Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I I N O. I V F E B R UA R Y 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 6 Maine's January home sales dip Fewer homes in Vacationland changed hands in January than in the same month a year ago, according to Maine Listings. According to Maine Listings, 778 single-family existing homes were sold in January, or 9.53% fewer than a year earlier. Even with fewer buyers, the median sales price was $389,000, little changed from $386,500 in January 2025. Maine rural hospitals to share federal funding Close to $71 million in federal funds will be directed toward Maine hospitals and health centers in the current fiscal year. Much of the funding will be directed to rural hospitals and is earmarked for capital projects like upgrades to emer- gency rooms and dental clinics. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that Maine will receive a total of $425.7 million through congressional- ly directed spending for 156 projects located throughout the state in the fiscal-year 2026 Appropriations bills signed into law to date. Portland museum to open temporary event space e Portland Museum of Art hopes to open its proposed open-air "interim community space" at 142 Free St. this summer. e lot that used to house the former Children's Museum will be temporarily repurposed as an outdoor events and performance space — until construction of the new 60,000-square- foot wing gets underway. Fundraising for the $100 million expansion is ongoing. Maine's first Aldi is set to open in March e German discount grocery retailer Aldi will open its first Maine store in March, in the Pine Tree Shopping Center in Portland. e company signed a lease for the former Big Lots store loca- tion, at 1100 Brighton Ave., and has been renovating the space, some 12,000 square feet — roughly the size of a Trader Joe's. B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state S T A T E W I D E S O U T H E R N SP ONSORED BY From 'no heat' to 'raging,' a Buxton company creates a salsa for every palate B y S l o a n e M . P e r r o n B uxton-based Galaxie Salsa was founded so one mom could spend more time with her two kids. That focus on family turned a passion for salsa-making into a thriv- ing Maine business, with products now on the shelves of 55 Hannaford locations along with specialty food stores across the state. With 11 flavors ranging from no heat options to mild and raging scorpion pepper, founder Dana Carman promises something for every salsa lover. At the heart of the salsa is a unique ingredient: zucchini. The zucchini creates a thicker consistency that avoids the "watery mess" common in many salsas, while also adding nutritional value. Carman launched Galaxie Salsa in 2010 after a job change. Previously working nights to maximize time with her two daugh- ters, she wanted to preserve that family balance. Over the years, she reinvented a family salsa recipe, and encouragement from friends and customers inspired her to bring it to market. She started by making small batches and meeting customers at car shows, where the family show- cased its 1963 Ford Galaxie. The classic car inspired the company's name and logo. What started in her home kitchen eventually moved into a separate building that her mechanic husband, Chuck, helped convert. From the beginning, it has always been a family effort. Her daughters stuck labels on jars and helped fill orders as they grew up. Today, Carman handles everything from chopping vegetables and jarring to wholesale distribu- tion and online sales, fully aware of the constant demands small business owners face. "It takes a lot to be self-employed and stay afloat, but it also let me be a mom and a working woman at the same time and let me have a business that I'm pretty proud of," she says. Carman continues experimenting with new flavors. Recent creations include Sweet Ride, a no-heat salsa featuring peaches. While the flavor lineup keeps expanding, Real Classic, the original recipe, remains a favorite starting point for customers. Beyond the kitchen, Carman uses her business to give back. She supports local softball teams, speaks at her former high school about entrepreneurship, and works with Girl Scouts earning their small business badge. Through salsa and her faith, she has built meaningful connections across her community. Looking ahead, Carman hopes to scale carefully. She wants to increase efficiency with new equipment but remains committed to preserving the distinctive zucchini texture and flavor that defines Galaxie Salsa. Originally educated as a teacher, Carman never imag- ined becoming a salsa entrepreneur, but she embraces the path wholeheartedly. "This is the platform that I was given, and this is where I feel like my purpose is," Carman says. "It is not just about the salsa. It gives me the opportunity to meet incredible people and give back to the community." P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Galaxie Salsa Founder Dana Carman makes the Classic Galaxie Salsa in Buxton. It takes a lot to be self-employed and stay afloat, but it also let me be a mom and a working woman at the same time and let me have a business that I'm pretty proud of. — Dana Carman Galaxie Salsa Dana Carman, founder of Galaxie Salsa, produces 11 varieties of salsa from Buxton.

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