Hammond Lumber

This year's notable deals include the acquisition of Belfast's Front Street Shipyard by a Blackstone-backed marina operator, and hammond Lumber's purchase of Ware-Butler.

The combined company will employ more than 1,200 people across 34 retail locations in Maine and New Hampshire, according to the Belgrade-based buyer.

Revenue from the naming rights deal will help the center stay viable in the future, Augusta City Council members said.

The additional revenue would assist the center getting back to square one from the pandemic and help keep the budget balanced and competitive in the marketplace.

While the number of donors continues to increase, businesses and organizations supporting the Maine Community Foundation's Lewiston-Auburn Area Response fund include L.L.Bean and the John T. Gorman Foundation, a Portland-based nonprofit.