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V O L . X X I V N O. X I I I J U N E 2 5 , 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 Franklin County a grant of $100,000 through the Health Resources & Services Administration and its Rural Health Network Planning Grant Program. The program promotes the planning and development of health care networks in order to increase effi - ciency, improve care and strengthen the rural health care system as a whole. Calais hospital ends management contract e Calais Regional Hospital's board of directors and Quorum Health Resources have mutually agreed to end the management contract that the Brentwood, Tenn.-based hos- pital management fi rm has held for 31 years. e decision comes after strong public criticism over deci- sions in the past year to downsize the hospital's level of services. " e board made the decision based on the best direction for the hospital," Calais Regional Hospital Board Chairman Ronald McAlpine said, according to a report in e Quoddy Tides. Termination of the man- agement agreement is expected to provide "an immediate cost savings" for the hospital, which will retain CEO Rodney Boula and CFO Diane Maheux, who were formerly contract employees of Quorum. In the past year, the hospital has taken steps to cut costs, including suspend- ing its infusion services department and closing its obstetrics department. e closure of the obstetrics depart- ment in May 2017 sparked an outcry from residents that was followed by a letter from Calais City Council to Maine›s congressional delegation requesting fi nancial support for the regional hospital. Bar Harbor to spend $3.5M to acquire ferry terminal Voters in Bar Harbor over- whelmingly approved a $3.5 mil- lion bond issue to fund the pur- chase of the former ferry terminal from the Maine Department of Transportation that could pave the way for more passenger cruise traffi c, the Mount Desert Islander reported. e measure passed by a vote of 1,380 to 213. A consultant on the project, Bermello Ajamil & Partners, outlined possible uses, including a marina or a site to receive tenders from cruise ships, but the city has not determined what it will do with the site. is year Bar Harbor is scheduled to receive 180 cruise ships, with up to 245,000 passengers. Waterfront redevelopment project planned in Belfast Belfast developer Paul Naron pur- chased waterfront real estate from boatbuilder French & Webb for rede- velopment. e Bangor Daily News reported that Naron doesn't know yet how he'll redevelop the property, which includes a recently vacated French & Webb workshop at 7 Front St. But it will be a community- minded use, he told the BDN. French & Webb will continue to operate in Belfast, the newspaper reported. In 2017, Naron bought the former Consumers Fuel Co. garage on the waterfront. It's now under renova- tion, possibly for a pub or restaurant. In May 2017, Naron opened the new United Farmers Market of Maine in Belfast, in the former Mathews Brothers window showroom that he purchased in 2016. Although French & Webb sold its workshop, business is continuing as usual in other build- ings it leases at 21 and 25 Front St., the PenBay Pilot reported. Downeast welcomes 'Opportunity Zone' designation Local economic development and business leaders in the Washington County towns of Baileyville, Calais, Whiting, Dennysville, Pembroke, Baring and Meddybemps are eager to take advantage of being placed in a federally designated Opportunity Zone program under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. e Quoddy Tides reported that Sunrise County Economic Council Executive Director Charles Rudelitch said the new program will be especially pow- erful for real estate investments. He expects it will be most likely used for building renovations, new buildings and expansions. "It has the potential to give us that edge to attract invest- ment," said Julie Jordan, executive director of Downeast Economic Development Corp. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones to spur invest- ment in distressed communities throughout the country. New invest- ments in the zones can receive pref- erential tax treatment. Maine was one of 18 states to receive designations; the state has 32 Opportunity Zones. M I D C O A S T & D O W N E A S T

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