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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 A P R I L 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S C E N T R A L & W E S T E R N M A I N E MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR MAINE Engineering | Environmental | Consulting | Construction | Management Augusta | Ellsworth | Scarborough | South Portland | @TRC_Companies | www.trcsolutions.com | "TRC's emphasis on training and personal development has given me the skills to be both an effective team player and a project leader." Kendra Wolfel Sr. Electrical Engineer "While solving tough project challenges for our clients, TRC has helped me gain new technical and leadership skills." Brendan Paradis Substation Engineer Oxford County: One of Maine's growth areas Fastest-growing is not a term you hear very often when talking about Maine population, but Oxford County, on the Maine-New Hampshire border, is one of the fastest-growing counties, outpacing the state's growth. SOME OF OXFORD COUNTY'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS: Norway Savings Bank, Hunting Dearborn Inc., Maine Machine Products, Catalyst Paper Corp., Irving Forest Products Ltd., Boyne Resorts and Oxford Resort Casino. iber optic networks are critical to economic development, but downtowns are also key to rebuilding Maine communities. As reported on Page 22, Wilton, Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Rumford are fi nding ways to leverage grant money to improve the infrastructure, including broadband networks, and bring people back to the downtowns. Finding new retailers is a priority, but so are attractions like kayak parks, farmers markets and live music. Real estate is at the heart of a story about the condominium markets around Maine's ski resorts (see Page 18). Condo buyers around Sugarloaf and Sunday River are often buying for the long haul, hoping to both enjoy the property and earn some extra income on short-term rentals. Finally, we look at the economic impact of Oxford County (see below). S TA R T I N G O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E ยป F JOBS IN OXFORD COUNTY OXFORD CASINO'S IMPACT, 2017 S O U R C E : U.S. Census, Western Maine Economic Development Council S O U R C E : Western Maine Economic Development Council S O U R C E : Maine Gambling Control Unit 2000 2015 Percent change Oxford County 54,757 57,202 4.3% Maine 1,274,915 1,329,328 4.1% Gross revenue from slot machines $796.6 million Net revenue $68.7 million Total distribution to programs (based on 46% tax on net) $31.6 million Revenue from table games $17.6 million Total distribution to programs (based on 16% tax on revenue) $2.8 million With more than 400 employees, Oxford Casino, which is owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Churchill Downs Inc. and opened in June 2012, brings in out-of- state visitors, creates jobs and, through taxes, helps pay for K-12 education, college scholarships, funds for Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribes, agricultural fairs and local budgets (denoted as "programs" below). Manufacturing: 3,155 / 17.6% Local government: 2,850 / 15.9% Health care & social assistance: 2,802 / 15.6% Education: 2,641 / 14.7 Retail trade: 2,453 / 13.7% Accommodation & food services: 1,538 / 8.6% Construction: 959 / 5.3% Professional & business services: 736 / 4.1% Transportation & warehousing: 492 / 2.7% Financial activities: 353 / 1.9%