A research center in Calais owned by a Canadian firm has shuttered, affecting as many as 45 employees.

Ontario-based Acrobat Research, a marketing and polling firm, has shut down its Calais Research Center "for at least a few weeks, maybe longer," President Tim Sinke told the Bangor Daily News. He said 30 to 45 workers were affected, and that there is no guarantee any will be called back if the company reopens the center. Sinke attributed the close to a decline in business volume. Former center manager Jayda Smith, who was permanently laid off, told the paper she notified the 45 full-time workers Friday they were laid off.

Acrobat opened the center in 2008, its first U.S. location, and said it planned to hire up to 200 full- and part-time people.  A drop in business forced the center to close for six weeks soon after it opened.

Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>