Rockland continues to see new or expanding business

Rockland, Maine - The City of Rockland continues to see new and expanding business. “I am not sure when it is a ‘trend,’” say Community Development Director, John Holden, “but there has certainly been a noticeable number of inquiries looking for business space, announcements of existing companies expanding, and other positive news from our business community over the past six to nine months.” It is important to share these and other success stories to continue to encourage new or existing business expansions and to confirm that Rockland is a great place for business, according to Holden.

Recent news includes the naming of Kate McAleer, owner of Bixby & Co. to Mainebiz “Next” List. This annual issue of the business magazine names and highlights “10 people shaping the future of Maine's economy.” This marks the second year in a row that a Rockland business owner was named to the list. McAleer, started Bixby & Co. in December 2011 and has increased its presence in Whole Foods Market from 28 stores to more than 200. By next year, Bixby chocolate bars will be in more than 500 stores across much of the country, according to Mainebiz.

Shannon Kinney, Client Success Officer of Dream Local Digital was on last year’s Mainebiz Women
to Watch List and this July was named ‘Local Digital Innovator,’ by the Local Media Association, recognizing the best and most innovative organizations and people in the local media industry, globally. Dream Local Digital is continuing to grow and expand, as well, from its Downtown Rockland location, recently announcing the hiring of Edward Gaug as a Senior Marketing Strategist. Plans are still unfolding for expansion into the street level floor at its Main Street location.

This past spring and summer season saw some long-term tenants on Main Street leave but to be quickly filled with new tenants. The most recent new tenant will be Motifs, opening its second store in Maine branching out from its existing location on Exchange Street in Portland. It will be located at 415 Main Street and offer its unique mix of gifts, home accessories, curiosities, cards, and women’s clothes for “women who want to dress to express their joie de vivre.”

Plans are still progressing for the opening of Main Street Markets and their intent to share with the community the vibrant and diverse foods that Maine has to offer. Main Street Markets will offer local meats, seafood, produce, dairy, jams, syrups and other Maine made food stuffs. Plans also include a salad, juice and smoothie bar & café.

Business is growing outside of Main Street as well. Journey’s End Marina has begun work on building a new boat house on its property at the end of Tilson Avenue where it will greatly expand its capacity to hold and finish off work on large boats. Over this past year, Brio Promotions has consolidated its relocation and expansion by combining J & B Printers, a 30-year-old screen printing business, and Camden Custom Embroidery, an 18-year-old apparel embroidery business. Brio provides screen printing, embroidery, offset printing, and a wide range of promotional items for business. Brio is now located in its own building in the Rockland Industrial Park, has created five new positions and has plans for an additional four in 2015.

Across the road from Brio; North End Composites, builder of Back Cove Yachts, continues to expand as well. North End Composites has hired over 25 new employees in 2014 alone, and will be building the brand new Sabre 66 in its Rockland Industrial Park facility. This boat, the largest Sabre Yachts model, will be commissioned and launched at Journey’s End Marina in Rockland Harbor.

Holden notes that there are other positive stories of existing company expansions or investments
happening almost weekly in Rockland. The City works with companies to identify investment
opportunities, market the City as a place for new and expanding business, and lower impediments to
business expansion.