Mainebiz was founded in Portland in 1994, and in 1999 became part of Worcester Publishing Ltd. The paper was produced monthly, with a concentration on the Portland area, until January 2000. That’s when Mainebiz was relaunched with a new editorial staff, a statewide emphasis to its coverage, a bi-weekly publishing schedule and, over time, a thorough redesign, all with the aim of bringing readers more business news from across the state and delivering it in an easy-to-read, graphically compelling format.

In October 2006, Mainebiz decided to try something new when it created The Daily, a round-up of Maine business news that Mainebiz’s editorial staff compiles and delivers each weekday to subscriber’s e-mail inboxes. Sign up to receive The Daily here.

In April 2007, New England Business Media, a new company owned by two long-time Worcester Publishing executives, acquired Mainebiz along with its sister papers: the Hartford Business Journal and the Worcester Business Journal.

Over the years, Mainebiz has established itself as the premier source of business news and analysis in the state, and one of the best publications of its type anywhere in the country. In 2007, Mainebiz received its fourth consecutive award for "Best Newspaper" from the national Alliance of Area Business Publications, as well as the award for "Best Overall Design" for the fifth time in six years. Those overall awards complement several individual design, feature and reporter awards garnered by the paper over the years, including “Best Personality Profile” in 2007, "Best Special Section Layout" in 2006, "Best Feature Layout" in 2005, "Best Personality Profile" in 2004, "Best Reporter" and "Best Explanatory Journalism" in 2002 and "Best Feature" in 2001.

Mainebiz brings a similar focus on quality to the design and content of ancillary products such as the annual Fact Book and Book of Lists. Both publications have expanded in content and sophistication each year. In addition, Book of Lists has featured striking cover images by Maine artists Eric Hopkins and Phillip Frey. Along with those popular publications, Mainebiz publishes its Golf Guide each summer and Meeting & Event Planning Guide each fall.

The result of these efforts is a growing list of readers and advertisers. Verified audits of our circulation show that Mainebiz is mailed directly to 10,500 business people across Maine, with a newsstand distribution of 1,350 per issue. A recent survey conducted by Strategic Marketing Services in Portland revealed that each issue of Mainebiz is read by more than 22,000 business people throughout the state. Those loyal readers include business owners, company presidents and CEOs, as well as a wide variety of business professionals representing every industry in Maine. In addition, Mainebiz is read by elected officials, state agency heads, nonprofit administrators and a host of other Mainers actively shaping the state’s present and future.

We like to say that we make Maine’s business our business. Obviously, a lot of Mainers are glad we do.