Maine Business in March 2026: Deals, strikes and a wave of expansions

Maine businesses saw a busy March, marked by acquisitions, real estate deals, labor actions and several new store and restaurant openings. Business groups also weighed in on energy prices and a data privacy bill, and a Maine town advanced a cannabis licensing question in March.

Deals and Acquisitions

• Searsport's Captain Nickels Inn changed hands after a $1.5 million restoration, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• South Portland digital archive firm HistoryIT acquired Chicago peer LifeWeb 360, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Bay State hardware chain bought a Kennebunk store, its second location in Maine, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Vegas firm bought a Maine firm that handles cleaning work in commercial kitchens, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• KMA Human Resources was acquired by a Boston HR firm, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The Portland Museum of Art completed a $14 million deal for Free Street properties, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Real Estate and Development

• The price tag for the Portland Foreside Development rose above $1 billion, the Portland Press Herald reported. (The Portland Press Herald)
• A $20 million rehabilitation aims to revive a long-vacant Augusta landmark, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The Portland Housing Authority planned 173 apartments in East Bayside, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Thompson's Point project will add 257 apartments to the market, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Amazon plans a 3.6-acre distribution hub on a Waterville and Sidney field, Central Maine reported. (Central Maine)
• Two flagged hotels on South Portland's Sable Oaks Drive sold to out-of-state investors, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Openings and Expansions

• A new Filipino market in Bangor is drawing customers seeking Asian groceries, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• Aroma Joe's expanded its presence in the midcoast, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• NBT Bank opened its first Maine retail branch, building on its existing commercial business there, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine Beer Co. proposed expanding its Freeport production plant, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Amazon is making an aggressive expansion into rural Maine, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• Aldi is set to open its first Maine location, with more expected to follow, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Jobs and Labor

• A free program that trains workers for Bath Iron Works is set to expand, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Nurses in Bangor planned to strike over staff-to-patient ratios, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Bangor hospital and its nurses' union reached a tentative contract agreement, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Bath Iron Works draftsmen went on strike over wages, insurance and retirement security, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Bath Iron Works reached a new contract with its marine draftsmen, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Manufacturing and Industry

• A coastal Maine boatyard received $1.5 million to expand further into new technology, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• A Kittery shipyard welded its first-ever metal 3D-printed submarine component, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Cianbro won a $54 million contract for Bangor bridge and road projects, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Brewer defense manufacturer plans to scale up production of advanced shelters, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Energy and Economy

• Maine's outdoor recreation sector hit a record $3.9 billion despite headwinds, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's clean energy sector grew faster than the rest of New England and the US, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine heating oil prices rose 30% since the Iran conflict began, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A report found that January immigration raids took a toll on Maine's economy, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A report found Maine caregivers provided $5.5 billion in unpaid care in 2024, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine's construction industry is keeping an eye on surging fuel costs, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

Food, Farm and Agriculture

• A sharp increase in beef prices is squeezing Maine farmers, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)
• A Downeast seafood company advanced its plan to process Jonah crab, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• A Lisbon Falls malthouse landed a hat trick of wins in a global competition, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• King led a bipartisan push to investigate Canadian potato trade practices, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Maine is making and selling more maple syrup than ever as global demand rises, Bangor Daily News reported. (Bangor Daily News)

State Government and Business Climate

• Maine business groups criticized a data privacy bill headed to the state Senate, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• The State Chamber examined the Iran war's impact on Maine energy prices, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Livermore Falls advanced a cannabis ordinance to voters that would let existing medical stores apply for one of two recreational sales licenses, Sun Journal reported. (Sun Journal)
• A Maine lobsterman filed a Supreme Court challenge to GPS tracking requirements, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)
• Applications for paid family and medical leave are now open, Mainebiz reported. (Mainebiz)

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