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V O L . X X X I I N O. X V J U LY 1 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 Oakland rolls out business grants Downtown Oakland will get a facelift through its inaugural façade and down- town improvement grant program. e Kennebec County town awarded $25,000 across three businesses. Funded by the town's downtown tax-increment financing district, the program supports exterior building and site improvements that enhance the visual appeal, acces- sibility and long-term vitality of the commercial center. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Norway Savings Bank said it donated $50,000 to Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston that features a soup kitchen, food pantry, day shelter, resource center, immigrant integration program and health services to anyone in need and looking for help to stabilize and improve their lives. ConvenientMD announced that its first co- located health care facility, ConvenientMD Urgent Care and ConvenientMD Primary Care, are expected to open by the end of the year at 40 Waterville Commons Drive in Waterville. Main Street Skowhegan announced that the New Balance Foundation provided a $1 million naming gift to the Skowhegan River Park as construction on Phase 1 of the project's riverfront boardwalk begins. Franklin Savings Bank in Farmington an- nounced the retirement of Dee LaPlant, senior vice president and director of op- erations and compliance. LaPlant had been with the bank, serving in numerous capacities, since 1992. Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn said it is providing more than $570,000 in un- restricted grants in July to food security organizations across the state, including food pantries, meal sites, shelters, school pantries and hospital pantries. Kennebec Behavioral Health and Sweetser announced that Sweetser will assume re- sponsibility for Mobile Crisis Intervention Response Services in Kennebec and Somerset counties (Public Health District 5). Waterfall Arts invests in Rockland Waterfall Arts, a Belfast-based arts nonprofit, has purchased Rockland's Lincoln Street Center for $1 million. e 42,000-square-foot center is the state's largest community arts facility and home to more than 40 working artists. Former lobster house gets new life A former lobster house in Harpswell has been converted to a haven for the arts, events and community gather- ings. Harpswell Collective, at 1906 Harspswell Neck Road, is set to open July 18. It takes over a space long occu- pied by Estes Lobster House, which closed during the pandemic. 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 Bar Harbor Bank & Trust awarded a to- tal of $15,000 in Career and Technical Education Scholarships to 15 high school graduates. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that the Eastport Port Authority received $19.7 million through the federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program to support the moderniza- tion of the city's breakwater and fish pier. Aroostook forest products manufacturer to expand Plans are in the works to build a forest-products manufacturing facility at 66 Industrial Drive in the Houlton Industrial Park, for Kearney Pallet, a maker of wooden pallets based in Mars Hill. e $1.8 million project will be funded by a $1 million grant awarded to the Southern Aroostook Development Corp. in Houlton through the Concord, N.H.-based Northern Border Regional Commission's forest economy program along with $800,000 in private match- ing investment. 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 Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor said it has been asked to participate in the eighth year of the Metallica Scholars Initiative. As part of the invitation, the col- lege received a $25,000 from All Within My Hands, the nonprofit, philanthropic organization created by the members and management of the initiative, to reduce the financial barriers students in career and technical education programs may face while preparing to enter the workforce. invested in 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 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, M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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