Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 11 J U N E 2 5 , 2 0 1 8 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 Makers' Market Shop & Studio, hy- brid gallery/boutique/lifestyle store featuring fi ne art, craft and innovative makings of more than a dozen local artisans, opened at 30 Bagaduce Road in Brooksville. Maine EPSCoR's Sustainable Ecological Aquaculture Network awarded $24,000 in grant funding for two projects in Washington County to better understand the effects of environmental change and manage- ment policies on soft-shell clams and Atlantic sea scallops. Researchers at the University of Maine at Machias, led by Brian Beal and William Otto, received a $12,000 award to in- vestigate the effects of pH levels and predator endangerment on the survival rates of juvenile soft-shell clams, Mya arenaria. In addition, Brian Preziosi and Timothy Bowden received $12,000 to lead research at UMaine that examines hatchery culture methods for Atlantic sea scal- lops, Placopecten magellanicus. Dead River jumpstarts driver training center Maine has a shortage of commer- cial truck drivers, so Dead River Co. donated fi ve trucks to a new training center at Eastern Maine Community College. e Commercial Driver's License Training Center at EMCC's Bangor campus will address the statewide shortage of qualifi ed driv- ers for heavy equipment. e center will serve students and trainees Maine businesses 'feeling the pain' of new tariffs B y m a i n e b i z s t a f f F rom lobstermen to manufacturers and contracts that use steel, Maine businesses are feeling the impact of tariffs on U.S. trade. In response to the Trump Administration's announcement of a 25% tariff on up to $50 billion worth of Chinese goods, China is threatening to impose new duties on a host of imported U.S. products, including lobsters, starting July 6. It's viewed as a threat to Maine's $500 million lobster industry, which relies heavily on exports to Asia. "This isn't good news at all," Matt Jacobson, executive director of the Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative, told the Associated Press. Maine exports of live lobster totaled $325.5 million last year. About 80% of all U.S. lobsters are landed in Maine, according to the Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance. Other industries feel impact The lobster industry isn't the only one affected. For months, the Associated General Contractors of America has warned that construction costs will be affected by volatility in steel prices. U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, recently cited an Aroostook County maker of steel countertops that is being affected by higher prices, Maine Public reported. Hussey Seating Co., a North Berwick manufacturer of stadium seating, issued a statement urging the Trump admin- istration to remove the tariffs imposed June 1 on Canadian steel and aluminum imports. "We are far from the only manufacturer in New England feeling the pain of the new tariffs imposed," said Gary Merrill, president and CEO of Hussey Seating. "On top of the Canadian steel tariffs, prices for domestically sourced steel (HRPO and galvanized) have increased signifi cantly in anticipation of the implementation of these tariffs. Like many in the construction industry, roughly 50% of our current year's revenues come from projects in our backlog sold at fi xed prices. We've already taken a hit in the price increases to date and they continue to negatively impact our ability to reinvest in the business to remain competitive and maintain our current employment levels." Canada, Mexico and the European Union were exempted from import duties of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum when the tariffs were fi rst imposed in March, but those exemptions expired June 1. Merrill said price increases for domestic and Canadian steel will create a competitive advantage for foreign manu- facturers, threatening Hussey Seating's longstanding domi- nance in the North American gym bleacher market. "We employ 300 people with an annual payroll exceeding $15 million and sales exceeding $100 million, 98% of which are generated outside of Maine and we are a net exporter to Canada," he said. "These are the kinds of jobs this admin- istration has committed to preserving." P O L I T I C S & C O. We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only We are far from the only manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England manufacturer in New England feeling the pain of the new tariffs imposed. — Gary Merrill CEO, Hussey Seating Co. at four of the state's seven com- munity colleges. Training for the Class A license will be delivered at Central Maine, Eastern Maine and Kennebec Valley community col- leges. Students enrolled in heavy equipment programs at Washington County Community College and the lineworker technology program at Kennebec Valley Community College will be able to prepare for the Class B license in order to operate the vehicles necessary for employ- ment in those fi elds. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N The U.S. Department of Transportation selected the University of Maine to lead the creation of a highly competi- tive university transportation center called the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center, which aims to save public money by extending the life of transportation assets, including bridges, roads and rail. As much as $14.2 million will be provided over fi ve years for the UMaine-led coalition that includes the University of Rhode Island, N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N

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