Mainebiz

V O L . X X I V N O. I X A P R I L 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 10 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 Nordic Aquafarms' $150M project advances in Belfast Belfast City Council unani- mously approved a zoning ordi- nance change that allows Nordic Aquafarms to move forward on its $150 million Phase 1 project to build one of the world's largest indoor salmon farms on a 40-acre site off Route 1. e Bangor Daily News reported that an overfl ow crowd of about 100 people attended the four-hour council meeting, many of them expressing con- cerns that the zoning change was happening too quickly and urging councilors to reject the zoning pro- posal. Concerns included develop- ment of the wooded area where the salmon farm is proposed to be, potential impacts of discharge from the plant and the size of the project. Councilors said Nordic Aquafarms would be subject to further hearings through the permitting process. Wiscasset voters reject lawsuit to stop MDOT traffi c plan Wiscasset voters overwhelmingly voted to stop the town's lawsuit against the Maine Department of Transportation's controversial plan to ease downtown congestion. Out of 881 total votes cast at the all-day special town meeting on April 17, 578 voted against continuing the law- suit while 303 voted to keep it going, the Wiscasset Newspaper and other media outlets reported. ere's been a long-running debate over MDOT's plan to alleviate bottlenecks on Route 1 by removing most on-street park- ing on Wiscasset's Main Street, home to Red's Eats and a cluster of art and antique shops in a historic district. e plan also calls for adding traffi c control signals and pedestrian cross- walk signals, rebuilding sidewalks to enhance pedestrian mobility, and making improvements to Route 1. e parking piece has been the biggest bone of contention, with some busi- nesses afraid of losing storefront Main Street parking and others welcoming the idea of having more spaces in town regardless of where they are located. In a statement emailed to Mainebiz, the MDOT said it is "gratifi ed that the citizens of Wiscasset have again spoken loudly and clearly in support of MDOT's downtown Wiscasset improvement project." Silver Airways proposed as new Bar Harbor airport carrier In the wake of PenAir's pend- ing departure from the Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport on June 30, the Airport Advisory Committee and Hancock County commis- sioners have recommended Silver Airways as the new seasonal carrier. e Ellsworth American reported that Silver Airways' code-sharing agreement with JetBlue, which would allow Bar Harbor customers to pur- chase their entire itinerary at JetBlue's website, was part of the appeal. Florida-based Silver Airways was one of two carriers under consideration. e other was Boutique Airlines. e fi nal decision is up to the U.S. Department of Transportation. PenAir, one of the largest regional airlines in Alaska and the Northeast, can't aff ord to serve Bar Harbor with- out its contract with Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle, which it will lose in July, the Bangor Daily News reported earlier this month. at left the airport, located in Trenton, little time to fi nd another carrier with the busiest time of year coming up. PenAir had served Bar Harbor and Presque Isle since 2012 . 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 The Alzheimer's Association award- ed $174,973 to Amy Dunn, a post- doctoral associate in the laboratory of Jackson Laboratory associate professor Catherine Kaczorowski, to research how genetics and diet interact to determine risk for Alzheimer's disease. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins announced that the Passamaquoddy tribe of Pleasant Point Reservation will re- ceive $156,000 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Indian Housing Block Grant program. Maine Potato Board monitoring U.S.-China trade disputes e Maine Potato Board is keep- ing a close watch on trade dis- putes between the United States and China, which is one of the top fi ve export markets for U.S. potato products. e County reported the board is concerned about the pos- sibility of potatoes becoming subject to tariff s if the trade dispute between FOR MORE INFORMATION: (207) 602-2306 www.une.edu/lectures/merrilllecture Social Trauma: Technology Tsunamis and Other Dangerous Consequences of Higher Education A L E C T U R E B Y David Roux Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at 5 p.m. Reception immediately following the lecture Innovation Hall UNE Portland Campus | 716 Stevens Avenue E L E V E N T H A N N U A L PAUL D. MERRILL B U S I N E S S E T H I C S L E C T U R E The University of New England Department of Business invites you to join us for an annual celebration of the life and ideals of business and community leader Paul D. Merrill. Lewiston /Auburn is Why! The American Heart Association is part of your community and we are passionate about improving the heart and brain health of all Mainers. That's our why. Here's how: AHAMaine www.heart.org/maine HOSTING Little Heart Hero Day for congenital heart defect survivors. heart defect survivors. heart defect survivors. ©2018, American Heart Association. ©2018, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. Also known as the Heart Fund. N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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