R&D grants paying off

This bodes well for the recently passed bond measure.

Maine companies receiving state R&D grants have grown at five times the average business in the Pine Tree State during the last five years, according to a report to be released next week by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.

… The 800 companies that received grants from bond programs also paid 15 percent higher wages and grew by an average of 9 percent last year — higher than the Maine average, Renault said. DECD research also found that since 2000, every dollar invested in R&D in Maine has generated a $10 return, said Renault.

- MassHighTech

More here.

Camden approves cell tower

Voters approved leasing town-owned land for a proposed Verizon Wireless’ cellular communications tower at a special town meeting Jan. 17.The vote was 16 to 0 in favor of leasing town land to Verizon Wireless for 25 years, at an initial rent of $14,440 annually. The lease increases 15 percent every five years.

The proposed tower is to be located on town owned land, off of Sagamore Hill Road and Route 1, behind Laite Construction, and is zoned for cellular communications towers. This area is just below the boundaries of Camden Hills State Park. – more

- MaineCoastNow

Caribou company layoffs

It has been reported that 80 of the 235 employees of ATX Forms Inc. in Caribou will be let go.

State Rep. Peter Edgecomb of Caribou said Sunday that he learned of the layoffs from city officials late last week and had received e-mails from several former ATX employees.

“I think that, at this point, there are more questions than answers about what has happened,” Edgecomb said. “I have been told that these employees went to a meeting thinking they were going to strategize about the upcoming tax season and then were told they were being laid off. … This certainly was a shock to them, and it is a shock to the city.”

- BangorDaily