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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 A P R I L 6 , 2 0 2 6 Laboratory in Bar Harbor, received a $2.3 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences to study how cells organize one of their most active internal structures — the nucleolus — and what happens when that organization breaks down. Defense firm plans to scale up production Compotech Inc., a defense contrac- tor in Brewer, is planning to scale up production of next-generation com- posite structures for the U.S. military. e company was awarded a $952,228 loan from the latest round of the Maine Technology Institute's Maine Technology Asset Fund. e latest push builds on the company's development of a new and more advanced panelized shelter called "extendable, panelized and collapsible shelter" or E-PACS. Connecticut broadband firm plans Kennebec County move A Plainfield, Conn., builder of fiber networks is opening a regional office in the Kennebec County town of Sidney. Sertex Broadband Solutions leased 7,200 square feet of industrial space at 14 Pond Road from Agren Sidney LLC. Justin Lamontagne from the Dunham Group brokered the lease. Sappi North America CEO honored by trade publication A trade publication that covers the paper industry honored Sappi North America's CEO as the "2026 Executive Papermaker of the Year." Mike Haws led the $500 million conversion and expansion of Paper Machine No. 2 at Sappi's Somerset Mill in Skowhegan — leadership that demonstrated "exceptional vision," strat- egy and commitment not only to the company but the industry as a whole, according to PaperAge magazine. Dover-Foxcroft bridge project to detour traffic until 2027 e Dover Bridge over the Piscataquis River on Essex Street in Dover-Foxcroft will be closed starting March 25. e Maine Department of Transportation said the 96-year-old bridge needs to be replaced and the crossing will be shut down to traffic until Dec. 1, 2027. e $10.6 million project is feder- ally funded. Wyman & Simpson of Richmond is the contractor. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N The Maine Development Foundation in Augusta said its Maine Downtown Center program received a $750,000 grant from the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program to sup- port historic preservation in rural downtowns. Maine Adaptive's 38 th Annual Ski-A- Thon held at Sunday River Ski Resort raised $380,000 to support its year- round programs. The Maine Community College System in Augusta said its institutions collectively add $1 billion to Maine's economy annually, according to an economic impact study by Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics. The study also indicated that com- munity colleges generate more tax revenue than they receive, returning $2.70 to Maine taxpayers over the course of students' working lives for every dollar of public money invested in the colleges. Cianbro selected for bridge and road projects Pittsfield-based Cianbro Corp. has been selected to replace three over- passes along I-95 in Bangor — a project valued at $54 million. Starting April 6, the Maine Department of Transportation will begin pre- paring the median between I-95's northbound and southbound lanes. e project is part of a long-term undertaking to replace the two I-95 bridges over Stillwater Avenue with a single-span bridge. A median crossover utilizing the new north- bound alignment will be put in place to maintain through-traffic during construction. 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 Bath Marine Draftsmen's Association, UAW Local 3999, ratified a tentative four-year collective bar- gaining agreement on March 28 with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The agreement came five days after the union local went on strike over wages and benefits. paulwhitecompany.com 50 Allen Ave Portland, ME 207-797-4657 View Our Projects Maine's Trusted Source for Flooring & Countertops BUILDING A BETTER MAINE SINCE 1952 O U R S E R V I C E S : CM@RISK DESIGN-BID-BUILD VALUE ENGINEERING RENOVATIONS 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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