trends, MaineHealth will end inpatient labor and delivery services at its hospital in Belfast as of April 1, 2025. On Nov. 7, the local board overseeing MaineHealth Waldo Hospital gave its approval to restructure the hospital's obstetrics department. Under the new structure, the hospital will continue to provide and expand comprehensive pre- and post-natal care. But for labor and delivery care, Waldo will refer expectant mothers to MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital — 22 miles south — or other facilities. "We know that many people in the community feel pas- sionately that Waldo Hospital should maintain inpatient labor and delivery services despite the significant chal- lenges associated with doing so," said Syrena Gatewood, chair of the board that oversees both Waldo Hospital and Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport. "However, the facts are compelling. Our community will have access to more reliable, safer care for expectant mothers and their babies if we partner with Pen Bay to provide this service." Low birth volume April 1, 2025, was chosen as the transition date so that patients who are four or more months pregnant won't have to change their delivery plans. The five-month window exceeds the state of Maine's requirement of providing 120 days' notice of such a closure, according to the release. The decision comes following a months-long review of the obstetrics program by the hospital's clinical and execu- tive leadership. There was also community outreach. A public forum hosted by MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in August was attended by more than 200 people. Hospital officials made presentations to the Belfast City Council. The hospital reached out proac- tively to dozens of community leaders and took in comments and suggestions over several weeks leading up to the forum. Denise Needham, president of the Waldo and Pen Bay hospitals, said significant challenges have emerged that make the continuation of the services unsustainable. "One of the central issues is the consistently low birth volume at Waldo, which fell to just 109 deliveries in 2023, a 20.4% decline from 2019, despite a statewide increase in birth rates," said Needham. National standards consider birth volumes under 200 deliveries annually to be "very low," and that, in turn, raised concerns within the industry about maintaining skills and patient safety, she said. Further complicating the situation is the difficulty of recruit- ing and retaining necessary staff. MaineHealth, the state's largest health care system, said it has sought to address staff shortages with aggressive recruiting, higher pay and investments in clinical education. But the challenges are particularly acute in rural settings, and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital has faced persistent shortages in pediatric providers, anesthesia coverage and nurses. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N E H E A LT H N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N Our community will have access to more reliable, safer care for expectant mothers and their babies. — Syrena Gatewood Waldo Hospital and Pen Bay Hospital board chair MaineHealth Waldo Hospital has been challenged by low birth volumes and difficulty recruiting and retaining specialized staff.

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