Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1542455
V O L . X X X I I N O. I JA N UA R Y 1 2 , 2 0 2 6 4 C O N T E N T S SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Ken Hanson, Kerry Rasor ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Michelle Phillips EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR Samantha Elliott OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Allison Spies DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Leah Allen A division of New England Business Media LLC P R E S I D E N T / C E O Tom Curtin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrea Tetzlaff DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster, Claire, William HOSPITALITY EMERITUS Malcolm, Zoey PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen DEPUTY EDITOR Renee Cordes DIGITAL EDITOR Alexis Wells SENIOR WRITER Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Tina Fischer E C O N O M I C F O R E C A S T F O C U S Register at Portlandregion.com 10 Bold predictions for 2026 12 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Housing, life sciences key for Maine's economic development chief 12 FINANCIAL SERVICES Aroostook-based credit union eyes continued expansion 12 MANUFACTURING Mounting workforce stress for manufacturers 12 SMALL BUSINESS Restaurant owner pumped to branch into fitness 13 BREWING Baxter Brewing keeps fresh products pouring 14 INDUSTRIAL PARKS The County's massive business park offers 'promising' outlook 14 GAMING / HOSPITALITY Bangor is 'just getting started' 14 REAL ESTATE / SMALL BUSINESS Downtown Portland remains healthy 15 FOOD PRODUCTION Maine Grains monitors rising expenses 16 CANNABIS Maine's cannabis industry headed for saturation 16 HOUSING Affordable housing development set to continue 16 RETAIL / FASHION Old Port retailer optimistic despite challenges 16 TOURISM Banner year expected for small cruise ships; large-ship outlook mixed 17 HEALTH CARE More turmoil ahead for health care providers and patients 18 TOURISM Eastport looks to right size its cruise-ship market 18 BOATBUILDING Boat industry mostly stable, but keeping a weather eye to squalls 18 RURAL DEVELOPMENT Building housing that builds community 18 LUMBER AND CONSTRUCTION Prefabricated components help speed construction timelines 19 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Community colleges training workers to meet demand across industries 19 HOUSING POLICY Legislators working to address Maine's housing shortage 20 CHAMBERS Portland-area businesses face rising costs, other challenges 20 CHAMBERS Investment is the key word in Bangor 21 MANUFACTURING Maine needs to live up to its potential 21 POLITICS / POLICY Buckle up for a challenging economy 22 NONPROFITS /SOCIAL SERVICES 'Hopeful' signs have turned to uncertainty