April brought a state fight over data centers, several bank earnings reports and an IPO, and a steady flow of housing, manufacturing and small-business news from around Maine. Here is a roundup of the month's most notable business headlines, grouped by theme.
State policy and data centers
Maine businesses organized in opposition to a data privacy bill, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The Maine Legislature gave a plug-in solar bill the green light, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine will require battery makers to provide recycling options, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Mills vetoed a data center ban and backed a $550 million redevelopment plan for Jay, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine created a data center council to address development concerns, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Real estate and development
A Portland Foreside developer set out to reshape the eastern waterfront, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A prospective buyer of the Bangor Mall wants to develop condos and a marketplace there, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A broker report found Portland's residential real estate market rebounded in March, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Northeast Harbor hotel that had filed for Chapter 11 was sold to a hospitality firm for $60 million, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A proposal at Rock Row calls for 250 housing units and a 120-room hotel, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Hollis, in York County, cut the ribbon on a $7.5 million town hall, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
East Brown Cow added four vintage buildings to its Old Port portfolio, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Housing
A $12.5 million middle-income housing development went before the Greenville planning board, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine's modular housing industry was left in limbo after the Legislature failed to support a regulatory fix, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Biddeford will gain 40 affordable apartments through the Thatcher Brook development, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
An Evernorth fund will help finance three housing developments in Maine, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine extended its tax credit for affordable housing developments, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Manufacturing and industry
Hancock Lumber will expand its manufacturing of prefabricated components, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Bath Iron Works inaugurated a $40 million building meant to speed production of Navy warships, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
An MTI grant is helping spark an expansion at North Spore, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A planned plywood plant in Somerset County cleared a hurdle with USDA backing, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Biddeford packaging company saw booming box production, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Canadian manufacturer of prefabricated components opened a plant in Lewiston, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Banking, finance and deals
Maine banks helped foil $46 million in fraud in 2025, a trade group said, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Lewiston manufacturer Elmet announced the launch of an initial public offering, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The Maine Bankers Association endorsed Stablecore as a digital asset technology provider, Business Wire reported. (Business Wire)
Katahdin Trust's parent company reported higher first-quarter earnings and loan growth, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The Elmet Group announced the closing of its upsized initial offering, GlobeNewswire reported. (GlobeNewswire)
WEX defended its business strategy against an activist investor, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Business openings and expansions
A Yarmouth marina business made its first expansion into New Hampshire, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Massachusetts pest control firm entered Maine by opening two franchise locations, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A "net zero" home developer expanded into southern Maine and leased a manufacturing plant, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Florida engineering firm will set up an innovation division in Bangor, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Biddeford software and data consulting firm added a chief operating officer, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A new Lewiston store selling art and oddities, including uranium glass, opened, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
A butcher shop and deli is set to open in Portland, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Food, drink and health care
Falmouth's Old Smith Farm will reopen under new ownership, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The buyer of a Blue Hill garden center plans to add a brewery, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Portland gin maker expanded into the vodka market, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
MaineHealth will relocate its headquarters from downtown Portland to Westbrook, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Northern Light received a credit rating upgrade amid what was described as a "robust turnaround," Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Northern Light Mercy Hospital will add outpatient care at Rock Row, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Lewiston's Grifols Plasma Center will close on May 4, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
This roundup summarizes reporting by other outlets; follow the links for their full stories.
