Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 1 5 Deadline nears for seafood business contest e deadline is approaching for a national seafood business competition that is giving away a number of prizes, along with an opportunity to meet with investors. Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) said on April 9 that the deadline for the Fish 2.0 competition is April 27. CEI is a sponsor of the competi- tion, which is giving away more than $180,000 in cash prizes and profes- sional services. What could make the competition even more appealing is the opportunity to meet with investors and make new strategic partners, which CEI said could result in new invest- ments ranging from $100,000 to more than $10 million. CEI said it's encour- aging New England fi sheries and aqua- culture businesses to apply. 540 Maine businesses face fl ood insurance hike Some 540 businesses and more than 2,300 homeowners in Maine are expected to see a rate increase in their fl ood insurance because of changes in federal law that took eff ect the fi rst week of April. e Bangor Daily News reported that the changes in federal law will increase rates for about 3,300 fl ood insurance policyholders in Maine. Primary homeowners face a 10% premium hike, while owners of secondary homes, condominiums and business properties face an 18% hike. e newspaper noted that annual rate increases are expected to continue until they refl ect the actual fl ood risk, as determined by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Maine lags in high-skill jobs, report says Maine is trailing behind its New England neighbors when it comes to better-paying manufacturing jobs that require a higher set of skills, according to a new report. e report by the New England Council and Deloitte Consulting said that only 40% of manufacturing jobs in Maine were considered "advanced" in 2012, accord- ing to the Portland Press Herald. at puts Maine behind the rest of New England, with the other states rang- ing between 48% and 72% in terms of how many manufacturing jobs are "advanced." Advanced manufacturing involves the use of high-tech machin- ery and requires a higher set of skills for the use of that machinery as well as the analysis of data. Grant to boost Maine-grown food for low earners e Maine Farmland Trust has received a $250,000 federal grant to help increase access to Maine- grown fruits and vegetables for low- income earners in Maine. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin said in a joint announcement on April 2 that the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be used to incentiv- ize Mainers in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase fruits and vegetables from Maine farms and food co-ops. e Maine Farmland Trust is expected to implement these incentives at 11 retail locations across the state. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E Project Canopy, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry's community forestry pro- gram, awarded $133,000 in grants to local governments and municipalities, educational institutions and non-profi t organizations that support community efforts to develop and maintain long- term community forestry programs. Berwick telecom fi rm partners with NASCAR APXnet, a Berwick telecom com- pany, has designed a new gigabit fi ber-optic network for more than two dozen racetracks for NASCAR as part of a fi ve-year deal. e company announced on April 14 that the new network will support NASCAR's content production arm, its broadcast partners and race teams, allowing them to share and receive large video fi les and other data, along with improving the speed of communications. e net- work went online on Feb. 22 at the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, Fla., and it is being rolled out to connect 27 independently owned race tracks across the country. Multi-use project in South Portland moves ahead Topsham-based Priority Real Estate Group is close to clearing another hurdle in its proposal to convert South Portland's former National Guard armory into a multi-use devel- opment that contains a gas station, cafe, offi ce space, among other things. e Portland Press Herald reported that Priority Group's $2.5 million project received praise from city offi cials during a city council work- shop in early April. e developer's zoning change request for the lot on Broadway has already been approved by the city's planning board and heads to a city council vote on May 4. Bus services added to York County Bus services with New York and Boston destinations are adding stops in York County that could help boost regional tourism. e Portland Press S O U T H E R N Berwick telecom firm partners with NASCAR — Adding some vroom-vroom to the Internet Job training program helps ex-Verso workers — One door closes and another opens Naturally Potatoes' $7.5M expansion nearly done — No small potatoes for The County's economy Maine restaurant inspection data going online — Full disclosure should put everyone at top of their game Grant to boost Maine-grown food for low earners — Universal access to healthy foods seems a worthy goal DeCosters get jail sentence for tainted eggs — Bad eggs in more ways than one Lawsuit against Argo could stifle Lewiston project — Landlord ups the ante in dispute over back rent MOFGA joins lawsuit against USDA — Organic policies deserve public comment 540 Maine businesses face flood insurance hike — Risk of rising water raises rates LePage wants to deregulate lodging businesses — Maine is open for bed bugs, too? 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