Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 A P R I L 3 , 2 0 1 7 SaviLinx becomes latest HUBZone in Maine B y L o r i V a l i g r a C all center SaviLinx LLC of Brunswick in late March became the latest Maine company and the fi rst in Brunswick Landing to be certifi ed as a Historically Underutilized Business Zone, or HUBZone, by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It joins telecom- munications tower service company Northern Pride Communications Inc. of Topsham, which was the fi rst midcoast company to be certifi ed in early March, plus nine other Maine companies. The SBA program, targeted at promoting economic development and employment growth, lets the certi- fi ed companies compete for federal contracts and subcontracts more favorably, giving them a 10% price evaluation preference. A total of 11 Maine companies are active certifi ed HUBZones, Jim Pineau, senior area manager in the SBA's district offi ce for northern Maine in Bangor, told Mainebiz. There are 5,000 U.S. HUBZone companies. "We would like to see more companies apply to be certi- fi ed," Pineau added. "It helps businesses get preferential treatment in the federal marketplace." In addition to the companies, Piscataquis and Washington counties are HUBZones as well as qualifi ed Native American reserva- tion areas in Penobscot, Indian Township, Houlton Maliseet and Pleasant Point. SBA lists the former naval air station as the only HUBZone base closure area. "Acquiring HUBZone certifi cation … will allow us to continue to grow soundly, remain profi table and provide greater fi nancial security and growth opportunities," said Heather Blease, founder and CEO, SaviLinx, who also is SBA-certifi ed as a Women-Owned Small Business. Blease told Mainebiz last September that 75% of the company's $10 million revenue was from government work. The federal government has a goal of awarding 3% of all dollars for federal prime contracts to HUBZone- certifi ed small business concerns. To become HUBZone certifi ed, a company must be a certifi ed small business, be owned at least 51% by U.S. citizens, be located in a HUBZone and have at least 35% of its staff reside in within the HUBZone, according to the SBA. Pineau said the program was expanded by a bill sponsored by U.S. Reps. Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree and a second piece of legislation sponsored by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King in fi scal 2015. The legislation became part of the National Defense Authorization Act that went into effect Oct. 3, 2016. It expanded HUBZone eligibility criteria for com- panies located at former U.S. military installations or just outside them and in economically distressed com- munities with high poverty or unemployment rates. The legislation also extended the period of time for which a closed base would qualify to eight years from fi ve years. Pineau explained that HUBZone status only lasts up to eight years, and that if an economically distressed community becomes more fi nancially fi t, it may lose its HUBZone status. For example, Piscataquis County is currently being redesignated but will hold its status until July 2018, Pineau said. He said the SBA assigns HUBZone status to Maine companies based on data from the Department of Defense, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. B I Z M O N E Y MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Bath • Boothbay Harbor • Brunswick Damariscotta • Falmouth • Freeport Portland • South Portland • Yarmouth GREAT NEIGHBORS, GREAT COMPANY. 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.com Congratulations to Bob & Carmen Garver and Wicked Joe Organic Coffees for being recognized as a 2017 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year. AC T I V E M A I N E H U B Z O N E S ¡ Border Electric Inc., Calais: network engineering, system integration ¡ Hanscom Construction Inc., Machias: sitework, underground utilities, road work ¡ SaviLinx LLC, Brunswick: call and contract center services ¡ Richen Management LLC, Dover-Foxcroft: janitorial and property management services ¡ Axiom Technologies LLC, Machias: internet service provider ¡ C&S Industrial Supply Inc., Winslow: industrial supplies, hose and rope fitting and assembly ¡ Northern Pride Communications Inc., Topsham: management and communications tower services ¡ Inner Space Services Inc., Casco: dredging, marine and diving contractor ¡ Gordon Contracting Inc., Sangerville: general contractor ¡ Analytic Insight Inc., Lewiston: survey research, program and advanced data analysis S O U R C E : Small Business Administration

• Cover