Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 A P R I L 6 , 2 0 1 5 Development LLC, Central Maine Commerce Center Inc., Central Maine Commerce Center LP and Hallowell House LLC. Under attachment, a specific property can be transferred or sold. Attorneys omas Federle and Stacy Stitham and Russell Pierce, representing the various defendants, have not yet filed a response in court. Federle said the defendants were expected to file an answer by March 31 or indicate to the court that the matter has been settled. Madison mill competitor under investigation A Canadian mill that competes with Madison Paper Industries in Maine is now under investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce for subsidies it received. e Portland Press Herald reported that the federal agency has opened an investigation into $125 million in subsidies Nova Scotia's provincial government provided to help reopen Port Hawkesbury Paper in 2012. Madison mill officials have complained that the subsidies have created unfair competition in the supercalendered paper market, and that the unfair competition led the Madison mill to issue temporary layoffs earlier this year. e investigation — which will seek to determine if the Canadian mill was unfairly subsidized and whether a duty should be imposed on paper it produces — was announced by U.S. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin on March 20. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Maine Municipal Association in Augusta announced that Executive Director Christopher Lockwood nhdlaw.com • Portland (207) 774-7000 • Lewiston (207) 777-5200 We are pleased to announce that Dan Riley has joined our team of experienced attorneys as a member and will chair our new Government Relations practice. A noted expert in his field, Dan brings 21 years of experience as legislative counsel to Norman Hanson & DeTroy. When you need us, we're here... Advancing security, life safety, and communications. www.norrisinc.com Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland buys its headquarters Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland has purchased its headquarters and retail building in Portland — a move that will enable the nonprofit to dedicate more funds to its mission of developing affordable housing. The building, at 659 Warren Ave., was acquired for $1.9 million from 215 Foreside Road LLC, according to Habitat for Humanity. The deal was brokered by Jim Harnden of Malone Commercial Brokers and closed on March 20. The building includes Habitat for Humanity's office headquarters, its ReStore discount retail outlet and two other tenants, Urban Garden Center and Hanging by a Thread, a company that makes uniforms for local municipalities and police and fire departments. Godfrey Wood, the nonprofit's executive director, told Mainebiz that the savings realized from owning the building and not having to pay rent will allow Habitat for Humanity to invest in more affordable housing projects in greater Portland. "It's a wise thing to do. The money we save will go into building more homes," he said. It will also protect the nonprofit against future rent increases, he added. Wood said Habitat for Humanity is currently working on an eight-unit complex in Freeport, an investment of $1.3 million. The nonprofit, which has built 68 homes in Maine since it was founded in 1985, also plans to develop a 13-home community in Scarborough at estimated cost of $2 million. The nonprofit's board decided to purchase the building before its option date, Wood said, based on favorable financing from Gorham Savings Bank, operating reserves and a capital campaign that raised about $205,000. "It means a lot to our board that we own this thing," he said. — D y l a n M a r t i n P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F H A B I TAT F O R H U M A N I T Y O F G R E AT E R P O R T L A N D A view of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland's ReStore discount retail outlet.

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