Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 5 lobstermen, tourism business owners and environmentalists had centered on concerns that disposal of nearly 1 million cubic yards of dredged material would result in widespread mercury contamination in Penobscot Bay. John Henshaw, director of the Maine Port Authority, told the news- paper that the Maine Department of Transportation remains committed to the project, which the port authority has said is vital to Searsport's long- term viability as one of Maine's three deep-water ports. Henshaw said the state would use the additional time resulting from the Army Corps' appli- cation withdrawal to prepare for the public hearing process. Fundy oil projects viewed as fi shery risk Two projects that could increase the number of oil tankers in the Bay of Fundy are raising concerns among environmentalists and fi shermen about the risks to the bay's ecosys- tem and its fi sheries, e Quoddy Tides reported recently. TransCanada Corp.'s proposed Energy East Pipeline would pump 1.1 million bar- rels of crude oil a day from western Canada to the east. Saint John is currently the only export terminal FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #MBFastest15 PRESEN T ING SP ONSOR We're seeking nominations for 3 dynamic Maine companies who have not only exhibited tremendous growth, * tremendous growth, * tremendous growth, but have made significant contributions to Maine's economy over the past three years. The top 3 companies will be revealed live during the awards ceremony on November 10th and will be profiled in the November 16th edition of Mainebiz. Do you have or know of a fast-growing company that's outperforming the competition? We want to know about it! * Must be organic growth, does not include mergers and acquisitions For more information and to submit a nomination, please visit mainebiz.biz/Fastest15 Don't miss out! Nominations close September 30! PORTLANDGLASS.COM PORTLANDGLASS.COM T he Brunswick Executive Airport will receive a $1.1 mil- lion grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to renovate and redevelop a hangar for use by aerospace companies, according to a statement from U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree's offi ce. BXM is currently equipped with two 8,000-foot runways, 650,000 square feet of hangar space and maintenance facilities, over 103 acres of taxiways and aircraft park- ing apron space, an advanced glycol recovery de-icing system, jet engine test and maintenance facilities and a new instrument landing system. It's located at Brunswick Landing, a business campus located at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, a 3,200-acre property with close to 2 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, as well as the aviation complex. "It's exciting to see this hangar renovated so it can support the growing aerospace industry in Maine," Pingree said in announcing the grant. "It helps create and preserve the good-paying jobs that we need in our state." Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration granted $2.65 million to support upgrades and developments at BXM. Funding in the works for young researchers A bill that would aid young research- ers will be introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Collins, working with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., said the bipartisan Next Generation Researchers Act would invest in the future of research, science and innovation. It would respond to what Collins says is the worst research- funding drought in 50 years. ey plan to introduce it when the Senate is back in session. " is bipartisan bill strengthens our nation's commitment to the next generation of cutting-edge researchers," said Collins. "Maintaining our nation's competitive edge in both research and innovation depends greatly on the strength of our commitment to attract- ing, cultivating, and equipping world- class scientifi c minds. is critical investment will help to empower these young innovative researchers in Maine and across our country with the resources they need to continue to lead the world in groundbreaking scientifi c research and development." If passed, the legislation would create the "Next Generation Researchers Initiative" within the National Institutes of Health. e senators said over the past decade the NIH's purchasing power has declined by 22%. is year along, Sequestration cuts will cut $1.5 billion from the NIH budget. "Current policies are putting the brakes on research and innovation, jeopardizing our country's leadership," Sens. Collins and Baldwin said. Young researchers are particularly hard hit by cuts, they said. e average age of a fi rst-time NIH grant recipient is 42 years old — up from 36 in 1980. "Scientifi c and medical innova- tion depends on our ability to foster and support the best and brightest scientifi c minds," they added, "and our researchers deserve to know that our country stands with them." P O L I T I C S & C O. B Y M A I N E B I Z S T A F F Hangar renovation planned for Brunswick airport

• Cover