PORTLAND — The former owner of Bushmaster Firearms International LLC and other investors have started a new rifle company in the former Bushmaster manufacturing plant in Windham.

Windham Weaponry will make rifles and employ as many as half of the 73 people who worked at the Bushmaster plant, which closed earlier this year. More employees may be hired before the end of the year, said a news release.

“A group of investors felt there was a great opportunity for a new company when Bushmaster Firearms International LLC decided to relocate the company to another state and lay off all its employees,” said the release. “These employees in many cases have 25 years of experience in making one of the finest rifles in the world.”

YARMOUTH — Kent Peterson likes to point out that oil fields were formed over eons from deposits left by ancient algae.

These days, his company, Fluid Imaging Technologies, is selling a machine that helps speed up the process. It’s called the FlowCAM, and it’s used by companies and research groups to study algae used in the production of biofuel.

“Here’s a company in Maine playing its part in delivering a renewable energy source,” said Peterson, chief executive officer and co-owner of Yarmouth-based Fluid Imaging, which has 22 employees. “Globally, this business will grow a lot.”

Its strategy: Take advantage of tough times to acquire new property at discount prices.

Four entrepreneurs with Maine ties think fly-fishing needs a makeover.

They’ve launched Boston-based Cheeky Fly Fishing, a company that’s trying to inject energy, excitement and youth into a sport that the owners say could use a dose of cool.