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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 O C T O B E R 6 , 2 0 2 5 N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N The College of Professional Studies at the University of New England, or UNE Online, expanded its End-of-Life Doula professional certificate program by offering two new modules for those who wish to further enhance their skills and knowledge in providing com- passionate, integrated care to patients approaching the end of life. New England Hyperbaric opened at 959 Congress St., Suite 1, in Portland. Spurwink, a Portland-based behavioral health and education services provider for children, adults and families, an- nounced it was awarded grants from United Way of Southern Maine to support its Therapeutic Preschool in Saco, Mental Health Services in Cumberland and York counties and Children's Advocacy Center in Cumberland County. Firestone Complete Auto Care opened at 451 Alfred Road in Biddeford. Goodwill Northern New England in Gorham announced that it joined the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy in recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month, an an- nual awareness campaign that takes place each October. Skowhegan shoe factory expands New Balance Athletics Inc. has com- pleted a $65 million, 120,000-square- foot addition to its Skowhegan footwear factory. e opening Sept. 22 was attended by U.S. Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, along with U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-2nd District. New Balance is the only major athletic shoe manufacturer that has maintained factories in the United States. e factory, at 17 Walnut St. in Skowhegan, was purchased by New Balance in 1981. e company broke ground on the expansion in June 2023. New Balance has another factory in Norway (Oxford County) and stores in Skowhegan, Oxford and Kittery. New Balance now employs 600 people in Maine. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast in Augusta raised $60,982 for Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor at its 29th annual Log A Load for Kids Northern Maine Golf Tournament. The Maine Justice Foundation in Augusta announced Nicholas Fowler of Bangor, Julia Lodsin of Skowhegan, Elizabeth Shardlow of Augusta and Nolan Tanous of Millinocket were the 2025 recipients of the Access to Justice Tax Credit Program. The program awards a $6,000 tax credit in 2025 and in each year thereafter through 2027 to 10 law- yers who practice in underserved areas. Norway Savings Bank presented $20,000 to MSAD 17 to fund the NorthStar 4-H Youth Mentoring Program experience for a cohort of students over the next six years, from seventh through 12 th grade. The mon- ey is part of a $120,000 partnership that fully funds the program. Sydney Capital Group Inc., an affordable housing real estate development com- pany in Brooklyn, N.Y., broke ground on renovations to 40 housing units in Place Saint Marie at 64 Oxford St. in Lewiston. The project's execution is being led by Great Falls Construction in Gorham as the construction manager and Platz Associates in Lewiston as architect. New cruise ship visitor berths in Eastport e Washington County city of Eastport welcomed a visit from Brilliant Lady, the latest cruise ship introduced by Virgin Voyages, a cruise line owned by English business mag- nate Richard Branson. e Eastport stop was part of the ship's maiden voy- age from New York City to Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was Virgin Voyages' first visit to Maine. e Eastport Port Authority, Maine Office of Tourism and CruiseMaine were on hand to welcome the ship on Sept. 18. Events included a traditional exchange of ceremonial plaque and key pieces and a guided tour of the Brilliant Lady for invited guests. Eastport is one of three deepwater ports in Maine, along with Searsport and Portland. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N An Empeople home equity loan or line of credit offers flexible options to fund major goals — a smart move with big potential. Learn more today at visit.empeople.com/home-equity BECOME A MEMBER: MDF.ORG/MEMBERSHIP Congratulations to all of the 2025 Mainebiz 40 Under 40 Honorees! DEVELOPING LEADERS. DOING TRUSTED RESEARCH. BUILDING CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS. DRIVING MAINE'S LONG TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH. Yeah, that's us.

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