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V O L . X X X I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 6 8 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E opened its Internet Café and computer area to the public. Bixby Chocolate in Rockland made its debut on QVC on March 11, introducing its signature chocolate-dipped toffee with Maine sea salt to a nationwide audience. Skowhegan site slated for apartments e buyer of a century-old building in downtown Skowhegan is planning upgrades and the build-out of five sec- ond-story apartments that meet afford- able rental criteria. Patric Moore and JPM LLC bought the 16,020-square-foot J. Palmer Merrill building, at 48 Water St., from Greg and Linette Salisbury earlier this year for $499,900. Jeremy Frantz of Williams Realty Partners and Chris Marcoux of Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate brokered the deal. Bates plans $45M upgrade Bates College received a $10 million gift toward its $45 million project to update two athletic facilities and build a fitness and well-being center on its Lewiston campus. e goal is to break ground on May 1. e project includes renovation and updates to the Alumni Gymnasium and the Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building and construction of an 8,500-square-foot facility to be called the Stoddard Fitness and Well-Being Center, which will bridge Alumni Gym and Gray Athletic Building and will double the amount of fitness space currently available. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N VIP Tires & Service in Auburn is celebrat- ing its 100 th anniversary in 2026. The au- tomotive service provider and tire deal- er operates 77 New England locations across five states, employing over 800 team members. Norway Savings Bank donated $10,000 to the Opportunity Alliance, a nonprofit community action agency in South Portland, and $10,000 to Community Concepts, a nonprofit community action agency in South Paris. SEA Maine, an industry-led initiative based in Augusta bringing together leaders in Maine's commercial fishing, aquaculture and seafood economy, announced its key recommendations to strengthen Maine's seafood industry, including establishing a logistics coordination hub, launching a modular cold chain network and creating a cooperative capital pool. The Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants Program, a grant program of the Sadie and Harry Davis Foundation in Waterville, opened for the 19th year. The program was founded to support organizations that promote the physical, mental and so- cial health and well-being of Maine chil- dren from birth to 18 years of age. Since its inception, the program has awarded $2 million to 197 projects and programs across all 16 Maine counties. Women's networking group debuts in Aroostook A new networking group in Aroostook County aims to help businesswomen forge connections with one another and tap into professional development oppor- tunities. e effort was sparked when Kiersten Purington, president and CEO of Aroostook Partnership, relocated to the region and found no existing profes- sional women's network with which to connect. e group is scheduled to meet on the third Wednesday of each month from September through May, rotating among locations across the County. A health and obstetrics clinic in Bangor to close Another maternal health and obstetrics clinic is scheduled to close — the latest in a string of closures in recent years. At 12 Stillwater Ave. in Bangor, the owner of Downeast Ob/Gyn, an obstetrical and gynecological care private practice offering women's health care, announced in a Facebook post that the final day of business will be July 2. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N The Greater Bangor Association of Realtors said it donated $43,960 in 2025 to Penquis to benefit Theresa's Place, Design Wall Housing and the Elizabeth Levinson Center. Downtown Bangor Partnership launched Glow Up Grants, a program to enhance the curb appeal of downtown storefronts ahead of summer 2026. With support from DaVinci Signs in Hermon, the part- nership hopes to award five grants, each with a maximum award of $2,500. The application deadline is March 30. Your Vision. Your Journey. Your pace. Apply Today! sjcme.edu/online Get the degree you want without hitting "pause" on your life. At Saint Joseph's College of Maine (SJC), we bridge the gap between flexible online learning and the personal support of a traditional campus. Why Choose SJC Online? • 100% Online & flexible schedule. • True Mentorship from faculty. • Fast-Track Your Degree • Real-World Edge with expert instructors who guide your future. Affordability Within Reach We believe a quality education should be accessible. We offer: • Competitive Tuition with no hidden fees. • Financial Aid & multiple payment options. • Special Rates for Military, Alumni, and Partners. Multiple Start Dates Per Year Master's Degrees: Business, Education, Health Administration, Nursing, Theology. Postgraduate Certificates: Multiple disciplines available. Featured Programs Mainebiz highlights the innovation happening all over Maine. I constantly find new companies to be inspired by, and I love seeing fellow Maine businesses growing and thriving. — Becky McKinnell Founder & CEO, iBec Creative and Wildwood Oyster Co. 78% of Mainebiz readers spend 15 minutes or more reading each issue 77% of Mainebiz subscribers are the #1 decision-makers at their business. INFORM. ENGAGE. CONNECT. ENGAGED AUDIENCE FOR ADVER TI S I NG OPPOR TU NI TI ES, EM AI L ADVERTISING@MAINEBIZ.BIZ 82% of Mainebiz readers are college graduates STATEWIDE, SUBSCRIPTION-BASED BUSINESS PUBLICATION IN MAINE. WE ARE THE ONLY AUDITED, C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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