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V O L . X X X I N O. V I I A P R I L 7 , 2 0 2 5 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 $50M gift will fund program to study AI Brunswick-based Bowdoin College has received a $50 million gift, the largest in its 231-year history, from Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to fund an initiative to study arti- ficial intelligence. e Hastings Initiative for AI and Humanity is designed to "advance Bowdoin's mission of cultivating wisdom for the common good by deepening the college's engagement with one of humanity's most transformative developments: artificial intelli- gence," Hastings commented in a press release. 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 Press Association in Camden awarded six scholarships to high school and college students total- ing $10,000 to help those students pursue a career in journalism. Housing funding will target Bangor, Presque Isle U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that Presque Isle Housing Authority received $249,150 and the Bangor Housing Authority was awarded $245,442 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Resident Opportunities and Self- Sufficiency Grant program. e funding will be used to hire and maintain service coordinators who assess the needs of residents of conventional public housing and coordinate available resources in communities to meet those needs. 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 Maine Department of Transportation will build a roundabout at the intersection of Routes 2 and 7 in the Penobscot County town of Newport to address collisions in what the depart- ment says is a high-crash area. Gordon Contracting Inc., of Sangerville, will manage the $7 million project. For the life you choose. 1.888.725.2207 norwaysavings.bank/lets-talk M E M B E R F D I C At Norway Savings Bank, business banking is more than lending and deposits. It transcends the transaction, becoming truly engaged in your business and success. Whether it's in the form of a loan or line of credit, programs that help you manage payment processing and cybersecurity, or just being there to listen and help answer questions—if it's important to you, it's important to us. Business banking that starts with you. Joseph McDonnell, President & CEO Angela Gillespie, Chief Operations Officer Howell Laboratories, Inc. Bridgton, Maine MDI Hospital is latest to close labor and delivery unit B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r C iting declining birth rates, Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor said this week it would close its labor and delivery unit, effective July 1. The announcement follows similar closures around the state, including MaineHealth's plan to end inpatient labor and delivery services at MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast as of April 1, York Hospital's closure of its inpatient birthing unit in 2023 and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston closure of its maternity and women's health unit. "This is deeply personal for me — I gave birth to both of my children here," said Christina Maguire, MDI Hospital's president and CEO. "We know how much this service has meant to our community. But we must adapt to ensure the continued strength of our hospital and the care we provide." The hospital cited a "dramatic decline" in births. A decade ago, annual deliveries averaged around 100. In 2024, only 32 babies were born at MDI Hospital. In 2025, that number has dropped to nine to date. The low volumes made maintaining the specialized skills required for safe, high-quality obstetric care increasingly difficult, the hospital said. The decision comes after a review of patient safety, staff readiness and long-term viability. Maguire cited skyrocketing costs, a shrinking rural population and inadequate reimbursement from federal and state sources as part of the rationale. The hospital said it was working to ensure maternal health remains a priority. MDI Hospital's system includes health centers in Bar Harbor, Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Trenton. P O L I T I C S & C O. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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