Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 JA N UA R Y 2 2 , 2 0 1 8 For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is some of the best from our online-only offerings: Featured @ Mainebiz.biz From the Editor Y ou could argue that when it comes to forecast- ing the economy, Maine's default setting is "cautious optimism." I can't argue with that. Yet there are reasons to be optimistic — and many spill over from Maine's healthy real estate industry. Anecdotally, there's evidence that real estate has become a major driver in the economy: ¡ Jobs: In Maine, 600 more jobs in construc- tion through November than a year earlier (Associated General Contractors of Maine) ¡ Demand for space: Greater Portland's indus- trial space has vacancy rate of 1.25% (NAI e Dunham Group) ¡ Corporate headquarters: Two companies, WEX Inc. and Tilson Technology, moving to newly built headquarters on Portland's East End, each bringing 400 or more jobs to that neighborhood ¡ Heads in beds: New hotel development will add at least 500 rooms to Portland in coming months and years ¡ Mom and Pop: B&Bs and small inns sold in great numbers last year, showing not only that they're intriguing investments but that there's a new wave of young people with the energy and fi nances to step up to the challenge. Reports prepared for MEREDA's annual forecast conference, as well as the Mainebiz Real Estate Insider, show some buildings and parcels selling at a premium. Now, certainly there are areas of concern — and perhaps this is where the "cautious optimism" comes into play. Real estate is often the last industry to recover and the fi rst to falter when the stock market struggles or when interest rates are raised. If fi nancing dries up real estate development — even some projects seem- ingly underway — will quickly dry up as well. For now, though, we might be able to err more on the side of "optimism" than "caution." Within this issue, Senior Writer Renee Cordes' report- ing on the proliferation of dollar stores indicates that, even if they're opening at a startling rate — an estimated fi ve a day nationwide — dollar stores are an indica- tion much of the population continues to struggle and will continue to seek out discounts. Laurie Schreiber writes about the lengths contractors are going to fi nd workers. Maureen Milliken looks at a former mill, a riverfront parcel in Augusta that is ripe for redevelopment, though there are no takers to date. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Can development keep the Maine economy rolling? Top Gun prize grows to $25K Thanks to the spon- sorship of Maine Technology Institute, the winner of this year's Top Gun Showcase pitch competition will get $25,000 in prize money, the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs announced. The prize will be awarded after the Top Gun Showcase pitch competition in the spring at the completion of MCE's annual entre- preneurial training program. Find out more at mainebiz.biz/topgunprize Food from Maine farmers The University of Maine System and its dining service ven- dor Sodexo Inc. had set a goal of having at least 20% of the food served on campus at the state's university by 2020 come from local sources. They've already surpassed that goal, reporting that in the fall 2017 semester 23% of the food served at the UMaine System's seven campuses came from Maine farms. Find out more at mainebiz.biz/localfood Removing policy barriers for startups The Kauffman Foundation has awarded a three- year $475,000 grant to Venture Hall, a Portland- based startup accelerator, as part of its nation- wide initiative to give entrepreneurs a stronger voice in public policy. Venture Hall President Jess Knox said the goal is to remove barriers to new business creation and strengthen Maine's general- ly strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. Find out more at mainebiz.biz/venturehall Be smart. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you want a law firm t hat puts your interests before [h]ours. For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be For now, we might be able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on able to err more on the side of 'optimism' than 'caution.'

• Cover