Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 S E P T E M B E R 2 2 , 2 0 2 5 more applied science and engineer- ing. Plans for the facility include teaching and research laboratories, classrooms, offices, fabrication labs, computing infrastructure and gather- ing spaces. Child care center opens in Rangeley e Franklin County town of Rangeley, population 1,222, unveiled its first child care center — con- sidered key to building the area's workforce. e project was led by the Beth Brunswick Memorial Fund for Children. e 4,986-square-foot cen- ter sits on 2.75 acres at 85 Loon Lake Road, contiguous to the Rangeley Lakes Regional School. e cost was $3.6 million and it will be run as a nonprofit. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N VIP Tires & Service relocated its Norway location from 85 Main St. to 44 Alpine St. VIP is based in Auburn. Agren, a family-owned appliance and mat- tress retailer based in Auburn, opened a location at 6 Pond Road in Sidney. Topsham-Brunswick bridge set for demolition Reed & Reed Inc., a general contractor based in Woolwich, is getting ready to replace a heav- ily trafficked bridge on Maine's midcoast. e $49.9 million proj- ect for the Maine Department of Transportation entails demolishing the Frank J. Wood Bridge, which opened in 1937 and carries Route 201 over the Androscoggin River between Brunswick and Topsham, and replacing it with a new structure designed to last 100 years. An aver- age of 19,256 vehicles use the bridge daily. MaineDOT anticipates start- ing the demolition work sometime this winter, according to a spokes- man for the agency. e Frank J. Wood Bridge had been the subject of preservation efforts, including a lawsuit to block its demolition, but MaineDOT said the replace- ment bridge "will improve safety and reliability for the surrounding communities." 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 Island Institute in Rockland awarded a total of $214,000 in Glenn Fund Community Impact Grants to 56 projects advancing climate solutions, economic opportunity and community resilience across Maine's coast and islands. College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor said it was among a national consor- tium of 10 small liberal arts colleges awarded a total of $8.5 million from the Endeavor Foundation. Phase 2 of the Endeavor Lab Colleges consortium supports members who have been working on improving student well-be- ing since 2023. Bar Harbor Bank & Trust employees presented a total of $24,000 in dona- tions collected through the bank's employee-driven charitable giving program, Casual for a Cause, to nine organizations serving communities in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Loring inks three new tenants Loring Commerce Centre, an air base- turned-business park in Aroostook County, has signed three new tenants: Circle B Farms, owned and operated by omas and Gina Ayer of Caribou, leased 21,000 square feet; Norstar, which sells and repairs appliances; and Greystone Group, a New Brunswick, Can., firm that will use Loring space as a command operations hub for Maine deployments, with over 30 employees. Greystone offers power line services and bridge restoration work, among other services. e tenants were brought in by Green 4 Maine LLC, a development company that owns 450 acres at Loring. Keller Williams Realty brokered the leases. Loring Commerce Centre, which is in Limestone, was formerly Loring Air Force Base. e total size is 8,700 acres. 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 Maine Savings Federal Credit Union in Hampden launched the Maine Savings Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to strengthening Maine com- munities. The foundation's first initia- tive, the Beyond Banking Grant Program, will award $5,000 in grants to five local organizations focusing on health and wellness, education, culture and arts, and social and civic services. A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y D a v e W i l l i a m s , f o u n d e r , T r i t o n T a l e n t S o l u t i o n s The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a nonprofit association of independent consultants who value "success through collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. Q: How can my business attract and keep great employees? ACE advises: Finding and keeping great employees has always been a challenge, but for small businesses, the competition for talent can feel even tougher. With a limited candidate pool and larger companies often drawing people south, small busi- ness owners need to be intentional about hiring and retention. 1. Start with referrals: Your current employees are one of your best recruiting tools. A referral from someone who knows your business and culture is often more effective than any job posting. Offer a small incentive — bonus, gift card or extra day off — when a referral leads to a hire. If you don't have a program, put one in place. 2. Tap local schools and trade programs: Excellent uni- versities, trade schools and community colleges produce skilled graduates every year. Don't wait for students to find you — show up at career fairs, guest lectures and student events. This not only helps with hiring today but also builds a future pipeline and keeps graduates local. 3. Build retention through community: Retention isn't just about salary; it's about belonging. Encourage employees to represent your company at local events or nonprofit initiatives. When employees feel connected to both your business and the wider community, they're more likely to stay. 4. Invest in growth: For many workers, especially younger talent, opportu- nities for continuing education, certifications or skill-building are key. Show that you're invested in their future and they'll be more invested in yours. 5. Offer flexibility: Post pandemic, flexibil- ity is one of the most requested benefits. Even if remote work isn't pos- sible, consider flexible hours, compressed work weeks or occasional remote days. 6. Celebrate and recognize: Small businesses can make rec- ognition personal. A handwritten thank-you note, a shout-out at a meeting or a celebration of anniversaries can go a long way. Attracting and retaining talent in Maine isn't about com- peting with big-city salaries — it's about creating meaningful connections, investing in growth and showing employees they matter. Dave Williams, founder of Triton Talent Solutions. has over 20 years' experience building, leading and transforming recruiting departments at businesses of all sizes. Contact Dave at dave@tritontalentsolutions.com 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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