Jan. 13, 2025 - Mainebiz

Business expansion

🔒Interest in Maine’s New Space industry will skyrocket

Maine’s New Space industry expects heightened interest from educators and overtures from out-of-state companies.

Subscriber Only

🔒Bar Harbor likely to see cruise ship slump, but other ports remain strong

Demand for cruise visits to Portland, Rockland and Eastport is strong, but the outlook varies. Factors include sailing times from other cruise ports, certain customs and border protection restrictions and, in Rockland’s case, a local ordinance limiting the cruise season,

Economy

🔒A note from Mainebiz Publisher Andrea Tetzlaff

Mainebiz remains committed to being a voice for the state’s business community.

Business expansion

🔒Made in Maine: A retail operation with a range of lotions

Mainebiz introduces a year-long feature, Made in Maine. The first column is about a family-run skincare maker with stores in Winthrop and Waterville.

Regulation & Taxes

🔒Ask ACE: What’s going on with Beneficial Ownership Interest reporting?

A regulation that would require businesses to file an ownership-interest report under the Corporate Transparency Act hangs in limbo.

Downtown revitalization

🔒Building Business: The Downs inks deal for build-to-suit space in Innovation District

A roundup of construction news that includes sites in Portland, Scarborough, Biddeford, Sanford and Kittery.

Banking & Finance

🔒25 bold predictions for Maine’s economy in 2025

Mainebiz offers 25 predictions about Maine's economy in 2025.

Economic development

🔒Maine Development Foundation’s Breen sets the tone for a ‘hopeful’ 2025

Despite workforce and housing shortages, the head of the Maine Development Foundation is optimistic about Maine's economy in 2025.

Housing

🔒Optimistic outlook for continued affordable housing development

The outlook is good for the continuation of affordable housing development, with MaineHousing finishing up a successful year, and 2025 expected to follow suit.

Energy & Utilities

🔒Marketplace for heat pumps will heat up

Maine is making headway in its electrification goals, with the big goal for 2025 being to facilitate the transition to heat pumps.

Climate change

🔒Climate-proofing Maine’s working waterfront

The Maine Won’t Wait Climate Action Plan boosted momentum toward action, particularly in building community-based resilience in the face of climate change.

Health care

🔒Newsworthy people and performances for Jan. 13, 2025

A roundup of new hires, promotions and achievements at businesses, nonprofits, health care institutions and professional services firms in Maine.

Economy

🔒Maine’s life sciences sector growth could outpace other industries

The $2.3 billion sector employed close to 10,000 Mainers in 2024.

Banking & Finance

🔒Maine banking chief sees merger momentum staying strong

Jim Roche, president of the Maine Bankers Association, said he expects more banks to seek economies of scale through combinations.

Real Estate & Construction

🔒Real estate experts expect shift in Maine residential growth, ‘normal’ year for commercial

A residential real estate expert predicts a year of opportunities and challenges for the market as a whole.

Downtown revitalization

🔒Energy and foot traffic could define Portland’s retail and restaurant scene

Tim Soley, president and CEO of East Brown Cow, says the Old Port remains a place that attracts new ideas.

Retail & Food Service

🔒Maine’s retail industry could see potential effect from trade tariffs

Alice Yardley, namesake of Alice Yardley Maine, believes that the fashion industry is constantly “evolving.”

Food production

🔒Resurgence fortifies an ice cream maker’s outlook

Lindsay Skilling, CEO of Gifford’s Ice Cream, is optimistic about 2025, especially as consumers seek high-quality, locally sourced food emphasizing unique flavors and tradition.

Downtown revitalization

🔒Skowhegan ready for new development in 2025

From new development and the completion of old projects, the Skowhegan has been busy and will continue to see more growth in the new year.

Economy

🔒Chamber looks to work out the wrinkles in paid-leave law

Maine's paid-leave law went into effect on Jan. 1, but could still be modified.

Agriculture

🔒Policy changes could create challenges for businesses

Concerns going into the year include trade tariffs, the impact of stricter immigration policies on workforce shortages and a continued lack of affordable housing

Government & Politics

🔒On the Record: Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman aims to tackle city’s housing shortage

The city has multiple housing projects in the works that will add more than 2,000 units, Grohman told Mainebiz in an interview at City Hall.

Jan. 13, 2025Edition

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