Maine Business in February 2026: Deals, Development and Federal Dollars

Maine business news in February 2026 spanned real estate development, corporate deals, health care, energy, retail, workforce and transportation. Below is a roundup of the month's notable stories as reported by Maine outlets.

Real estate and development

• The buyer of a downtown Skowhegan building is planning a redevelopment, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A new 33-unit apartment building for seniors in Rumford has already had its first-floor units claimed after an open house, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
• A rare condo project in Falmouth aims to provide housing for workforce-level earners, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The Ogunquit Playhouse is planning a $62 million renovation, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Thirteen luxury condos are under construction on Portland's Eastern Promenade, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Former mill sites in East Millinocket, Lewiston and Lincoln will share $12 million in funding for redevelopment, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A 200-unit luxury apartment complex is under construction in Westbrook, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Deals and company moves

• A longtime Portland furniture retailer has opted for retirement, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• IDEXX beat Wall Street's expectations on its fourth-quarter results and issued initial guidance for 2026, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• VIP Tires & Service is expanding through a deal with a Connecticut auto shop, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Kennebec County cider company has merged with a seltzer brand, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Landry/French Construction is expanding its operations into Florida, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Androscoggin Bank plans to close one of its two branches in Lewiston, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A hedge fund plans to pick a board fight at WEX over what it called alarming share-price underperformance, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Health care

• The longtime head of the Maine Hospital Association is stepping down, and a successor has been named, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's rural hospitals will share $71 million in federal funding, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A California-based acquirer has completed its deal to acquire Central Maine Healthcare, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Jackson Lab has formed a research collaboration with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Energy and utilities

• A $48 million infusion of federal funding will improve broadband access, though more funding is still needed, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A battery storage facility in Gorham is being touted as a money-saver for Maine, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The Bangor Water District plans to raise rates by more than 10%, the Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• Central Maine Power is proposing a slight decrease in monthly bills this summer as part of a longer-term rate plan, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
• A solar array will power the Poland Spring plant in Hollis, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Tennessee firm has proposed a $180 million plant in Sanford designed to destroy 'forever chemicals,' Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Retail, food and hospitality

• Aroma Joe's has added a location in Bethel, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Rowe Ford has opened a commercial vehicle service center in Portland, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's first Aldi grocery store is set to open in March, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• An Auburn frozen seafood meal company has drawn national attention as one of the fastest-growing brands in its category according to Instacart, the Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
• Green Pest Defense is expanding in Freeport with a new building, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Hannaford has donated more than $1 million to nonprofits across the Northeast, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's largest brewer has set a new high for its use of home-grown grain, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Sisters have opened Aroostook County's newest health drink cafe, the Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)

Jobs, education and community

• Maine realtors donated $362,000 for housing and fuel assistance, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine businesses could gain access to more seasonal workers under a proposal, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Unity Environmental University has launched a school of business, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's population has hit a new high, fueled by incoming residents, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The chief of the community college system has backed Mills' revised plan for free tuition, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The doors have opened on an expanded Trinity Jubilee Center facility in Lewiston, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Transportation and innovation

• The Portland Jetport set an all-time passenger record for 2025, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A University of Maine composites spinoff has been selected for a global startup booster program, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Kittery shipyard has received a Navy submarine for a major overhaul, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Kittery startup wants to build Maine's first seaweed 'biorefinery,' Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Breeze Airways is adding four new destinations from the Portland Jetport, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's logging and trucking industry contributes $534 million to the state economy, according to a study, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• BluShift Aerospace is shifting into the rocket-booster market, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

This roundup summarizes reporting by other outlets; follow the links for their full stories.