Mainebiz

V O L . X X I I I N O. V M A R C H 6 , 2 0 1 7 6 The Maine Office of Tourism in Augusta recently awarded a total of $112,500 in grants to eight orga- nizations. 2017 Tourism Enterprise Marketing Grant award winners were Kennebunk-Kennebunkport-Arundel Chamber of Commerce, Maine Brewers Guild, Laudholm Trust, L/A Metro Chamber of Commerce, Freeport USA and Maine Aviation Business Association received $10,000 each while Vinalhaven Chamber of Commerce received $2,500. Points North Institute/ Camden International Film Festival received $50,000 in a 2017 Special Event Grant. U.S. Cellular announced that in 2016 it invested nearly $1 million in its Maine network and an additional $1.06 million in seven retail locations that were either opened or redesigned during the year. The Maine Technology Institute in Brunswick approved five TechStart Grant applications and two Business Accelerator Grants in January, totaling $52,476 in awards to entrepreneurs from across Maine to advance new product and process development in biotechnology, precision manufactur- ing, environmental technology and in- formation technology. TechStart Grant recipients included Rockport Imaging LLC in Rockport, $5,000, with a $17,315 match amount; Codeweaving Inc. in Dresden, $5,000, with a match amount of $5,000; VisionMaster Inc. in Portland, $5,000, with a match amount of $10,000; Delta Dewatering LLC in South Portland, $5,000, with a match amount of $7,300; and Gotham Biotechnology LLC in New Gloucester, $4,350, with a match amount of $5,850. Business Accelerator Grant recipients were Abierto Networks LLC in Eliot, $21,626, with a match amount of $21,626; and Sustainability Metrics LLC in Portland, $6,500, with a match amount of $6,500. Portland, South Portland to grow solar farms e city councils of Portland and South Portland unanimously approved contracts Feb. 22 with Maine Airbnb hosts generate $26M in 2016 Maine's 3,700 active Airbnb hosts earned more than $26 million in supplemental income in 2016 by hosting approximately 174,000 visitors to the state, the online service announced Feb. 22. e 2016 total doubled the num- ber of inbound guest arrivals from the previous year. e typical host in Maine earned $5,900 last year, often using the additional funds to make rent or mort- gage payments, save for retirement or repay student loans, Airbnb stated in its release. e typical listing is occupied 30 nights per year and the average length of stay is 2.7 nights. Portland was the top-ranked Maine city for Airbnb guest arrivals, followed by Bar Harbor, South Portland, Ellsworth and Old Orchard Beach. Founded in August 2008 and based in San Francisco, Airbnb serves 34,000 cities and 192 countries. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Maine Small Business Development Centers announced a record year in 2016, providing no-cost business advising to 1,583 entre- preneurs and small business owners throughout the state during the year and helped clients secure $47.1 mil- lion in capital to start and grow their businesses. In addition, the organi- zation reported it helped its clients create and save 1,006 jobs and start 120 new businesses. 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 S O U T H E R N Infinity FCU plans Portland branch, and other credit union news B y M a i n e b i z S t a f f P o r t l a n d — Infinity Federal Credit Union, responding to customer feedback, plans to open a Portland location, its first. The full-service branch, planned for 29 Baxter Boulevard, is expected to open later this spring. Infinity is investing $2 million in the branch office, which will have a drive-through window, 24-hour ATM and interior features like exposed wood and stone, the credit union said in a press release. "The people of Infinity work hard to respond to what our communities want and need," CEO Elizabeth Hayes said. "We are looking forward to serving all of Portland and partnering with the other businesses in the area." The credit union planned a groundbreaking ceremony for Thursday morning. Infinity FCU, which was founded in 1921 to serve tele- phone workers, is now open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Cumberland County, York County or the city of Bangor. It has branches in Bangor, Arundel and Westbrook. Elsewhere, Five County Credit Union has a location under construction at 219 U.S. Route One in Yarmouth. Midcoast Federal Credit Union opened a location at 186 Lower Main St. in Freeport in June 2016. Several other credit unions have expanded in recent months, according to the Maine Credit Union League. York County Federal Credit Union is building a new branch in York, replacing another branch in the area. Bangor Federal Credit Union opened a branch in Bangor in July. Connected Credit Union in Augusta replaced a branch with a new office in July. Casco Federal Credit Union replaced a branch with a new facility in West Gorham in July. New leader for Maine Credit Union League The Maine Credit Union League has its first new president and CEO in a quarter century. Todd Mason was named to the post, taking over from long-time leader John Murphy, the boards of the trade orga- nization and Synergent said Feb. 22. Murphy, who will turn 62 in May, announced last year he planned to retire in June. He spent 44 years with the organization and its affiliate, Synergent, including 25 years as president and CEO. Mason is chief strategy offi- cer for RouteOne, a Farmington Hills, Mich., company that pro- vides technology for automo- tive lending. He also spent 19 years with the Michigan Credit Union League and Affiliates. Mason was chosen after a six-month national search conducted by O'Rourke & Associates and the league's search committee. He will start April 24. The Maine Credit Union League, founded in 1938, repre- sents 58 credit unions. Synergent, a service provider for the credit unions, is a subsidiary of the trade group. It provides tech services and shared services like statement process- ing, debit/ATM card services, check processing and direct marketing. Of Maine's 196 credit unions, 174 have what's known as shared branching, where customers can conduct business as if in their home branch. The two entities have 163 employees, with 10 at the association and the balance with Synergent. B R I E F Infinity Federal Credit Union will open its fourth branch, at 29 Baxter Boulevard in Portland, responding to demand from customers. The branch will open this spring at a cost of $2 million. Todd Mason, new president of the Maine Credit Union League. R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y I N F I N I T Y F E D E R A L C R E D I T U N I O N

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