V O L . X X I N O. X I X
A U G U S T 2 4 , 2 0 1 5 6
Maine's cheesemaking
industry on the rise
Maine's artisanal cheese industry is
the fastest-growing in the country,
and it's close to reaching New York
and Pennsylvania in terms of the
state's number of retail cheesemak-
ers. e Associated Press reported
that Maine's number of cheese-
makers doubled over four years to
80 in 2014. New York's number of
cheesemakers was at 90 as of last
year and Pennsylvania's was at 94 as
of 2013. "Local food is a big move-
ment," Eric Rector, president of the
Maine Cheese Guild, told the news
agency. "Small cheese makers here
have benefited from people being
more aware than they were 10 years
ago of the value of agriculture in
our community."
DECD eyes program to attract
direct foreign investment
e state may start a visa pro-
gram designed to bring more direct
foreign investment into Maine,
Maine Department of Economic
and Community Development
Commissioner George Gervais
recently told the Sun Journal. Gervais
added that Maine is considering set-
ting up a state-run regional center for
EB-5 visas, which pave the way for
foreign nationals to get a green card
if they invest money in the United
States. To get the visa, an individual
must invest $1 million, or $500,000 in
a high-unemployment or rural region.
Gervais told the newspaper that there
is an absence of activity within exist-
ing EB-5 regional centers in Maine,
which is why the state is interested in
establishing its own regional center.
His statement came just days after a
group of Chinese investors said they
bought a property in Auburn and are
looking to invest about $40 million in
a medical tourism facility.
South Portland to get new
$1.7M health center
e Portland Community Health
Center is receiving a $1.7 million
grant to open a new location in a
South Portland neighborhood, where
it aims to serve low-income indi-
viduals. e Forecaster reported that
the funds are being awarded as part
of the Affordable Care Act's New
Access Point Community Health
Center grant program. e pro-
gram also recently gave $966,000
to the Katahdin Valley Health
Care Center in Patten. e South
Portland Community Health Center
is expected to open this December in
the city's Redbank-Brick Hill neigh-
borhood, where federal officials said
an estimated 17,000 low-income indi-
viduals currently live. e health cen-
ter will offer primary and preventative
health services, along with services for
treatment of mental health, chronic
disease and substance abuse.
N O T E W O R T H Y
S T A T E W I D E
Kaplan University, with campuses in
South Portland, Lewiston and Augusta,
introduced new certificate programs
in Elder Care Services and Child and
Family Services.
The Department of Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry awarded
nearly $250,000 to 11 projects along
the Maine coast to support the coast-
al economy through implementation
of projects that will increase public
access to the coast, support shellfish
harvesting, identify pollution sources
that result in coastal beach closures,
revitalize coastal downtowns and iden-
tify key island transportation assets at
risk from rising sea levels.
The U.S. Economic Development
Administration awarded Economic
Development District Planning grants
to the Androscoggin Valley Council
of Governments, Eastern Maine
Development Corp. and Northern
Maine Development Corp. Each organi-
zation will receive $70,000 to help cre-
ate an economic development planning
framework, process and strategy to
support private capital investment and
job creation in their respective regions.
Portland Science Center gets
an opening date
After nearly two months of delays, the
Portland Science Center is expected to
open later this month with a world-
renowned exhibit that displays pre-
served human organs and bodies. e
Portland Press Herald reported that
"Body Worlds," an exhibit developed
by a German anatomist over 20 years
ago, will be on display when the center
opens at a roughly 23,000-square-foot
commercial building on Maine Wharf
in late August. e exhibit has been
shown across the world, including
in Los Angeles, London and Berlin.
Stephen Goodrich, the owner of
Maine Wharf and Powerpay's former
CEO, previously told Mainebiz that
he chose Portland Science Center over
a traditional office tenant for the com-
mercial building in part because it will
help boost tourism activity in Portland.
S. Portland eyes bag fee,
polystyrene ban
e South Portland City Council has
set its sights on developing ordi-
nances that would ban polystyrene
foam packaging and make some
businesses charge a fee for paper and
plastic bags. e Forecaster reported
that the city is looking to draft ordi-
nances that are similar to the ones
passed by the Portland City Council
last year. Portland's bag ordinance
calls for businesses mostly serving
food to charge five cents for paper
and plastic bags. e polystyrene ban
applies to all businesses in Portland,
though there are a few exemptions.
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
S O U T H E R N
CBRE | The Boulos Co. donates $45K
to fight Portland graffiti
In an effort to protect Portland's property values, real estate firm CBRE | The
Boulos Co. has donated $45,000 to double the graffiti removal efforts of a
local nonprofit.
CBRE | The Boulos Co. said on Aug. 12 that it's making the donation to Graffiti
Busters, a graffiti removal program administered by Portland-based nonprofit
LearningWorks. The donation will allow Graffiti Busters to expand its staff and
purchase a new truck at a time when requests for graffiti removal across the
city are said to be on the rise.
"Our business is commercial real estate, and buildings are our lifeblood,"
Drew Sigfridson, managing director of CBRE | The Boulos Co., said in a state-
ment. "When developers and business owners come to Portland to grow their
business, hire people and invest in property improvements, the economic ben-
efits ripple throughout our city. Graffiti leaves a terrible impression on residents
and visitors and devalues the city."
Citing national real estate experts, CBRE | The Boulos Co. said in its announce-
ment that graffiti can lead to reduced property values in entire areas. Sigfridson
said that's why he is asking property owners to "remove graffiti as soon as it
appears," adding that "removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero
rate of recurrence." Sigfridson said people can report graffiti by calling the Graffiti
Busters hotline at 207-775-0105.
LearningWorks Executive Director Ethan Strimling said the new partnership
"comes at a perfect time, because reports of graffiti removal in the city are on
the rise." He said this year's number of requests have already reached 169,
more than the 137 reported last year from April to November.
— M a i n e b i z S t a f f
P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F K E L S E Y G O L D S M I T H
Portland Mayor Michael Brennan (left), CBRE | The Boulos Co. Managing Director Drew
Sigfridson and LearningWorks Executive Director Ethan Strimling stand next to a Graffiti
Busters truck on Aug. 12.
