Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1544941
V O L . X X X I I N O. X I M AY 1 8 , 2 0 2 6 4 C O N T E N T S Ellsworth's downtown upswing New eateries, venues and shops enhance the city as a destination Survival tactics How small Maine businesses are navigating the rising cost of everything 28 22 34 Largest Finance Authority of Maine loans Ranked by FAME loan amount, then exposure 35 How To Use AI as a business coach S M A L L B U S I N E S S F O C U S I N D U S T R Y T H U M B N A I L O N PA G E 2 1 ยป YOU'RE INVITED TO A NIGHT BY THE NUBBE AT THE GALA FOR MENTAL HEALTH SCAN TO LEARN MORE + GET TICKETS JUNE 11TH 5 TO 9PM THE /IEWPOINT IN +OR>' MAIN8 ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT SWEETSER SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER Ken Hanson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Michelle Phillips EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR Samantha Elliott OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Allison Spies DIRECTOR OF AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT Leah Allen A division of New England Business Media LLC P R E S I D E N T / C E O Tom Curtin CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Andrea Tetzlaff DIGITAL DIRECTOR Jan Holder CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mark Jeanneret Carrie Yardley RESEARCH DIRECTOR Stephanie Meagher RESEARCH ASSISTANT Heide Martin ART DIRECTOR Matt Selva HOSPITALITY Buster, Claire, William HOSPITALITY EMERITUS M.J., Malcolm, Zoey PUBLISHER Andrea Tetzlaff EDITOR Peter Van Allen DEPUTY EDITOR Renee Cordes DIGITAL EDITOR Alexis Wells SENIOR WRITER Laurie Schreiber STAFF WRITER Tina Fischer MAINEBIZ IS COMMITTED TO ACCURATE, FAIR AND IMPARTIAL COVERAGE OF BUSINESS NEWS IN THE STATE OF MAINE. P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F H O N E Y A N D L A C E Veronica Stubbs, founder of the Scone Goddess Bagels at Honey & Lace Baking Co. 22 P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F B L A C K M O O N P U B L I C H O U S E 28 28