Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I N O. V I M A R C H 2 1 , 2 0 1 6 10 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E Darling's Auto plans $5M Augusta expansion e Darling's Auto Group dealer- ship in Augusta this summer is slated to move into a new and larger facility with an expanded service bay, which is expected to improve customer service and allow Darling's to become a Business Choice Dealer, which means it can sell and service heavy-duty trucks, the Kennebec Journal reported. e building the dealership currently occupies will be demolished and the site will be con- verted into a parking area. Darling's will invest more than $5 million, Lance Quinn, Darling's general manager in Augusta, told the paper. Darling's got its start in 1903 selling cars, trucks and bicycles and is today one of the largest dealership groups in Maine, according to its website. e company has grown from one brand and one location to 14 brands at six locations around the state, including three in Bangor, two in Ellsworth and one in Augusta, with a workforce of more than 490. In Augusta, the scale of the investment signals confi dence in the Augusta community, Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ross Cunningham told the paper. "It is not only evidence of their strong business growth, but also demonstrates their belief in the future of the greater Augusta region," Cunningham said. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N SeniorsPlus, an agency on aging located in Lewiston, purchased a delivery truck for its Meals on Wheels program. The purchase was made possible by a $43,260 grant from Walmart's State Giving Program with additional funding by the Libra Foundation. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced at a $3.2 million invest- ment to support the work of the Anson and Madison Water District to replace a 12-mile-long water transmission main in Somerset County. The investment is comprised of an $800,000 grant and a $2.4 million loan. Guideline Technologies Inc., a technology-based provider of retire- ment planning and 401(k) services, opened an offi ce at 223 Lisbon St. in Lewiston. Jackson Lab expanding to Ellsworth facility Jackson Laboratory said it will start its planned conversion of a former Lowe's home improvement retail store in Ellsworth later this year. e 143,000-square-foot building, which Lowe's closed in 2011 and Jackson Labs bought in 2012, is expected to open in 2017 and house 230 workers, the Mount Desert Islander reported. Jackson Labs has 1,500 employees at its Bar Harbor facility, making it Hancock County's largest employer and Maine's 19 th largest. It also plans to build a new Bar Harbor facility, the Center for Biometric Analysis, with 135 employees. e Bar Harbor facility will perform diagnostics and treatment tests on mice, while the Ellsworth facility will breed mice. Jackson Labs uses the mice to accelerate research on immuno-oncol- ogy, immunology and infectious disease. Milbridge exhances 'gateway' status Milbridge is seeing a resurgence with the opening of an offi ce of the Washington County Council of Governments, Downeast & Acadia Regional tourism, Downeast Resource Conservation and Development Council, the gift shop Riverlily, a new event center and Big Cat's Bar and Grille, the Bangor Daily News reported. WCCOG Executive Director Judy East told the BDN the organization moved to Milbridge from Cherryfi eld primarily for better Internet speed. She said Milbridge also has essential Main Street services, including restaurants, banks, a grocery store and gift shops. Riverlily owner PJ Trowell noted Milbridge's location on Route 1 is great for catching tourists on their way north to reach destinations such as Lubec and Eastport. GATEWAY:Milbridge, an organization named because the town is a so-called gateway to downeast Maine and the Bold Coast region, seeks down- town revitalization that encompasses physical, cultural, economic, social and natural opportunities. N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T Central Maine Power, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, activated an undersea cable to serve the town of Islesboro. The $2.5 million cable replacement project, which included additional work Toll-free 1-866-HAMMOND www.hammondlumber.com At Jensen Baird, our commitment is to you. Maine lawyers. Maine clients. Maine values. Portland / Kennebunk 207-775-7271 • 1-800-756-1166 • jbgh.com We know what our clients need, because we know Maine. Our lawyers understand the unique challenges of living and doing business here. We aren't part of a huge national firm, we're part of the community. And we've been that way for over 60 years. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T

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