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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 2 0 1 6 Augusta and the capital area of central Maine; Healthy Sebasticook Valley Coalition, Sebasticook Valley region; Bangor Public Health Advisory Board Substance Abuse Prevention, city of Bangor; Healthy Acadia, Downeast Acadia region; Community Alcohol and Drug Education Team (CADET)/ Aroostook, Aroostook County; River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Dixfi eld, Mexico, Rumford, Bethel and other areas of Oxford County; Healthy Aroostook Coalition, Aroostook County; and Healthy Community Coalition, Greater Franklin County. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King said that three Maine organizations will receive a total of $1,695,084 over three years from the U.S. Department of Justice's Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program to support legal services for victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Recipients included the University of Southern Maine, $598,527; Penquis C.A.P. Inc., $595,931; and Hope And Justice Project Inc., $500,626. FirstLight Fiber, a fi ber-optic band- width infrastructure services provider operating in New York and Northern New England, announced that Oak Hill Capital Partners completed the ac- quisition of the company from private equity owner Riverside Partners, which is also investing in the deal and will continue as a minority investor. Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program awarded the city of Portland $88,406; city of Augusta, $44,680; the city of Lewiston $42,654; and the city of Bangor $23,948 to support offi cer training, technology upgrades and the purchase of new law enforcement equipment. UNE cites economic impact of $1 billion e University of New England's economic impact across the state of Maine totaled more than $1 billion for the academic year that ended June 30, according to a report by Planning Decisions Inc., a Portland research and planning fi rm. e analysis, which has been commissioned by UNE every three years since 2007, measured numerous economic metrics, including employment and payroll, yearly capital expenditures, the ripple eff ect of UNE's spending and the impact of increased earning power of graduates who stay in Maine. "Since UNE's fi rst impact state- ment was prepared in 2007, it has proven itself to be a true engine of growth for Biddeford, for the Greater Portland region and for Maine as a whole," said Charles Lawton, chief economist at Planning Decisions. Lawton reported that UNE-generated economic activi- ties and their indirect impacts generated sales of nearly $470 million for busi- nesses across the state, supporting the equivalent of 3,800 jobs earning total compensation of more than $172 million. S O U T H E R N Kennebec Savings commits to boosting $4.3M theater renovation — Bravo! Portland officials give the OK to Ocean Avenue solar project — Former dump gets makeover as solar farm Elite Airways' expanded Florida service offers winter respite — Snowbird express to Florida's Gulf Coast Dennis Paper & Food Service expansion to create 75 new jobs — Steady growth for centenarian company Portland hydropower firm awarded $5.3M for tidal-power generator — Next-generation power producer primed to go Portland's 3fish Gallery closing after 19 years — City's art galleries falling like dominos Xerox will close Lewiston call center, eliminating 142 jobs — Call center jobs: Easy come, easy go? Loss of potential investor leaves Portland pro hockey in doubt — Come hither, puck (apologies to William Shakespeare) Europe could vote next spring to ban live North American lobsters — EU doubles down on Sweden's proposed ban State officials warn consumers of fraudulent text-messaging scam — Phishing for unwary consumers REDUCE OPERATING COSTS AND INCREASE COMFORT BY UPGRADING TO A HIGH-EFFICIENCY HEATING SYSTEM FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT EFFICIENCYMAINE.COM OR CALL 866-376-2463 Incentives available for ductless mini-split heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, heating controls, and more.

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