Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 1 7 policies or practices, but which hap- pen to have a signifi cant adverse "dis- parate impact" on older workers, are required by state law to meet the same strict standards that have been applied to race and sex bias cases. Jeff rey Young, an attorney with Johnson, Webbert & Young in Augusta, rep- resented Louise Scamman and four other Maine full-time employees of Shaw's Supermarkets whose jobs were terminated in 2012 as part of a reduction in the company's workforce. Young said the high court's ruling sets the stage for a fi ling of a motion to pursue class action certifi cation for the plaintiff s in the Scamman case and approximately 100 other Shaw's employees who lost their jobs in 2012 and were between the ages of 50 and 60 years old. Farm Credit East distributes $5.8M in Maine Farm Credit East, the Northeast's largest agricultural lending coopera- tive, distributed a record $56 million in cash patronage dividends to more than 11,000 farm, fi shing and for- estry business owners and operators in seven states. Of that total, Farm Credit East distributed $5.8 million to its 750 Maine members. On average, eligible customers will receive back in excess of 25% of the interest they paid in 2016. Farm Credit East is an Agricultural Credit Association. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Maine Department of Labor announced that employers partici- pating in the 2016 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign hired 197 veterans during its 100-day initiative. A total of 146 employers participated in the cam- paign, with an average placement wage of $22.23 per hour reported. Employers and veteran-hires came from all 16 Maine counties. USDA Rural Development said that seven Maine businesses were select- ed to receive Rural Energy for America Program grants totaling $77,500 for the purchase and installation of renewable energy systems and energy effi ciency improvements. Recipients included FEDCO Seeds Inc. in Clinton, $20,000; Solar Center LLC in Arundel, $19,391; Power Gripps USA Inc. in Sorrento, $13,228; Waldoboro Environmental Park Inc. in Waldoboro, $10,699; Trippcrest Farm LLC in Harrison, $8,081; Wilbur B. Bradbury, dba Bradbury Maple, in Bridgewater, $3,567; and Harpswell Freezers LLC in Harpswell, $2,534. Scotts Lawn Service, a division of Scotts Miracle Gro with franchises in Portland, Bangor and Portsmouth, N.H., sold its lawn care business to TruGreen. D.L. Geary Brewing to be sold D.L. Geary Brewing Co., a pioneer in craft brewing when it was incor- porated in 1983, is being sold. e S O U T H E R N METRO Breez commuter bus expands to Brunswick — Just hop on the bus, Gus Collins, King push bill to accelerate R&D of building with wood — New 'Age of Timber'? Arena trustees: Two groups want to bring pro hockey in Portland — Have 'em do a face-off Hammond Lumber passes leader- ship torch to third generation — Like father, like son TideSmart Global to expand to West Coast — Two coasts are better than one Auburn medical tourism stalls for lack of investors — Early- stage idea hits a roadblock Maine scallop fishermen seek to restrict out-of-staters — Big boats threaten fishery's sustainability Phishing scheme targets Redington-Fairview's patients — Don't get hooked by phony 'friends' Lewiston Mall hit with more vacancies — Retail's changing landscape Housing in Maine becomes less affordable in 2016 — Good wages are the foundation of housing affordability C R E D I T S & D E B I T S Enter Gorham Savings Bank's LaunchPad, Maine's premier small business competition, for your chance to win a $50,000 grant. For complete rules and to enter visit GorhamSavingsBank.com/LaunchPad by April 15, 2017. O n J u n e 6 t h O n e M a i n e B u s i n e s s Wi l l Win $50,000. WHY NOT YOU? 2 0 1 5 L A U N C H PA D W I N N E R , C H A R L E Y F R I E D M A N , C O - F O U N D E R , F L O W F O L D M E M B E R F D I C

• Cover