Mainebiz

V O L . X X X I I N O. X I I I J U N E 1 5 , 2 0 2 6 6 Expanding transportation options A new coalition of more than a dozen organizations focused on a range of issues envisions more walk- ing, cycling, shared rides and public transportation as future options. e group, called Transportation for Maine, wants greater investment in sustainable and affordable options for getting around. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The boards of directors and members of the state CPA societies of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont approved a merger to form the New England Society of CPAs, effective July 1. Maine Diner files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy e Maine Diner in the York County town of Wells has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to restruc- ture its debt. N O T E W O R T H Y S O U T H E R N Norway Savings Bank donated $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine's Bridge to Success Teen Center, a new 13,000 square- foot facility that can welcome up to 500 youth each day. Sebago Technics expands with acquisition South Portland engineering firm Sebago Technics expanded its land surveying capabilities with the acqui- sition of K & K Land Surveyors Inc. in the Kennebec County town of Oakland. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. 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 Association of REALTORS Foundation in Augusta awarded a total of $185,000 through its 2026 Competitive Grant Program to 20 non- profit organizations. Ellsworth launches tourism platform e city of Ellsworth has teamed with the Heart of Ellsworth down- town advocacy group to launch DiscoverEllsworth.org, a tourism plat- form aimed at positioning the Hancock County city as a year-round destination. N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T Maine Street Mercantile & Mfg. Co. in Bath said it was awarded a $20,000 Amex Shop Small Grant from American Express and Main Street America to support artist and maker partner- ships, educational and community programming, preservation-minded 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 M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Hüga Heat turns up the temperature B Y R E N E E C O R D E S S ummer nights in the Arizona desert can get chilly, as Jocelyn Olsen and Colin Greig discovered on a trip out West promoting their battery-powered heated seat cushions. Inspired by the Danish concept of coziness and comfort called hygge, the couple founded Hüga Heat in 2020 to pack- age that comfort in seat warmers for outdoor use. The Southport-based startup first sold to restaurants dur- ing the pandemic, when outdoor dining was required even in frigid Maine, and have been expanding ever since with a sense of adventure — and humor. Olsen, a former executive at furniture and household retailer Wayfair, is Hüga Heat's "cheek" executive officer, while Greig is president of (ahem) back-end operations. The couple's recent road trip offered the chance to intro- duce their innovation at trade shows in the overland camping market for off-roading enthusiasts. "They make these crazy makeshift campers with rooftop tents and sleep in unheated campers," Olsen says. Campers are a key target market as the startup gears up to expand its product line. The company produces two core products. Working with contract manufacturers in Maine, Hüga Heat started with the Pro, designed for outdoor dining purposes with a thick cushion- ing and durable shell. A smaller, more portable version called the Go was released in October. Both are made from durable, water-resistant fabrics sourced from suppliers in Biddeford, Auburn and Connecticut that arrive in large rolls. Production is a team effort with a lot of moving parts. Flowfold in Gorham and Maine Flag Co. in Portland cut the fabrics with laser cutters. Portable batteries and heating elements are imported from China. The cushions are sewn by Olsen, Maine Flag Co. and Keegan Ambrose in Deer Isle. Webbing, zippers and Velcro also need to be attached. The final step for the Pro is at Pieceworks in Montville, where cushions are stuffed and then stored and shipped. While the Pro is stuffed with two-inch polyurethane foam from Butler Brothers in Lewiston, the Go model is stuffed with foam in two places. For Hüga Heat's founders, keeping production in Maine is a priority. "We have received so much support from organizations in Maine, like MTI, MITC, Maine Made and Maine Outdoor Brands to encourage us to build our company and crate employment in Maine," Olsen says. "We feel a responsibility to pay that forward, reinvest in the Maine economy and wherever possible and help other Maine businesses succeed." Hüga Heat's client base continues to grow, ranging from 40 to 50 Maine restaurants to swag for companies and nonprofits. Online, the Pro retails for $129.99 for three-plus hours of bat- tery power and $149.99 for six-plus hours of battery, while the Go is listed at $149.99 and $169.99. Retail outlets include REI in Westbrook as well as independent retailers such as Black Duck Emporium in Monhegan, Go Fish in Vinalhaven and Star Island on the Isle of Shoals. The next product to roll out is the Throw camping blanket, designed to pair with a larger solar battery for use in overland camping and in vehicles. SP ONSORED BY Production at Hüga Heat is a team effort with a lot of moving parts; in this photo, a tab is being sewn onto a Hüga Heat Pro. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY S O U T H E R N Jocelyn Olsen and Colin Greig founded Hüga Heat in 2020. P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY

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