Editor's Note: Go East, young startup!
Maine’s midcoast and Downeast regions are often defined by the fishing industry, aquaculture and tourism industries.
But, as we report in this issue, the regions are also notable for a broader range of small businesses and startups.
Amid the bad news surrounding the Brunswick Executive Airport and the aftermath of August’s accidental spill of toxic firefighting foam, it’s business as usual for more than three dozen startups at the TechPlace facility at Brunswick Landing. As Senior Writer Renee Cordes writes, the small spaces and affordable rents at TechPlace have created a welcoming atmosphere for startups.
“I don’t think we’d be able to exist anywhere else,” one startup leader tells Renee. “The capital costs in doing what we’re doing are outrageous, so to have a place that has almost all of what you need is fantastic … This is a wild mix of production and laboratory spaces that I don’t think you’d find in many places.”
For more, see Renee’s story, “From the Cold War to high tech,” which starts on Page 12.
Staff Writer Alexis Wells visits the Blue Hill Peninsula town of Castine to get updates on some businesses that have changed hands in recent years. She found good news and, well, opportunities.
Several business owners who have entered the market in the past few years are hitting their stride, while others are struggling with what most businesses in Maine are dealing with — labor shortages and staff turnover. See “Castine at a crossroads, again,” which starts on Page 18.
Senior Writer Laurie Schreiber focuses on a town about as far Downeast as you can go, Eastport. Despite some ups and downs, the businesses Laurie spoke with are optimistic about what’s ahead. See “Eastport resurgence,” which starts on Page 22.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments