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V O L . X X I I I N O. X X S E P T E M B E R 4 , 2 0 1 7 6 At least 50 jobs planned for Farmington factory B y M a u r e e n M i l l i k e n F a r m i n g t o n — Origin USA, a martial-arts wear manufac- turer that began selling jiu-jitsu apparel in Industry in 2011, plans to more than double its workforce after opening a manufacturing plant in Farmington. The grand opening of the 20,000-square-foot plant in a former Central Maine Power building on High Street came after a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant award and merger with Jocko Industries. President and owner Pete Roberts said he expects to expand from 15 employees to 35 over the next 12 months and invest "into the workforce to enhance low- to moderate-income populations." "We are expecting, at a minimum, 100% growth year over year for the next five years," Roberts said. The company has invested more than $1 million in tools, hardware and machinery, including 200 sew- ing machines. Roberts, a New Sharon native and jiu-jitsu enthusiast, started the busi- ness in 2011, importing martial arts wear. In 2013, he opened the manu- facturing plant in Industry, Franklin County, opting to make the apparel rather than import it. In 2014, the company began weaving the textiles it uses in manufacturing the apparel. The company is "dedicated to verti- cally integrated manufacturing," Roberts said. "I didn't want to send money overseas anymore," he said in a news release. "So I dedicated myself and the business to 100% sourcing and manufacturing right here at home." The company not only manufactures performance gear, but also nutritional supplements. It markets and sells what it produces. The Farmington manufacturing plant will include a retail pro shop. He said with the "masterful mind and reach" of Jocko Willink, who owns Jocko Industries, "we can anticipate even greater growth." Jocko Industries sells performance apparel and gear. A management consultant and former Navy SEAL, Willink also owns a martial arts gym and a beverage company, authored the book "Extreme Ownership" and hosts a podcast. Maine community colleges freeze tuition Tuition and fees at Maine's seven com- munity colleges will remain unchanged for the coming academic year, thanks to a boost in state funding of the com- munity college system approved by the 128th Legislature. Tuition for Maine stu- dents will remain at $92 per credit hour. For a full-time student taking 30 credits, the annual cost of tuition and fees will average $3,600 — the lowest in New England. "Our board of trustees and our colleges are committed to keeping our institutions as affordable as possible so that more Maine people can access higher education and acquire the skills they need to build a brighter future," Maine Community College System President Derek Langhauser said in a news release. MCCS's board of trustees had requested the increase in the state's appropriation that made this year's freeze possible. 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 We Help Ecommerce Businesses Sell More Online CALL (207) 613-0655 FOR A FREE ECOMMERCE ASSESSMENT 100 Fore St. Suite C Portland, ME 04101 www.ibeccreative.com N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Pleasant Point Reservation and the Passamaquoddy tribe of Indian Township received a total of $2.3 million through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Indian Housing Block Grant program. Redd Bar raises $1.5M-plus for increased distribution Portland-based protein and energy bar company Redd Bar closed a second round of investments last week higher than expected, exceeding its $1.5 mil- lion goal by 30%. In 2016, the company raised $1 million. Alden Blease, founder and chief creative officer, said proceeds will be used to increase distribution and support the increased business, Blease told Mainebiz. e company recently announced new distribution in Sprouts, Gelson's, New Seasons and California Whole Foods markets. e vegan protein bar is now found in more than 1,000 stores, including locally in Hannaford supermarkets, Blease said. is round of investors, led by Dan Nordstrom of Redd Investors LLC, includes Fresh Tracks Capital and CEI Ventures, as well as Chris Licata, former CEO and president of Blake's All Natural; Scott Case, former managing partner of VMG partners; and Tyler Ricks, president of Noah's Bagels. e news release said the investors will not only be contributing B R I E F Joe Paridis, father-in-law of Origin USA President Pete Roberts, cuts the ribbon at a recent ceremony marking the opening of the company's manufacturing plant in Farmington. P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O R I G I N U S A S O U T H E R N

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