Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 M AY 1 9 , 2 0 2 5 With cuts to USDA program, farmers to raise funds Maine farms and food entities have come together to form a statewide collaborative fundraising initia- tive in the wake of federal funding cuts. Farm to Neighbor Maine said the seven entities — Cultivating Community in Portland, Daybreak Growers Alliance in Unity, Healthy Acadia in Ellsworth, Farms for Food Equity in Cape Elizabeth, Mi'kmaq Farms in Caribou, New Roots Cooperative in Lewiston and Somali Bantu Community Association in Wales — lost funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's local food purchasing agreement in March. e funding represented $1.25 million to be distributed through June 2028. To address the immedi- ate need, the producers affected by the funding freeze gained support from Peak Season Maine, a whole- sale produce distributor in Freedom, and Full Plates Full Potential, a child nutrition organization in Brunswick; the goal is to raise $750,000. Hang on: Maine's 207 area code gets another reprieve Just a few years ago, the Maine Public Utilities Commission pro- jected the supply of unused phone numbers with the state's 207 area code would run out in 2025. Last year, that projection was extended to 2036. Now the state's single area code is expected to last until the first quarter of 2045, accord- ing to an updated forecast by the North American Numbering Plan Administrator. e commission said 207's resilience is due to its ongo- ing efforts to delay the need for a second area code in the state. "is extension gives us nearly 20 more years before a second area code could be necessary," said Philip Bartlett, chair of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Rural broadband funding gets the axe Efforts to expand broadband in rural areas are on the chopping block with the federal government's termination of $35 million in broadband funds. e termination of three grants to the Maine Connectivity Authority affects 130,000 people, according to a news release. "is announcement S T A T E W I D E " FAME was instrumental in the growth of our business. We needed someone to close our fi nancing gap, and they were there for us." Will Fisher, Co-Founder AUSTIN STREET BREWERY, Portland 1-800-228-3734 • TTY: 207-626-2717 10-Time Winner, Best Places to Work in Maine (2015–24) FAMEmaine.com Your local commercial loan insurance partners with quick online approvals & personalized service. "Revitalizing an old "Revitalizing an old building in the historic building in the historic downtown of Saco was downtown of Saco was no small feat. The grant no small feat. The grant programs and guidance programs and guidance from the Economic from the Economic Development team Development team proved to be essential proved to be essential to the launch of our to the launch of our restaurant, Finestkind." restaurant, Finestkind." Saco Economic Development Tracey Desjardins, Director economicdevelopment@sacomaine.org sacomaine.org/economicdevelopment Tom Barthelmes Co-owner/Chef, Finestkind

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