Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Portland public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
6 issues in business jobs with high priority
Nordic Maine spa at Portland Technology Park
The city proposes to sell about 3.5 acres of Lot #1 at Portland Technology Park for $200,000. The low price reflects costly soil stabilization and utility connections the buyer must fund.
Small-business grant program changes
Two local food businesses sought financing from the PDC: Feast Ephemera, LLC requested $70,000 across two loan programs for its Washington Avenue location, and Bub's Home Kitchen requested $15,000 for its Monument Square location. Approval would help both businesses launch or expand.
New buyer at the Portland Fish Exchange
Quality Custom Packing Inc. was slated for approval as a new buyer at the fish exchange auction, following a subcommittee recommendation. More buyers can mean stronger competition and better prices for groundfish harvesters.
Fish Exchange operations and landings
March landings came in at 135,000 pounds — nearly double budget — and redfish contract unloads brought in over $11,000. Still, the exchange is drawing $70,000 from its line of credit and pumping is running well behind projections.
Job Creation Grant Program expansion and reprogramming
The board distributed the last of this year's job creation grant money — $130,000 — among twelve businesses, with most getting $10,000 or $20,000 for rent. Staff noted the rule limiting eligible expenses to commercial rent helps fight storefront vacancy but hurts businesses with off-site workers and no large rent bills.
Selling imported farmed salmon at the Fish Exchange auction
Eimskip and CBID want to land Icelandic and Faroese salmon in Portland and sell it on the exchange auction instead of trucking it to Boston. Supporters say the added revenue could lower fees for the local groundfish fleet; skeptics worry about competition with small-boat fishermen and the optics of auctioning foreign fish at a US port.