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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 A P R I L 1 8 , 2 0 1 6 from $5,000 to $25,000 each to hire consultants to develop and imple- ment business innovations ranging from software and facility improve- ments to product development. All financial assistance must be matched by each business's own investment in their project. A first for Sugarloaf: Snowmaking in April Sugarloaf made snow in the month of April for the first time in its 65 years in business. e surprise announcement was first teased on the ski resort's Facebook page with a post on April Fools' Day, lead- ing many diehard skiers wondering if it was all just an elaborate prank — but the lighthearted post was no joke. "It's not often that you get to do something like make snow in April, so we wanted to have a little fun with it," Sugarloaf General Manager Karl Strand said in a pre- pared statement. "Our guests have been loyal throughout what has been a challenging winter, so we want to do everything in our power to make sure the skiing is as good as it can be, even if that means making snow later than ever before." N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N Mike Bragdon secured funding from Community Concepts Finance Corp. in Lewiston to open Mike's Auto Service located on Route 25 in Porter. The Ballard Café opened at 6 East Chestnut St. in Augusta. The café is located in Ballard Center, a commer- cial redevelopment project launched by Dirigo Capital Advisors. Poland Spring in Waterville expanded its truck to rail initiative with an esti- mated 4,000 containers of bottled wa- ter to be shipped via rail instead of by truck in 2016, which translates into a reduction of more than 500,000 road miles and lowers carbon emissions. JAX Lab details plans for $125M Ellsworth site Officials from the Bar Harbor- based Jackson Laboratory met with UP TO 1 GIG. SYMMETRICAL SPEEDS. BUSINESS - CLASS RELIABILIT Y. YOU'RE ON, WITH FAIRPOINT ETHERNET. ACCESS CLOUD SERVICES | DISCOVER MANAGED SERVICES | EXPLORE VIDEO CONFERENCING Your business deserves a connection that will allow you to perform and compete at peak efficiency. Your business deserves a connection that will allow you to perform and compete at peak efficiency. Your business deserves a connection that will allow you to perform and compete at peak efficiency. With a business-class Ethernet connection from FairPoint Communications, you'll discover dependable speeds, service and capabilities – all backed by a 99.999% core network availability. For a free network consultation, visit FairPoint.com/Ethernet. Services may not be available in all areas or at the speeds generally marketed. Uninterrupted service not guaranteed. Services and pricing subject to change. Terms and conditions apply. ©2015 FairPoint Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Scarborough real estate firm extends its holdings in Boston's northwestern suburbs The RAM Cos., based in Scarborough, paid $8.1 million for a commercial prop- erty anchored by a medical center near Boston. The deal was for 261 and 267 Boston Road, a 97,403-square-foot property known as Corporate Place, not far from the Northwest Expressway corridor, in Billerica, Mass. The site houses a New England Rehabilitation outpatient clinic, a primary care facility of Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and S12 Technologies Inc. It is 85% occupied. The acquisition bolsters RAM's portfolio of high-quality, income-producing commercial and industrial properties along the Northwest Expressway corridor, which is about 35 minutes northwest of Boston. "We have gained a strong foothold in and around the Merrimack Valley in greater Boston by sticking to a strategy of identifying and acquiring assets with healthy long-term investment potential," said Brian A. Gagne, executive vice president of acquisitions and development at RAM. "With its solid tenants and ideal location, 261 and 267 Boston Road fit the bill. We couldn't be more pleased to add such a strong property." Built in 1985 and 1986, the property is comprised of two Class B multi- tenant buildings — one at 61,795 square feet and the other at 35,608 square feet — on 13.2 acres. RAM plans exterior upgrades, including improving the brickwork, new land- scaping, repaving, installing energy efficient lighting and new signage. RAM was founded by Howard A. Goldenfarb, who is credited with sparking the revival of Portland's Old Port in the 1970s, buying and redeveloping more than 20 properties, including historic buildings. Other projects include The Maine Outlet in Kittery, Citicorp Park in South Portland, Foreside Common in Falmouth and RiverPlace in South Portland. It has property throughout New England and South Florida, as well as a Miami-based affiliate, Mile Marker Investments, a developer of luxury single family homes. — M a i n e b i z S t a f f M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T

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