Residents and nonresidents registered online in hopes of winning 1 of 4,105 permits that will be distributed via a drawing in June.
Kelley Bouchard
Staff Writer
Kelley writes about Maine businesses large and small, focusing on economic development, workforce initiatives and the state’s leading business organizations. Her wider experience includes municipal and state government, immigration, education, transportation, history, human rights, health and elder care, the environment and the housing crisis. A Maine native and University of Maine graduate, she was a college intern for two summers at the former Lewiston Evening Journal. She previously worked at the Ipswich Chronicle, Beverly Times and Salem Evening News in Massachusetts. Favorite pastimes include gardening, cooking, streaming foreign TV series and kayaking at camp.
Maine unemployment rate holds steady in April
The preliminary rate for last month is 3.1%, down slightly from March, the Maine Department of Labor reports.
Maine wood products companies get $1.6 million in federal grants
Treeline Inc. in Chester, Godfrey Forest Products in Jay and Tanbark in Saco will receive funding for innovative projects.
MEMIC workers’ comp premiums reduced more than 15%
The rate reduction will save more than 17,500 Maine employers as much as $31 million in total workers’ comp costs, which are among the highest in the nation.
Spike in road fatalities prompts Maine officials to urge driver safety
So far this year, 42 people have died on Maine roads, an increase over 29 deaths at this time in 2023, but the numbers have seesawed up and down since 2020.
Promotion of Wabanaki cultural tourism gains momentum in Maine
Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, the welcome center at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, is slated to open this summer. Designed in collaboration with Wabanaki leaders, it is one of the first major efforts in the state to boost Indigenous tourism.
Portland Jetport anticipates 17% passenger increase this summer
Service expansions by Breeze, Frontier and other airlines could push summer passenger numbers to 2 million.
Advocates for ban on flavored tobacco decry lack of vote in Maine House
The legislation died Thursday, and proponents would have to introduce a new version next legislative session.
Maine unemployment rate holds steady at 3.3%
The Maine Department of Labor reports little change in job market conditions in March, with non-farm jobs reaching the second-highest number on record.
Portland’s Amtrak station may move from Thompson’s Point
To shorten trip times, the operator of the Amtrak Downeaster is considering relocating the Portland station to one of 3 sites along St. John Street.