Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 F E B R UA R Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Uprise Partners, a cybersecurity and IT managed services provider in Portland, announced it launched its Kineo Technology Platform, an integrated technology foundation that powers all of the company's managed IT services. Goodwill Northern New England in Gorham said its AmeriCorps mem- bers contributed 103,842 hours of service across 49 community organi- zations in 2025, strengthening com- munities throughout Maine and New Hampshire. The programs place mem- bers in local nonprofits, municipalities and schools where they support youth development, public health and orga- nizational capacity-building efforts that help communities thrive long term. Evernorth Rural Ventures, a qualified rural community development entity with an office in Portland, announced that it was awarded a $10.4 million allocation of New Markets Tax Credits authority by The Finance Authority of Maine in Augusta to continue its economic and community development investment in low-income and rural areas across Maine. The organization also said it closed a $6.8 million allo- cation of New Markets Tax Credits for the construction of an 11,000 square- foot facility to enhance and expand the community impact of the Trinity Jubilee Center, a nonprofit in Lewiston that works to address unmet needs of underserved people. Maine Credit Union League in Westbrook said its members raised a record total of $1.5 million in food and monetary donations as part of its 2025 Campaign for Ending Hunger. Hannaford Supermarkets in Scarborough announced that the Hannaford Charitable Foundation committed to donating a total of $1.16 million to support nonprofits advancing food security, education and health in 2025. Aroma Joe's, a handcrafted beverage franchise based in Scarborough, said that its AJ's Cares Foundation was officially approved as a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization. Funds will be pri- marily raised through local franchisees hosting community donation days in which a percentage of sales goes to a specific organization that supports organizational pillars. Merger joins cider and seltzer brands Albion-based Freedom's Edge Cider has merged with Dasch Seltzer, unit- ing two craft beverage companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Andy Kaplan, one of the founders of Freedom's Edge Cider, told Mainebiz that for the past year the company had served as a co-packer for Dasch Seltzer, which was founded by a brother-and- sister team from Brunswick. Androscoggin Bank to close one of two Lewiston branches Androscoggin Bank confirmed plans to close a branch at 30 Lisbon St. in Lewiston — one of two branches in Maine's second-largest city, where the bank is based — while empha- sizing its long-term commitment to the community. e closure, planned for April 30, was notified to Maine's Bureau of Financial Institutions, which is accepting written comments on the plan through March 11. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Norway Savings Bank donated $20,000 to CrossWalk Community Outreach as the food pantry completes the transition to its new home located at 11 October Road in Naples. The bank also contribut- ed $10,000 to the Maine Venture Fund to serve as the headline and presenting sponsor of its Maine Startup Challenge. The Maine Semiquincentennial Commission in Augusta awarded grants to 14 community groups across Maine to support communities, organizations and institutions in commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. MaineGeneral Medical Center's Peter Alfond Prevention & Healthy Living Center was awarded a one-year, $50,000 grant from the Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Central Maine Power's parent company Avangrid, to support the health sys- tem's emergency food bag program and healthy cooking and eating classes. The LA Metro Chamber of Commerce launched Catalyst, the second series in its Business Lab program, a seven-week learning experience beginning March 2 that focuses on helping business own- ers move from understanding their busi- ness to managing it strategically. C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y C a r r i e G r e e n Y a r d l e y 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. Carrie Green Yardley is an ACE board member, small business lawyer and member of Climate Work Maine's sustainability counsel. For additional information, register for Climate Work Maine's 2026 Summit, March 19 at Thompson's Point in Portland. climateworkmaine.org/summit-2026 Q: How can my small business reduce climate-related risk and control costs at the same time? ACE advises: For many Maine small businesses, climate change can feel abstract — until a storm disrupts opera- tions, energy costs spike or insurance premiums rise. The good news is that many climate-related measures are prac- tical tools for risk reduction and long-term cost savings. Efficiency Maine is often the most practical start- ing point for small businesses seeking cost control and risk reduction. Through its Commercial & Industrial Prescriptive Rebates, the program offers standardized incentives for common upgrades such as LED lighting conversions, high-efficiency HVAC systems, heat pumps, refrigeration improvements, and water heating equipment. In particular, program manager Satchel Toole notes the organization tries to be a "one-stop shop" for HVAC needs. Participating contractors and Efficiency Maine programs work together to streamline planning, equipment selec- tion, and rebate coordination while maximizing savings. C&I rebates reduce upfront capital costs and accelerate payback periods, making energy upgrades financially feasible even for smaller operations. Efficiency Maine also offers C&I Custom Programs for more complex or large-scale projects — such as manufac- turing process improvements or comprehensive building upgrades — where incentives are tailored to projected energy savings. By low- ering overall energy consumption, businesses can stabilize oper- ating expenses and reduce exposure to volatile fuel and electricity prices. Coastal Enterprises Inc.'s Climate & Clean Energy Resource Guide is an excel- lent next step for businesses ready to take a broader look at climate risk. The guide compiles financing options, technical assistance providers, and state and federal incentive programs avail- able to Maine businesses. It helps identify funding that can reduce the capital burden of resilience upgrades, clean energy installations, and efficiency improvements. Climate planning is no longer just about environmental values. For Maine small businesses, it is about stabiliz- ing costs, protecting assets, and strengthening long-term competitiveness. The tools are available — and increas- ingly, the smartest financial decision is to use them.

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