ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. Downtowns across the Northeast Kingdom are hurting from some of the same forces impacting rural America everywhere, but there are myriad efforts afoot to bolster and position many of them for better days ahead. From infrastructure improvement to tax incentives to lure new businesses, new events, projects to make town centers inviting […]

PORTLAND — The Bicycle Coalition of Maine recently announced the winners of its 2018 annual awards, honoring nine Maine individuals and organizations for their commitment to making the state a better place for cyclists and pedestrians in 2017. The winners are:  Nate Davis and Matt Ondra: Sally Jacobs Community Spokesperson Award — named after […]

NORWAY — Norway Savings Bank recently announced that Amanda Dyer has been promoted to branch manager of the Freeport office. Dyer joined Norway Savings Bank in 2011 as a financial solutions specialist at the Yarmouth office before working her way to assistant branch manager of the Freeport office in January 2017. She is involved in […]

BANGOR — Bangor Bancorp, parent company of Bangor Savings Bank, and Colebrook, New Hampshire-based First Colebrook Bancorp, Inc., parent company of Granite Bank, jointly announced that First Colebrook stockholders have approved the merger transaction, whereby Granite Bank will merge with and into Bangor Savings Bank. No vote by the corporators of Bangor Bancorp is required, […]

BANGOR Bangor Savings Bank, which has a branch location in Brunswick, has raised the minimum rate it pays employees in all positions to $15 per hour, effective Feb. 25. It is the bank’s third minimum wage increase since January 2016, and supports the company’s objective to pay a living wage to all employees, regardless of […]

SOUTH PORTLAND Southern Maine Community College is offering nearly 250 courses and workshops over the summer months for people working toward a degree, seeking to expand their professional skills or beginning new careers. Open registration for credit courses began on March 19, with classes offered at SMCC’s South Portland Campus, Midcoast Campus in Brunswick and […]

On March 9, 2018, the Southern Midcoast Maine Chamber hosted our annual awards event called the Big Night Out presented by Priority Real Estate Group. That evening eight awards were given to individuals and businesses who have shown exemplary support of the communities and our organization. As an honor to these winners, over the next […]

NEW YORK Business owners can find it a tall order to complete their tax returns while also running their companies. When an owner is distracted, or not paying close attention to IRS rules, that’s when mistakes happen. Some of the common ones to avoid: • If you’re a freelancer or independent contractor, make sure you […]

ZANESVILLE, Ohio Brianna Foster, 23, lives minutes away from Genesis Hospital, the main source of health care and the only hospital with maternity services in southeastern Ohio’s rural Muskingum County. Proximity proved potentially lifesaving last fall when Foster, pregnant with her second child, Holden, felt contractions at 31 weeks — about seven weeks too soon. […]

The millions of Americans who haven’t saved enough money for retirement still have a potential safety net: Their home equity. But recent changes to reverse mortgages mean seniors and their families may have tougher decisions to make. Reverse mortgages allow people 62 and older to tap their home equity without having to pay the money […]