Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 JA N UA R Y 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 BUILDING BUSINESS BY MAINEBIZ STAFF S outhern Maine Community College awarded certifi cates Jan. 10 to the fi rst students to complete the Construction Institute program, designed to address unmet needs in the state's construction industry. SMCC President Ron Cantor said that the construction boom, combined with the state's aging workforce means the industry is having a hard time fi lling jobs. "We are helping boost the Maine economy by providing employers with the skilled workers they need to remain competitive," he said in a news release. e institute, which began in the fall, was developed in collaboration with business partners, Cantor said. e 20 students who received certifi cates attended a meet-and-greet with poten- tial employers after the ceremony. Construction employment is at a nine-year high in the U.S., according to the Associated General Contractors of America. e association says most con- struction fi rms plan to add workers this year as demand for all types of construc- tion continues to expand. e Construction Institute off ers short-term classes, convenient sched- ules and stackable courses that allow students to continue their education without having to complete a degree program, according to SMCC. Students can also apply the credits they've earned in the institute classes toward a two-year degree in Construction Technology or a certifi cate from the school's 24-credit one-year course. e fi ve courses off ered were Building Concepts & Leveling; Print Reading; Tool Safety; Construction Safety; and Framing Methods. SMCC plans to off er the course again in the fall. Grant funding for the Construction Institute was provided by Maine Quality Centers, which is part of the Maine Community College System and pro- vides workforce development training delivered through SMCC and Maine's other community colleges. Roll the credits Tyler Technologies will hold a ribbon cutting at its expanded Yarmouth site on Jan. 31. Zachau Construction was the general contractor. Nick Gaddar was promoted to project manager at Landry/French Construction. Peter "Andi" Vigue succeeded his father, Pete Vigue, as CEO of the Cianbro Cos., Maine's largest construction company, with 4,000 employees and annual rev- enue of $755 million. Andi Vigue also was elected to the board. e new owners of Scarborough Downs plan to invest $20 million in infrastruc- ture. e 500-acre parcel sold recently for $6.7 million to William, Marc and Rocco Risbara III, of Risbara Bros., and Peter and Richard Michaud, formerly of Michaud Distributors, under the busi- ness name of Crossroads Holdings LLC. e new owners have already assembled a team of advisers, including Dan Bacon at South Portland-based Gorrill Palmer Consulting Engineers Inc., Jim Damicis from Camoin Associates and Drew Sigfridson of CBRE/The Boulos Co. Maine Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously against giving fi nal approval to the Maine Aqua Ventus off - shore wind project's proposed 20-year contract to sell electricity to Central Maine Power, citing a drop in electricity prices that's occurred since its 2014. Rhode Island-based Bristol Marine has acquired the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, which will now go by the name of The Shipyard in Boothbay Harbor. Maine added 600 construction jobs between November 2016 and November 2017, according to the Associated General Contractors of Maine. Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce will give its "Public Sector Leadership Award" to both Brit Vitalius of Vitalius Real Estate Group and Heather Sanborn of Rising Tide Brewing Co. Vitalius worked to defeat a rent-control referendum in Portland, while Sanborn worked with OnePortland to defeat Portland Referendum question 2, which would have hampered economic devel- opment in the city. Sheridan Construction completed the Maine Troop Greeters Museum at the Bangor International Airport, led by project manager Scott Quint. You need construction workers, SMCC has help Building Business and Community for Over 40 Years The Dunham Group has a vision and a purpose. Dunham brokers rally ideas, people, and resources to create dynamic neighborhoods in and around Greater Portland. Our brokers work together to re-envision and repurpose underutilized properties to create the places where you want to be. ...and imagines what could be. The Dunham Group takes what is... Portland, ME dunhamgroup.com 207.773.7100 Local Knowledge. Regional Focus. Global Reach. Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 Maine added 600 construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs construction jobs between November 2016 and November 2017.

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