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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 F E B R UA R Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 of housing for low-income renters has gone down, the organization said. Its 2017 Affordable Housing Activity report shows a widening gap between how many families have applied for housing and how many received it. Avesta received 3,784 applications in 2017 and had 393 move-ins. Its waiting list has 1,594 individuals or families. A report last year by the National Low Income Housing Corp. determined that Maine had 46 units available per 100 "extremely low income" renters. ELI renters are defined as at or below either the poverty line or 30 percent of the area median income can live with- out spending more than 30% of their household income on rent and utilities. A lack of resources to build new apart- ments, coupled with limited turnover added to the problem. Avesta also said that the recently enacted federal tax reform bill will likely widen the gap, because it offers less incentive for con- struction of affordable housing. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E U.S. Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded four Maine organizations a total of $1.3 million in grant funding to support rural educational and health care services through its Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. The city of Sanford received $495,541; School Union 76 and Isle au Haut, $441,189; MaineHealth in Portland, $274,092; and New England Music Camp Association in Sidney, $132,214. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Head Start and Early Head Start program awarded $1.4 million to Midcoast Maine Community Action in Bath and $1.3 million to Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care in Lewiston. The Maine Department of Labor said employers participating in the 2017 Maine Hire-A-Vet Campaign hired 296 veterans and military family members during its 100-day initiative. A total of 154 employers from all 16 Maine coun- ties participated in the campaign, with an average placement wage reported of $23.16 per hour. The three-month cam- paigned ended in mid-December. U.S. Cellular said it invested $1.4 mil- lion in network and store upgrades and community donations in Maine in 2017. In SoPo, restrictions on Airbnb could lead to lawsuit South Portland Mayor Linda Cohen expects the city to be sued if new restrictions on short-term housing rentals go through. e Forecaster reported the City Council recently voted to ban non-owner- occupied rentals in all residential neighborhoods. Hosted stays in all areas of the city would still be pos- sible, and non-homeowner-occupied S O U T H E R N BikeMaine economic bounty to hit Aroostook County — Start your training now IDEXX boosts retirement contributions in wake of tax reform — A good tune-up for the 401(k) Tyler Technologies unveils $28M expansion — The addition of jobs is the other part of the expansion Maine among most affordable states for auto, homeowners insurance — A selling point for the state UMaine campuses in The County tackle region's workforce challenges — Much needed workforce development Fisheries commission to require Maine lobstermen to file catch reports — Sorry, guys, no more secret fishing spots High electricity costs drive wood pellet maker out of business — This has been Maine's boom-and-bust industry SoPo mayor fears Airbnb rental restrictions could lead to lawsuit — Wise words that could be a lesson for other Maine cities Avesta report shows low-income housing shortage — Reinforcing a well-worn point Boothbay region drafts plan to bolster economy — First order of business will be watching the Jim Carrey movie 'Yes Man' C R E D I T S & D E B I T S SP ONSORED BY P L E A S E S TAY T U N E D F O R U P D A T E S O N T H E P A N E L A N D D I S C U S S I O N T O P I C . Abromson Center (Hannaford Hall), 88 Bedford St, Portland April 12 7:30–10:30am S AV E T H E DAT E THE 8TH ANNUAL MAINEBIZ WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP FORUM $30 EARLY BIRD TICKETS AVAIL ABLE UNTIL MARCH 2 Register today at mainebiz.biz/WLF

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