Maine Business in July 2026: Real estate, expansions and energy pressures

Maine news outlets covered a wide range of business activity in July, from real estate and workforce changes to energy costs and local retail. Here is a roundup of what they reported, grouped by theme.

Real estate and development

A Scarborough site anchored by MaineHealth sold for $14.5 million, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Bath Iron Works broke ground on a new parking garage for its shipyard employees, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
An Augusta cultural landmark is set to reopen after a $53 million overhaul, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine's median home price hit an all-time high in June, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Industrial vacancies from York County to the Lewiston-Auburn area reached a 13-year high, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Freeport's Polo Ralph Lauren Outlet store is slated to close, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Deals, expansions and earnings

A South Paris-based manufacturer grew by acquiring a Massachusetts company, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A gym operator expanded its Maine presence by acquiring a location in York, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Biddeford brewer will close in August, citing significant challenges, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Chick-fil-A is expanding to Biddeford, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
WEX beat expectations in its second-quarter results and raised its full-year outlook, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A New Jersey cheesemaker bought Pineland Farms' dairy plant in Bangor, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Camden National posted record second-quarter earnings and rising loan volumes, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Jobs and leadership moves

Biddeford native Ryan Fecteau will lead the city's housing authority, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Avangrid announced new finance leadership appointments, Business Wire reported. (Business Wire)
Portland accounting firm Albin, Randall & Bennett named two new principals, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The longtime leader of Bangor Savings Bank will step down at the end of August, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The University of Maine System added new trustees to its board, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
MaineHealth will cut 83 jobs as it restructures its IT and analytics operations, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Energy and natural resources

Three Aroostook County towns are banding together to fight rising energy costs, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
A 'billion egg' challenge aims to help preserve Maine's lobster industry, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
UMaine will partner on a $15 million effort to bolster the New England seafood industry, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine's utilities regulator will hold hearings on a proposed Unitil rate increase, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Maine is seeking approval to solicit proposals for energy storage projects, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A forest bioproducts technology hub landed $20 million to advance its manufacturing efforts, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Food and drink

Maine once had several round-the-clock restaurants, but now only four Burger King locations offer a hot meal in the middle of the night, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
A renovated barn in Bristol has become a farm-driven restaurant, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
Bangor Daily News reported on how much lobster rolls cost across Maine right now. (Bangor Daily News)
Rumford's Volkernick's food truck remains a local favorite after 32 years and 13,000 pounds of sausage served, Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
A new wine bar opened in Kittery Foreside after years in the making, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A South Portland ice cream business switched to solar power, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Retail, industry and safety

After closing its Jay storefront in late May, Jay's Flower Barn is relocating to Livermore Falls to resume business from a new home-based workshop, Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
A nonprofit, reduced-cost child care center will open in Falmouth, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Scarborough sign manufacturer is rebranding, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A new local makers shop opened in a former midcoast train station, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
A Bangor child care center is opening in phases to meet growing demand, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
The owners of a Kennebunk art gallery added a new location in Ogunquit, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
A Robbins Lumber co-owner died of injuries sustained in a mill fire and explosion, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
A Baileyville paper mill faces a $794,000 fine for willful safety violations, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)