Updated: December 28, 2020
From the Editor
A year we won’t forget
While the COVID-19 pandemic shut down so much of the economy for part of this year, it also laid bare some of the most enduring parts of the economy.
From the initial mandates in March through the tightening and loosening of restrictions throughout the year, there were some businesses that seemed to rise to the challenge.
This year’s Book of Lists illustrates how some of Maine’s largest businesses remained Maine’s largest businesses by adapting to the situation this year.
A few examples:
Cianbro Cos., which is No. 1 on two different lists (employee-owned businesses and construction firms), was at the center of the pandemic response this year. It teamed up with Puritan Medical Products, which had been tapped by the federal government to increase its production of swabs, to expand into a Pittsfield site. Puritan ended up getting more than $140 million in U.S. funds to expand, and Cianbro worked alongside the company to provide a site and fit-out of a former warehouse.
L.L.Bean, which is No. 1 on the family-owned business list, initially shut its doors, like all retailers. But eventually reopened under strict social distancing rules, including a requirement to wear a mask in its stores. It found that with so many people working remotely and looking for ways to get outside, Bean’s sales of outdoor equipment shot through the roof. By November, CEO Stephen Smith told CNBC that sales of winter gear were up 165% from the previous year.
Maine Medical Center, which ranks No. 1 on the list of Maine hospitals, was already undergoing a $500 million expansion before the pandemic hit. Of course, it quickly became the epicenter of the COVID response, with its beds quickly being occupied by patients. But the hospital did respond, shifting its focus to critical care, while still keeping its construction to the original timeline.
That is just some of the background on the lists that follow. We may see some changes in next year’s lists, but it’s likely many of the list toppers will also be there next year.
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2021 Book of Lists
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