Mainebiz

V O L . X X I V N O. V M A R C H 5 , 2 0 1 8 8 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 workforce, it said in a news release. e company employs 18. e expansion will position KRB to support the aquacul- ture industry both in the United States and globally and represents an initial investment of $500,000 to $750,000. e company will continue to maintain a presence in Richmond, its home since being founded in 1996. N O T E W O R T H Y C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N University Credit Union in Farmington renewed its partnership with University of Maine at Farmington Athletics. The three-year agreement provides $15,000 in additional funding for facilities improvements, equipment upgrades, special services and events and other activities not included in the department's regular operating budget. A hot tub crafted by Maine Cedar Hot Tubs in Skowhegan was featured on the ABC show "The Bachelor Winter Games." The Western Maine Health board of trustees and Franklin Community Health Network board of directors voted to move forward with a shared CEO model between the two organizations. Timothy Churchill, who is president and CEO of Western Maine Health and was appointed interim CEO of Franklin Community Health Network in February 2016, will now assume the joint role. Tree Street Youth, a youth support or- ganization in Lewiston, announced the launch of its Community Connections Initiative, a regional approach focused on workforce development by providing joint service learning opportunities for local youth and business partners. Szanton Co. breaks ground on Lewiston's Hartley Block project B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r LEWISTON — The Szanton Co. broke ground on The Hartley Block development, which will create 63 residential units and 4,000 square feet of street-level retail and restaurant space. The Hartley Block is on Lisbon Street in downtown Lewiston. The project, due to be completed until March 2019, has already drawn interest from potential tenants. "We've had a couple of people call in to ask about residen- tial space and we've had a couple of inquiries from attorneys and accountants — professionals who are looking for nice Class A office space," said Magnusson Balfour Commercial & Business Brokers associate broker Raynor Large, who is handling the commercial space with Dustin Boutin. Large said he's also seen some interest already in retail and restaurant space. Interest is coming from both the local area and else- where, he said. "It's an even split," he said. "We're members of the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and we've reached out to chamber members and have had a lot of interest there. And we've been in contact with larger chains and companies in the Portland area that are consid- ering moving into other markets." Szanton first entered the L/A market in 2012-13 with its redevelopment of Bates Mill No. 2 into The Lofts at Bates Mill, with 48 mixed-income apartments, at 36 Chestnut St. The Hartley Block is so named to honor the 20th century artist and Lewiston native Marsden Hartley, who had a studio at the location in 1906. The residential units will be provided to people at a range of income levels. The site is near a number of destination restaurants and cafes, including Forage Market, Fuel, Baxter Brewing, Bare Bones and The Vault. Construction is taking place at 145- 177 Lisbon St. where, about a decade ago, four adjacent historic buildings were destroyed by arson. Szanton contracted Hebert Construction of Lewiston to build The Hartley Block. Auburn architectural firm Platz Associates handled the design work. "I think it's very exciting, personally," said Large. "I grew up in the Lewiston Auburn area. There's been quite a bit of change in downtown Lewiston and some of that is now moving over into the Auburn area. Having a new façade and a brand-new building there — it's fantastic." P H O T O S A N D R E N D E R I N G / C O U R T E S Y M A G N U S S O N B A L F O U R B R I E F VIP Tires & Service, a provider of retail tire installation and professional automotive services based in Auburn, said it donated $55,658 to Make-A- Wish. The funds were raised during the company's 10th annual "Season of Wishes" campaign, which took place during the 2017 holiday season at its 56 stores located in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. E. Boothbay boatbuilder wins ferry contract Washburn & Doughty, an East Boothbay boatbuilder, said it will add at least 10 to 20 jobs as the result of a state ferry contract. e Maine Department of Transportation sent a notice of intent to award an $8.8 million contract for the construction of a new Maine State Ferry Service vessel to the boatbuilder. It will be Washburn & Doughty's first ferry project in two decades, but is similar to its other so-called Z-drive designs, which allow vessels like ferries to maneuver in tight harbors. Washburn & Doughty has built three other fer- ries for the state. Seacoast Mission finds new headquarters e Maine Seacoast Mission will move its headquarters to a mul- tistory building planned for con- struction in Northeast Harbor. e Mount Desert Islander reported the mission will occupy the first floor of the building, which is will be built on land acquired last year by Mount Desert 365, a nonprofit created to promote economic revitalization in Northeast Harbor. Its current headquarters is in the historic La Rochelle mansion, a seaside estate with 40 rooms on three acres. Last summer, the nonprofit put the house on the market at $6.295 million, say- ing money from the property's sale could better be used to benefit pro- grams and services. N O T E W O R T H Y M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T Camden National Bank launched Pay Up, a free person-to-person pay- ment system utilized through the bank's online and mobile banking platforms. Szanton Co. broke ground recently on the Hartley Block redevel- opment, which will create 63 residential units and ground-floor retail space. Hebert Construction is the general contractor. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T

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