David Turin

The Build Homes, Build Community initiative aims to reduce barriers to production at both the state and municipal levels.

Participants will include the CEOs of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as the president of MEREDA and the CEO of Bangor Savings Bank.

Portland City Council narrowly approved a decision to send to a November referendum a proposal to raise the city’s minimum wage from $15.50 per hour to $19 by 2028. If approved by voters, the new rate would give Portland one of the highest minimum wages in the country.

The proposed wage hike could affect many businesses, especially those in the hospitality and social services sectors.

Storefront vacancies in the Congress Street corridor reflect the economic costs of the city's homeless problems, but some new businesses are also moving in.

Portland's Finance Committee will revisit a plan to increase the city's minimum wage to $20 an hour, while a vote on the controversial moratorium is scheduled for Aug. 11.

A petition, addressed to Mayor Mark Dion and City Council members ahead of two regularly scheduled meetings on July 14, demands “swift, coordinated action to restore safety, cleanliness and vitality."

The issue made for a fiery start to Monday's City Council meeting, where one resident asked city officials to come up with solutions "because the downtown is dying."