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V O L . X X I I I N O. V I I A P R I L 3 , 2 0 1 7 12 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E The Finance Authority of Maine in Augusta approved direct loan fi nancing of $400,000 for Beal Education LLC in Bangor for working capital and equipment purchases to help Beal College establish a new school of nursing. The fi nancing is expected to help create six new jobs and retain an additional 35 jobs. Blueberry growers struggle with price drop Maine's wild blueberry growers are facing challenges from declining prices and increased competition. William Rudelitch, a small grower from Harrington, told Maine Public that prices paid for his wild harvest have fallen to 25 to 29 cents a pound, half the cost of production and a fraction of more than $1 per pound paid 10 years ago, according to the Maine Cooperative Extension. David Yarborough of the cooperative exten- sion said Maine growers are losing their market niche. "If you look at British Columbia, they produced 160 million pounds of blueberries, and you know, you usually think of high bush as fresh market. ey froze 110 million of the 160 million, so all those blueberries are now sitting and competing directly with wild blueberries," he told Maine Public. Feds shut down scallop shing area Federal regulators closed a heavily fi shed scallop management area in the Northern Gulf of Maine, stating that permitted vessels dragging for scallops in that area had reached their cumula- tive annual limit of 70,000 pounds. e Bangor Daily News reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration closed the area on March 23, two months earlier than last year. Maine scallop- ers, who are limited to 200 pounds a day, have complained that larger vessels from southern New England with no daily catch limit have been threatening the long-term viability of the scallop fi shery in the Northern Gulf of Maine. Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported scallop GROWING FAST, If your company is we are the legal team that will keep up. nhdlaw.com • Portland (207) 774-7000 • Lewiston (207) 777-5200 Q: How can we get our employees to embrace change instead of resisting it? ACE advises: Whether change is happening in small ways or in a major strategic shift, successful execution depends on having the full support of employees – not just compliance, but commitment. Change creates uncertainty about what's going to happen. When people resist change, it's usually because they don't know how they'll be impacted or whether they'll be successful. Fear is quite natural. Here are ways you can minimize the fear and help your employees get on board: 1. Make sure the organization is ready: Well in advance, start talking about the need for change and the vision for how things will be. Pay attention to how people react. 2. Involve employees at all levels: Engage top management in early aspects of defi ning strategy; provide forums and task groups to plan aspects of imple- mentation. Make sure everyone knows what role they will play. 3. Communicate, communicate, communicate: Create multiple one- and two-way channels to let everyone know what to expect. Provide coaching, if necessary, so top management can carry the message effectively. 4. Identify the early adapters: Create a cadre of "change champions" throughout the organization to reinforce the message. 5. Give people the tools to succeed: Identify needed resources, including skills, and make sure everyone knows how to get them. 6. Check in with yourself: Are you sure you have the skills to manage the change or should you get outside assistance? A S K AC E A n s w e r e d b y D a n a M o r r i s - J o n e s , T h e D e l p h i G r o u p The Association for Consulting Expertise (ACE) is a non-profit association of independent consultants who value "Success through Collaboration." The public is welcome to attend its regular meetings to share best practices and engage with industry experts. For more information go to www.consultexpertise.com. If you have a question for an ACE expert, contact Jim Milliken at jim@millikenproject.com. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T

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