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V O L . X X I I I N O. I JA N UA R Y 9 , 2 0 1 7 6 Arctic trading offers 'new lease on life for Maine' Maine could become a 'gateway' to trade with Arctic nations, with climate change opening new trade routes. A story in the Dec. 27 Christian Science Monitor says Eimskip, the Icelandic shipping con- cern, has seen trade activity at Portland grow by 20% a year since 2013, when it established its U.S. base of operations at the Port of Portland. Other companies also stand to benefi t, the story says, not just by trading with Iceland and north- ern Europe, but also by trading with import-dependent ports in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. " e North Atlantic is just full of really interest- ing market opportunities," says Patrick Arnold, president of SoliDG Inc., the company that operates Portland's International Marine Terminal. " is connection with the High North is really a new lease on life for Maine." Maine's economic growth still lags in rural areas Maine's gross domestic product sur- passed 2007 for the fi rst time since the recession, but challenges remain. e service industry outpaced manufac- turing and construction in the state's recovery, according to an analysis by Bangor Daily News reporter Darren Fishell. e recovery has been stron- ger in Maine's more populous areas, with rural areas continuing to struggle. " is all comes as Maine has one of the slowest economic recoveries in the country," Fishell writes. 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 COME HOME CAR WARM TO A per day $12 Open 4:00AM to 1AM or until all flights have arrived. Drive 100 yards past baggage claim, look for our green sign. WWW.PARKNJETPORTLAND.COM 747-5650 VALET PARKING AT THE AIRPORT Get engaged, inspired and connected with a print + digital subscription to Mainebiz. You'll receive bi-weekly issues, special publications and full online access! REAL ESTATE / REAL ESTATE / REAL ESTATE / CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN CONSTRUCTION / DESIGN S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a B y L o r i V a l i g r a S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 » Kathy Shafer Kathy Shafer Kathy Shafer, senior director of worldwide facilities , senior director of worldwide facilities , senior director of worldwide facilities at at at IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, works on her in Westbrook, works on her in Westbrook, works on her laptop at the Synergy Center, which offers unique laptop at the Synergy Center, which offers unique laptop at the Synergy Center, which offers unique spaces where employees can work. spaces where employees can work. spaces where employees can work. into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light $2.00 $2.00 $2.00 July 25, 2016 July 25, 2016 July 25, 2016 VO L . X X I I N O. X V I I VO L . X X I I N O. X V I I VO L . X X I I N O. X V I I www.mainebiz.biz www.mainebiz.biz www.mainebiz.biz Know Maine Business. Or call: 845.267.3008 Subscribe online: mainebiz.biz/knowmainebiz F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 F U L L C O N T E N T S O N PA G E 4 » M O R E I N S I D E M O R E I N S I D E M O R E I N S I D E S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 S TA R T I N G O N P A G E 2 0 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 1 4 » S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 S E E W H O ' S N E X T O N PA G E 3 8 into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light into the light Maine companies reinterpret office space Maine companies reinterpret office space Maine companies reinterpret office space B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B e r e r e r VIP owner buys Auburn offi ce building AUBURN — VIP Inc., owner of VIP Tires & Service, purchased a 15,351-square-foot offi ce building at 24 Harriman Drive to accommodate the need for a larger headquarters and support center. VIP paid $1.375 million for the property. The seller was Patrons Oxford Insurance Co., which will lease space until next summer. Tom Moulton from NAI The Dunham Group represented VIP and Andrew Ingalls from Malone Commercial Brokers represented the seller in the deal, which closed in October. VIP operates 56 locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. VIP has a workforce of just over 500 employ- ees throughout its locations; about 45 of those employees work at the headquarters and support center. Built in 1990, the single-story offi ce building, on 2.7 acres, is in an offi ce park just off Exit 75 of the Maine Turnpike. The site includes perimeter offi ces, open area, conference rooms and a reception area. The additional space will accommodate VIP's growth and large gatherings of personnel. "It also has full backup generator power, which is impor- tant for us," said VIP President and CEO John Quirk. "We're open seven days a week and, even in an ice storm, we still need to provide IT support for all our stores. All our mainframe computers that support all our points of sales stores, and all our credit card machines, are driven off the IT department and that infrastructure." Long-standing ties to the tire business Quirk's grandfather, Edward S. Quirk Sr., established Quirk Tire in Watertown, Mass., opening a store in 1926. John Quirk took over in 1985. Two weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, John Quirk bought VIP, put all holdings under the VIP name and moved with his wife and kids from Massachusetts to Maine. At the time, Quirk Tire had just two locations and was focused mainly on sales and service of tires for the construction industry, with some retail. VIP had 42 locations at the time and was strictly retail. VIP was founded as L&A Tire Co. in 1958 in Lewiston by Thomas Auger, who changed the company's name to VIP Discount Auto Center as business grew to include auto parts and accessories, according to a publication called Tire Business. For the last 30 years, VIP headquarters has been at 12 Lexington St. in Lewiston. It has 10,000 square feet of offi ce space, plus 100,000 square feet of warehouse space. Since fi nalizing the purchase of 24 Harriman Drive, VIP has leased those quarters to another party. Until Patrons Oxford moves in summer 2017, VIP will occupy temporary space at 10 Falcon Road in Lewiston. The wait for 24 Harriman Drive will have been worth it, said Quirk. "We spent a lot of time looking at the Auburn and Lewiston marketplace, and we felt this was the best building to meet our needs," he said. "It's a Class A offi ce building and it was the exact size we needed — 15,000 square feet. We're grow- ing and we wanted additional offi ce capacity over what we had in Lewiston. And the building is in really good shape." B R I E F VIP Inc., owner of the VIP auto-servicing chain of stores, acquired an offi ce building in Auburn to accommodate its growth. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F M A L O N E C O M M E R C I A L B RO K E R S