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V O L . X X X I I N O. X V I I I A U G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 2 6 20 G R E AT E R B A N G O R / N O R T H E R N M A I N E F O C U S Kitchen incubator e city is working on a plan to build Bangor Central Kitchen, a 9,000-square-foot shared-use com- mercial kitchen incubator, cold banking storage and programming space. e $5.5 million project, at 50 Cleveland St., responds to the area's growing food scene. A 2023 study found that per capita restaurant sales and food industry employment in Bangor were both above the norm compared with the rest of the state's economy. But expan- sion was constrained by the city's tight real estate market. e project team will include Fig.19, a Portland-based architecture firm; Sheridan Construction Corp. in Fairfield, for pre-construction services; and Josh Gunn Consulting, for facility management. Benefiting agricultural producers and processors and creating jobs, the incubator will be available to startups to prepare, package and market locally pro- duced food, receive technical assistance and use special events and retail space. It's estimated there are nearly 1,800 potential users — producers of con- sumer-packaged goods, mobile ven- dors and chefs and caterers — within a 90-minute radius. Well over half have expressed interest. Housing needs Among its numerous projects, BangorHousing received $11.2 million in funding this year through Maine's Home for Good program to build a 30-unit permanent supportive hous- ing development. e project team for Yellen Pines includes Gawron Turgeon Dillon Architects in Scarborough and Augusta construction company Lajoie Brothers. e project is in partnership with social services agency Preble Street, which will provide 24/7 onsite services. Construction, on four acres of vacant land, is slated to start late this year, says Mike Myatt, BangorHousing's CEO. It's expected the development will open fall 2027. e financing structure for con- struction includes 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, MaineHousing tax-exempt bond financing and state subsidy to support capital expendi- tures. Maine Department of Health and Human Services will provide ongoing funding for 24-hour support- ive services, helping residents main- tain housing stability and access care. To ensure long-term stability, 100% of the units will be supported by vouchers which require tenants to pay up to 30% of their income on rent. Housing with wrap-around ser- vices provides "dignity, high-level care and services to the folks who need it most," says Myatt. "We need to take care of them." BangorHousing recently opened the $20 million Sunridge Senior Housing rental development at 140 Sunset Ave., with 50 units for residents age 55 and up. Developed in partnership with Bangor Housing Development Corp., BangorHousing's nonprofit affiliate, the project team includes Portland construc- tion company Wright Ryan and TAC Architectural Group Inc. in Bangor. Rents are based on 60% of area median income, which is about $44,000 for a one-bedroom. "We're wrapping up final touches," says Myatt. Coming up this winter is a plan to build out the 30 vacant lots at Cedar Falls Mobile Home Park. Last year, the park's residents formed a co-op and bought the site for their own manufac- tured homes. BangorHousing agreed to develop the remaining vacant lots, enough to develop 30 pads, and install new mobile homes. e goal is to sell each pad and home inexpensively to public housing residents as a step toward home ownership and financial independence. A $3 million MaineHousing loan will allow BangorHousing to buy the first five manufactured homes this fall. » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E EXPECT to learn at your pace Financial aid available for qualified students. at the UNIVERSITY of MAINE at PRESQUE ISLE YO U R J O U R N E Y. YO U R PAC E . affordability EXCEPTIONAL UNPARALLELED BUILT-IN support personal academic success coach flexibility 100% online & fully asynchronous Flat tuition rate per 8 week session— $1,800 for bachelor's, $2,450 for master's umpi.edu/yourpace | umpi-yourpace@maine.edu Looking for a degree completion program that's both affordable and designed to meet the needs of working professionals? APPLY BY 9/28 New graduate certificate in Healthcare Management Fall II session starts10/26 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. INFORM. ENGAGE. CONNECT. ENGAGED AUDIENCE FOR ADVER TI S I NG OPPOR TU NI TI ES, EM AI L ADVERTISING@MAINEBIZ.BIZ STATEWIDE, SUBSCRIPTION-BASED BUSINESS PUBLICATION IN MAINE. WE ARE THE ONLY AUDITED, 75% of Mainebiz readers spend 15 minutes or more reading each issue 81% of Mainebiz subscribers are the #1 decision-makers at their business. 88% of Mainebiz readers are college graduates The city is working on a plan to build Bangor Central Kitchen, a shared-use commercial kitchen incubator, cold banking storage and programming space that responds to the area's growing food scene. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y O F F I G . 1 9

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