Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 7 M A R C H 1 9 , 2 0 1 8 border, expressed concern about its ability to get steel from Canada, which is cheaper than having it shipped to Aroostook County from Pittsburgh. N O T E W O R T H Y S T A T E W I D E The National Retail Federation Foundation announced that it has formed a partnership with the nonprofi t group Jobs for Maine's Graduates to provide the Foundation's RISE Up training and credentials to students throughout the state. The partnership is made possible through funding and support from the Retail Association of Maine. Farm Credit Northeast AgEnhancement Program recently awarded $7,600 to the Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands/The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine to support log- ger training and $3,000 to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to support its LabVenture program to educate Maine's youth about fi sheries. A collaborative led by Central Maine Healthcare, EMHS, MaineGeneral, MaineHealth and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, announced the launch of the 2019 The Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment. The collaborative has contracted with John Snow Inc., a public health re- search and consulting fi rm in Boston, to conduct data analysis and support the community engagement process. Women's hoops delivers $4M impact e 201 America East Women's Championship basketball tournament, held recently at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, delivered $2 mil- lion in economic impact, according to its organizers. With an additional $2 million impact from last year's tourna- ment, the two-year economic impact for the tournament is estimated at $4 million, based on estimates derived from the number of people who came from out-of-town and spent money on hotels, food and other attractions. Affordable housing for Falmouth? Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland wants to partner with Falmouth to build a 25-unit aff ordable housing development on 20 acres owned by the town. e Forecaster reported that Falmouth Town Council Chairman Caleb Hemphill said the potential development "has considerable merit and is an innovative proposal." Godfrey Wood, the executive director at Habitat, said the development would be energy- effi cient and have "modest ownership costs." Wood said the goal is to build homes "within reach of middle-income S O U T H E R N 'Robust tourism season' helps lift Jetport to passenger record — We like those robust seasons Ellsworth, Bar Harbor among most profitable Airbnb spots statewide — All's well 'til the local regulations on Airbnb start kicking in Waterville's hot single-family home market isn't cooling down — A gift basket's in the mail to Colby College Habitat for Humanity pitches affordable housing partnership with Falmouth — Falmouth's more than the Foreside Ready Seafood to help fund key lobster study — With a vested interest in the findings Lobster landings drop 16% in 2017, value drops almost $100M — A trend or just an off year? New immigration policies could hit Downeast businesses hard — An area that is already short on people, not to mention workers A Hancock County town lifts its ban on hard liquor sales — Prohibition dies hard Bank of America lays off 30 in Belfast — The second call center in Maine to shed jobs in recent weeks Ellsworth hospital posts $6.5 million loss — Putting another strain on rural health care C R E D I T S & D E B I T S MEMBER FDIC EQUAL HOUSING LENDER Growing a business? TALK TO A NEIGHBOR. 1-800-447-4559 | bathsavings.com You had the vision to build something meaningful in the community. We have the experience to help it grow. Custom lending solutions are here for you — and so are we. Let's talk. Rob Tod Founder, Allagash Brewing Company Mara Pennell Vice President, Commercial Lending

• Cover