Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 6 Maine home sale prices defy seasonal lull Despite lower sales volume for Maine's single-family homes in February, home prices increased 3.47% to a median sales price of $395,000. Sales volume declined 8.84% compared to a year ago, according to the latest Maine Listings data. Maine's outdoor industry hits $3.9 billion record Maine's outdoor recreation industry is on a steady upward trajectory but faces national headwinds including inflation and shifting consumer behavior, as docu- mented in two reports. In 2024, Maine's outdoor recreation industry generated $3.9 billion in value-added, accounting for 4% of the state's GDP and support- ing more than 32,000 jobs, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis. at was the largest recorded measure for Maine since the agency started calculating the size of the nation's outdoor recreation economy in 2012. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E North Country Associates in Lewiston and Sandy River Co. in Portland announced that they will collaborate under a new shared brand name, MaineSail Care Communities, to provide care to seniors and their fam- ilies. In the past seven years, the two or- ganizations have worked together to devel- op four new senior care centers, investing over $100 million in total project costs and employing over 600 staff. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, in South Portland and Covenant Health in Bangor and Lewiston, announced they have reached a new multi-year contract 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 PR ES ENTI NG S PONS OR W E D N E S D AY, A P R I L 2 9 / 4 – 6 P M / O W L S H E A D T R A N S P O R TAT I O N M U S E U M HORS D'OEUVRES / CASH BAR / NETWORKING WITH AREA BUSINESS EXECUTIVES S PACE IS S PACE IS L IMITED L IMITED, BE S URE TO , BE S URE TO R EG IS TER! R EG IS TER! Please register ahead at mainebiz.biz/event/otr-rockland REGIONAL SP ONSORS ROCKLAND A Portland startup is developing twine with a twist B y R e n e e C o r d e s V iable Gear, a Portland-based startup launched in 2021 to help rid the world of single-use plastics, is gearing up to bring its first product to market — a seaweed-based agricultural twine called SeaTwine. Designed as an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based plastic trellising and crop twine, SeaTwine is engineered to offer durability, water resistance and handling performance. "In terms of durability, our material performs on par with con- ventional plastic during use," Katie Weiler, the company's founder and CEO, told Mainebiz. "It is hydrophobic, meaning it resists water absorption and degradation in wet conditions. This sets it apart from natural fiber alternatives like hemp, jute and sisal, which can weaken or rot over the course of a growing season." SeaTwine also main- tains strength and per- formance even in chal- lenging outdoor environ- ments, she noted. Reducing plastic use Weiler was recognized on the Mainebiz 40 Under 40 list in 2022. At the time, she mentioned her longstanding goal to reduce single-use plastics — an effort that led her to start Viable Gear. Most of the research and development and early proto- types were done in Maine, and eventually Weiler hopes to move production here. Weiler said that pre-sales of SeaTwine are "going great," with the official launch targeted for May. While the initial focus is on vegetables and fruit, "devel- oping a heavier-duty baling twine and a hop twine are next — essentially by increasing the gauge and thickness of the existing SeaTwine," she explained. Seaweed sourcing Viable Gear is working with a biorefinery in California to help source seaweed that is sustainably harvested and processed from countries including South Africa and Panama. "We would love to be using Maine and/or U.S. seaweeds," Weiler said. "The industry is making steps to have that become a possibility, which is really exciting, and we con- tinue to support those efforts." Distribution plans Including Weiler, Viable Gear is staffed by three full-time employees, with plans to hire contract marketing and sales support over the next few months. Weiler said the company is initially targeting vegetable and fruit farmers with direct-to-consumer sales via its online platform. "Our next phase will be to start selling with distributors like farming and gardening supply stores to get SeaTwine on their shelves," she said. SP ONSORED BY P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y O F V I A B L E G E A R Viable Gear is gearing up for its first product launch this spring with the introduction of SeaTwine, an agricultural twine made from seaweed.

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