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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 21 JA N UA R Y 1 2 , 2 0 2 6 F O C U S E C O N O M I C F O R E C A S T project at Bangor International Airport, construction on the new 82,000-square-foot Bangor Y and upgrades in the sound system at the Penobscot eatre. "e 2026 outlook for the Bangor region can be summed up in one word: Investment," Neuman says. "Investments that will continue to improve the region's infrastructure, quality of life and grow the economy." Drilling down e airport upgrades include a redesign of the security checkpoint area and addition of passenger amenities in the gate area. e downtown Bangor Y will include two pools, a gym, indoor track and fitness center. e Penobscot eatre Co.'s upgrade of the sound system was accomplished with a hometown grant from T-Mobile. "e end result will mean better audio quality, especially for hard of hearing patrons," Neuman says. Updates are also in the works on the I-95 Broadway bridge and at Pickering Square, where new construction and land- scaping "will create a destination location for locals and visitors alike," she says. e need for housing is still pressing, but two major developments are under- way that will offer 74 units to middle- income residents and 50 units for senior living. "Other investments are happening throughout the Bangor region including new businesses investing in the region and existing businesses investing in growth," Neuman says. M A N U FAC T U R I N G Maine needs to live up to its potential B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n D erek Volk, CEO of Volk Packaging Corp., has been a vocal critic of the state's business policies and regulations. e Biddeford manufacturer of cor- rugated boxes expects "more growth in 2026," but he continues to sound the theme that "Maine continues to be a be an extremely challenging state to do business." Even with the context of trade tariffs and the effect on the U.S. economy, Volk zeroes in on the state's own impact on business growth. "I am optimistic but very concerned. e economy is sluggish, somewhat driven by the tariff war, but sales were up slightly year over year. We are pro- jecting more growth in 2026," he says. "However, Maine continues to be an extremely challenging state to do busi- ness. e powers that be in Augusta seem to have no idea how difficult they make it for businesses to stay, and thrive, in our great state." Despite the external factors, the company invested in two state-of-the- art machines and Volk says it continues to focus on its employees, customers and giving back to the community. "All of our customers are in New England, mostly in Maine, so we need a strong local economy," Volk says. "We depend on companies staying in Maine, and even moving to Maine. is state has so much to offer yet we continue to fall short of our potential. Regardless of what hurdles we have to jump over that are put in our way by Augusta, I believe our best years are ahead of us." P O L I T I C S / P O L I C Y Buckle up for a challenging economy B y P e t e r V a n A l l e n M arty Grohman is an entrepreneur and seasoned politician. He's seen a lot, but the former state Legislator and outgoing mayor C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » F I L E P H O T O Deb Neuman is president and CEO of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. F I L E P H O T O Derek Volk is CEO of Volk Packaging Corp. in Biddeford. City of Bangor's Foreign-Trade Zone 58 is anchored by Bangor International Airport, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port of entry, and direct access to I-95. As part of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program, FTZ 58 helps eligible importers and exporters manage tariffs through duty deferral, creating a clear cash-flow advantage, improving operational efficiency, supporting local jobs, and driving long-term economic growth. FTZ 58 offers this federal trade program across its five-county service area: Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo, and Washington Counties. Businesses evaluating tariff strategies and looking to strengthen trade operations should contact the City of Bangor's Economic Development team: Biguita Hernandez-Smith, Economic Development Officer: biguita.hernandez-smith@bangormaine.gov Brad Wall, Business Development Specialist: brad.wall@bangormaine.gov bangormaine.gov Bangor, Maine Navigating the Tariff Climate and Strengthening U.S. Trade Through FTZ 58

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