Mainebiz

V O L . X X I N O. X X I S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 5 6 Lobster plentiful in Maine, but not in southern New England Lobster stocks are at the low- est levels ever recorded in south- ern New England, a report by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission said. e New York Times reported Sept. 3 that many lobstermen have been put out of business by the decline. e commis- sion's report blamed warmer ocean temperatures, "putting the animals under extreme stress," the newspa- per reported. Stocks in Maine hit a record high last month, the commis- sion reported. Labor Day traffi c tops 1M vehicles on turnpike e Maine Turnpike Authority is reporting that Labor Day week- end traffi c on the Maine Turnpike was up 2.1% over a year ago, add- ing that a strong summer tourism season is contributing to an overall 4.7% increase in turnpike traffi c from January to July compared to the same period in 2014. e Portland Press Herald reported that 8 mil- lion motorists were counted on the turnpike in August, with 1 million motorists recorded over the four-day Labor Day weekend between Friday and Monday. Small dairy farms left in lurch after hauler drops them Eight Maine dairy farms are scram- bling to fi nd a way to get their milk to market after a hauler from Palermo told them two regional routes aren't profi table and he will drop the farms from his collection routes, the Portland Press Herald reported. e farmers were told by Jesse Haskell that he most likely will drop the routes — one in southern Maine and the other in Waldo County — at the end of this month. Haulers collect milk from dairy farms and take it to processors, including Oakhurst in Portland, according to the newspaper. e other major wholesale cus- tomer for Maine milk is H.P. Hood, which also has a processing plant in Portland. "It leaves me in a rather awkward spot," Tim Leary, who milks about 16 cows on his farm in Saco, told the Press Herald in a story pub- lished Sept. 4. "But I recognize it's a long route and not much milk." Leary said he produces about 1,400 pounds of milk every two days. Julie-Marie Bickford, executive director of the Maine Dairy Industry Association, told the newspaper that fi nding haul- ers for milk is yet another problem confronting the state's struggling dairy industry. e state had nearly 500 dairy farms a decade ago, but now has only 253. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Offi ce of National Drug Control Policy awarded a total of $2.25 million in grant funding to several Maine health coalitions and local governments to prevent youth substance abuse and foster drug- free communities in Maine. The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded Buxton Fire Depart- ment $238,435; Bath Fire Depart- ment $163,810; and Westport Vol- unteer Fire Department $54,744 in grant funding through the Assistance to Firefi ghters Grant program. 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 FOLLOW U S @M BEVENTS #OTRCamden15 For more information, or to register, visit www.mainebiz.biz/OTRCamden or call 207.761.8379 x341 Get out from behind your desk to meet and mingle with other business execs at a special reception for Mainebiz readers. Mainebiz is coming to six new regions of the state to continue facilitating face-to-face networking for the business community. admission is free complimentary hors d'oeuvres cash bar R E G I O N A L S P O N S O R P R E S E N T I N G S P O N S O R 5–7pm | High Mountain Hall Camden, Sept. 24 OTR 2015 READERS' CHOICE WINNER Kennebunk shopping center has new owner The Shops at Long Bank, an 88,450-square-foot shopping center in Kennebunk, was never for sale. But that didn't stop Property Partners LLC, headquartered in greater Portland, from making an offer that wasn't refused. "It's a good investment," said the buyer's representative, Greg Perry of Cardente Real Estate in Portland. Perry said he uncovered the prospect on the leasing market and asked the retail center's owner, GI Kennebunk LLC, if it would be willing to sell. The seller accepted a price of $6.925 million. The deal closed Sept. 9. This is the buyer's fi rst entry into the Kennebunk market, said Perry. Located at 65 Portland Road in Kennebunk, on 22 acres, the complex was strategically sited on Maine's commerce artery, U.S. Route 1. It also is within easy access from the Maine Turnpike, with a daily traffi c count of well over 16,000 vehicles, according to information in a pamphlet offered by Paragon Commercial Real Estate, the seller's representative. The complex, within 10 miles of more than 30,000 people in Arundel, Kennebunkport and Kennebunk, opened in June 2007. Anchor tenants include a Hannaford supermarket, Sebago Brewing's Kennebunk Brewpub and Biddeford Saco Savings Bank. Other retailers or professional ser- vices fi rms include Marty Layne Hearing, Pro Nails & Spa, Saco Bay Orthopaedic & Sports and Associated Eyecare. The site has 380 parking spaces. Two units, comprising 1,350 square feet in all, are currently vacant. To date, lease rates have been $14 per square foot for fi ve-year minimum terms. "Anytime you can get a Hannaford with a long-term lease and a good mix of national and local tenants, it's a good investment," said Perry. "It was the right number and good timing for the seller to make the move. It's the ebb and fl ow of commercial real estate." — L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y PA R A G O N C O M M E R C I A L R E A L E S TAT E The Shops at Long Bank, an 88,450-square-foot shopping center in Kennebunk, has been purchased by Property Partners LLC for $6.925 million.

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