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December 12, 2016 Edition

The Fastest Growing Companies in Maine 2016

Mainebiz Staff

Mainebiz is proud to introduce you to its 2016 Fastest Growing Companies in Maine list. Our three winners, Cheating Gourmet in the small category, Maine Coast in the medium category and Apothecary By Design, a winner in the large category for the second year in a row, are rapidly changing Maine's economy for the better. Along with the runner-up companies — Tilson, OTTO Pizza, Horch Roofing Inc., Energy Circle and Maine Foodie Tours — these companies are creating jobs and finding new opportunities for growth in very competitive markets.They all have a vision for Maine, and we applaud their efforts.

  • Large company runner-up: OTTO Pizza

    How would you describe your company’s core mission?:Since we never formalized our mission statement, we are now taking the time to pause, take stock, fully define and reaffirm those core values.

  • Medium company runner-up: Horch Roofing Inc.

    How would you describe your company’s core mission?:

  • Small company runner-up: Energy Circle

    How would you describe your company’s core mission?:

  • Small company runner-up: Maine Foodie Tours

    How would you describe your company’s core mission?:

  • Closing the health care gap for Maine’s rural residents

    James McCarthy

    Barbara Leonard began her new role as president and CEO of Maine Health Access Foundation on Oct. 1, replacing Dr. Wendy Wolf, the nonprofit's founder who announced her planned departure from those roles in the fall of 2015.

  • These companies find success by meeting challenges head-on

    Mainebiz is in the second year of honoring Maine's Fastest Growing Companies and we're seeing some good examples of why they're growing — and what that means.

  • Focus on Lewiston/Auburn
    Focus on Lewiston/Auburn

    Focus turns to Mill 5 in Bates Mill's rebirth

    Laurie Schreiber

    With much of the space occupied by commercial and residential tenants in seven restored historic buildings at the Bates Mill Complex, the largest and last of the buildings to be redeveloped is seeing interest from potential tenants as near as Main

  • National Park Service publishes stakeholders' views on national monument

    James McCarthy

    The National Park Service has just released its report based on four community “listening sessions” about the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument that were held in Stacyville, East Millinocket/Medway, Millinocket and Bangor/Orono this fall

  • Immigrant mix changing in Lewiston

    Lori Valigra

    Shukri Abasheikh, who owns the bustling 1,500-square-foot Mogadishu Store on Lisbon Street in Lewiston, was among the first wave of Somalis who moved to the central Maine city in July 2002.

  • In Short
    In Short

    IN SHORT

    New hiresServpro of Belfast/Camden/Rockland, a fire, water and mold restoration company, hired Greg Stuart as production manager.

Today's Poll

Should the U.S. phase out its use of the penny, as Canada did over a decade ago?
Poll Description

For decades, people have pondered the penny. Does a coin with so little value have any value at all in the U.S. economy? Does the reddish-brownish disc of copper and (mostly) zinc serve a useful purpose, perhaps even beyond its intended one?

As the New York Times reported recently, most of the pennies issued by the U.S. Mint are given out as change and then never spent. This creates an incessant demand for new pennies, so that change can be handed out in future cash transactions.

"In other words," Caity Weaver wrote for the Times, "we keep minting pennies because no one uses the pennies we mint." It's estimated there are 240 billion pennies in the U.S., the vast majority of which are sitting in coin jars, hiding beneath sofa cushions, or otherwise dormant.

To replace the lost money, the federal government literally loses money. Minting a single 1-cent coin costs more than 3 cents.

Faced with a similar dilemma, Canada phased out the use of its penny in 2013. Cash prices there are now rounded up or down to the nearest nickel or dime. Should the U.S. do the same?

No, say penny proponents. There is something very American about getting exactly the change you're entitled to. And the coin has its admirers. It's embedded in our language, our culture. The penny's portrait of Lincoln is the most reproduced piece of art on Earth. 

So this specie remains the most basic instrument of doing business. What's your 2 cents?

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