Latest News

/12 Mar 2024

FocusMaine is launching the Maine Seafood Promotional Council

Maine Seafood Promotional Council FocusMaine was awarded a Domestic Trade Initiative grant from the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development which will support two years of a pilot Seafood Promotional Council. Origins and Vision Emerging from the EDA-funded Seafood Economic Accelerator for Maine (SEA Maine)’s collaborative efforts, the Maine Seafood Promotional Council is a key recommendation outlined in the Roadmap for the Future of...

/11 Jan 2024

FocusMaine Announces Generous Harold Alfond Foundation Grant

The FocusMaine team is proud to announce the receipt of a game-changing $6.9 million, three-year challenge grant from the Harold Alfond® Foundation. This substantial investment marks a pivotal moment for FocusMaine, propelling its mission to strengthen and transform Maine’s economy by expediting the growth of Maine’s food economy and bioeconomy and building talent pathways to support a robust workforce. Follow this link to read the...

/29 Nov 2023

Now Hiring : Manager of Strategic Communications and Outreach

FocusMaine is finalizing an exciting strategic and brand refresh that offers a tremendous opportunity to modernize its brand identity and enliven its communications and outreach. To capitalize on this opportunity, FocusMaine seeks an energetic communications and outreach manager to implement a strategic communications plan that is developed in concert with the President. Apply Now — Join our Team!

/15 Nov 2023

Congratulations to Andrea Maker, FocusMaine’s New President

We are delighted to announce Andrea Cianchette Maker, co-founder and co-chair of FocusMaine, has been named president! “It’s an exciting time for FocusMaine, as we are seeing our unique approach to economic development for Maine having a real impact on key economic sectors. I can’t think of anyone better prepared to lead us into the next phase of our work—or more passionate about our mission—than...

/02 Jun 2023

Maine Bioscience Booklet

From the rocky coast of Bar Harbor to the burgeoning Portland waterfront, Maine is home to a diverse and prosperous life science ecosystem. The Maine Bio Booklet is a sample of companies, academic and research institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies contributing to the fastest growing biotech sector in the country. Coordinated and designed by FocusMaine and Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME), this publication was co-created...

/30 Mar 2023

2022 Annual Impact Report: A Year of Learning and Evolving

The FocusMaine Team is proud to share our 2022 Annual Impact Report. The past year marked a period of progress, transition, learning, and opportunity. The report highlights our mission, impact, and partnerships with stories from some of the students, entrepreneurs, businesses, and communities that have been touched by our work. Thanks to the generous support of our donors and the tremendous work of our partners, we continue to...

/12 Dec 2022

Courtney Crossgrove and Mikayla Sweet Join the FocusMaine Team

We are delighted to announce that our small but mighty team has grown. Join us in welcoming Courtney Crossgrove as FocusMaine’s Food and Agriculture Program Manager and Mikayla Sweet as our Grants and Finance Manager. The added talent that Courtney and Mikayla bring will boost our internal capacity and improve our overall effectiveness as an organization. Our team of five is poised for a big year...

/12 Dec 2022

October on the Go

As the landscape is ablaze with spectacular autumn colors. Dana O’Brien, President of FocusMaine, is leaning into the ‘get down to business’ vibe of fall. In this edition, we recap a month full of listening, learning, advocating, and building connections to accelerate the growth of Maine’s economy. Follow this link to read the full story.

/22 Aug 2022

Maine Seaweed Showcase

The Seagriculture Conference, the 1st international seaweed conference in the US, is coming to Portland Sept. 7-8, 2022. We wanted to be sure Maine’s seaweed sector gets the national and global attention it deserves. The Maine Seaweed Showcase is a summary of farmers, innovators, educators, researchers, and nonprofits working to create a resilient, thriving seaweed aquaculture industry in Maine. Led by FocusMaine and co-created with...

/22 Jun 2022

Growing Food and Futures with Nona Yehia

Nona Yehia, the animated spirit behind Vertical Harvest–the new hydroponic greenhouse soon opening in Westbrook–shares her passion and plans in this issue of Sustenance. Their “Grow Well” approach creates employment opportunities for people with a disability or neurodiversity while also delivering delicious, nutritious microgreens to the community. Check out her twist on the classic Maine lobster roll, too. Read the full newsletter here.

/07 Jun 2022

Spring Program Update

Programs are in full swing at FocusMaine! We’re delighted to share some exciting new work and events taking place across our signature sectors with support from our terrific partners. Read the full newsletter here.

/09 May 2022

Helping New Mainers Access Good Food with Luc Samuel Kuanzambi

As part of our Sustenance series that explores trends in Maine’s food economy, we sat down with Luc Samuel Kuanzambi to talk about accessing good food in Maine from the perspective of a new Mainer. In his former role as Cultural Ambassador for Hannaford, Luc discussed the opportunities for grocers and food producers to better meet the needs of Maine’s growing immigrant community. Along the...

/31 Mar 2022

Transition at FocusMaine

A Message from Kim Hamilton & FocusMaine Co-chairs Dear Friends, After nearly five years as FocusMaine’s inaugural president, I’ve decided the time is right for me to transition out of my role at the end of June. The transition comes at the right time for me personally as I prioritize time with my family and at the right time for the organization as it lays the...

/31 Mar 2022

Press Release: FocusMaine Announces Leadership Transition

PORTLAND, Maine (March 31, 2022)—After nearly five years at the helm of FocusMaine, Dr. Kimberly Hamilton announced that she will be stepping down as the organization’s president. Hamilton was the inaugural president of FocusMaine. During her tenure, the organization has had a tangible impact on key sectors of Maine’s economy, including agriculture and food manufacturing, aquaculture and biopharmaceuticals. “It has been an honor to work...

/16 Mar 2022

Momentum: Together, we’re accelerating Maine’s growth.

We are pleased to share FocusMaine’s 2021 Annual Impact Report. The report, entitled Momentum, outlines the cumulative progress that FocusMaine with its partners has made over the past four years, including highlights from 2021. FocusMaine works with partners to accelerate the creation of quality jobs in Maine by investing in three high-growth fields —agriculture and value-added food and beverage production, aquaculture and biopharmaceuticals —and by strengthening Maine’s...

/09 Feb 2022

Exciting News for Maine’s Blue Economy

We are excited to share some good news: FocusMaine, Educate Maine, and a cadre of industry and academic partners are teaming up to launch the Aquaculture Pioneers program, a two-year pilot program designed to open doors to long-term careers in Maine’s growing aquaculture industry. Our vision in launching the Aquaculture Pioneers Program is to fuel the growth of Maine’s sustainable aquaculture industry with new skills, diverse...

/03 Feb 2022

FocusMaine and Educate Maine Launch Aquaculture Pioneers Program

FocusMaine and Educate Maine are piloting a new program aimed at providing a pathway to long-term careers in Maine’s aquaculture sector. The Aquaculture Pioneers Program, a two-year effort funded through a $382,504 grant from the Builders Initiative, will be launched this spring. The Aquaculture Pioneers Program addresses a documented and immediate need for talent in an industry that is now providing the majority of seafood...

/07 Jan 2022

New Year, Fresh Perspectives on 2022

The past two years are fading in the distance, and we are turning our sights toward what we hope will be a promising new year. To help us anticipate what lies ahead, we’ve sought out a diversity of thought, experience, and professional focus from many of our partners. We’ve asked these expert contributors to describe what the world in 2022 looks like from their vantage...

/01 Nov 2021

Exploring Multicultural Food Markets With Tae Chong

Do you ever wonder what drives a passion for good Maine food? How to find your niche in Maine’s food economy? Or what’s top of mind for leaders in this vital part of Maine’s economy? We do! That’s why we are pleased to welcome you to Sustenance, a series of interviews with leaders in Maine’s food economy. For this special edition, FocusMaine President Kim Hamilton...

/05 Oct 2021

A Bright Spot For Maine’s Summer Interns

The 2021 Maine Career Catalyst program has been a bright spot for participants this year. Despite the challenges of the past 18 months, these young people–on the brink of their first careers–found a new passion for Maine and what it has to offer. The Maine Career Catalyst is a joint program of FocusMaine and Educate Maine. It offers access to robust professional development opportunities, networking experiences with other interns and employers,...

/30 Jul 2021

Women of Maine’s Working Waterfront

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly choosing hardworking careers in aquaculture and turning the tides of an industry historically dominated by men. In Maine, one-third of Limited Purpose Aquaculture (LPA) license holders are now women, according to the Maine Aquaculture Workforce Development Strategy, jointly released by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Aquaculture Association, and FocusMaine. These women are not only changing the face of the aquaculture workforce in Maine;...

/30 Jun 2021

Maine’s Bioscience Industry on the Rise, High-growth Jobs to Follow

Maine’s life sciences sector has been at the center of a whirlwind of activity this past year, and the sector continues to buzz with promising momentum for business and workforce expansion. Last month, Kebotix, a Massachusetts-based technology platform company that transforms the discovery of new chemicals and materials through AI and robotics, announced its expansion to Maine through its partnership with Northeastern University’s Roux Institute in Portland....

/13 May 2021

Equity in Internships: a new opportunity

Does your employer offer internships or apprenticeships? Do you know of young professionals involved in or seeking internships and other experiential learning opportunities this summer? FocusMaine and Educate Maine are teaming up to launch the Equity in Internships Program (EQUIP) as part of the Maine Career Catalyst. EQUIP supports racial equity and increases experiential learning opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) students facing...

/03 May 2021

Celebrating Maine Grown Wholesome Snacks: FocusMaine Partnerships in Action

At FocusMaine, we are champions for Maine food entrepreneurs and growing food companies. Our strategy is built on the knowledge that Maine’s national reputation for high-quality food rests on a deep heritage of agricultural production. As global consumer preferences increasingly lean toward credible brands and locally sourced food, Maine’s food businesses are in a unique position to grow and expand job opportunities in Maine. That’s...

/29 Mar 2021

Stronger Together, Resilient as Ever

We’re pleased to share the 2020 Highlights and Impact Report for FocusMaine. This report is more than an annual review. It is a three-year retrospective that shows what is possible when passion, vision and resources coalesce around one common goal: to grow good jobs in Maine. I hope you will find inspiration and a better understanding of why our focus is more important than ever. ...

/11 Feb 2021

FocusMaine Intern Experience Kicks Off and Expands

To keep pace with employer needs and expanding opportunities for employment training in the state, FocusMaine, in partnership with Educate Maine, is relaunching its FocusMaine Intern Experience under a new banner. Click green heading to read more

/28 Jan 2021

Celebrating Maine’s Famous Blue Food

At FocusMaine, we’re committed to supporting great Maine food. That’s why National Blueberry Pancake Day seemed like the perfect time to shine a light on Maine’s iconic superfood, the wild blueberry. Click green heading to read more

/30 Dec 2020

Our Commitment to Maine’s Future

Like many of you, FocusMaine’s team is taking stock of the year behind us and looking forward to the year ahead. We’re also reflecting on the spirit of so many people who sustained us through this most difficult of years. Click green heading to read more

/12 Nov 2020

Resolute in Our Goals

As we head into Thanksgiving, we are thankful for so many things. That’s why we are sharing some of the groundbreaking work led by our partners. Despite everything that 2020 has thrown our way, together, we remain resolute in our commitment. By unlocking jobs in high potential sectors, we’re transforming Maine’s resilience and ingenuity into livelihoods for families and economic growth for communities. This month,...

/07 Oct 2020

FocusMaine Receives Unique $5.18 Million Grant from Harold Alfond™ Foundation

FocusMaine, a private sector-led initiative to accelerate the creation of quality jobs in Maine, announced that it has received a multimillion-dollar, multi-year grant from the Harold Alfond™ Foundation to spur job growth across the state in sectors that hold tremendous economic potential: the life sciences, agriculture, and aquaculture. The grant, totaling $5.18M over three years, affirms the meaningful impact FocusMaine has already had since launching its programmatic work three years ago. READ MORE

/06 Oct 2020

Harold Alfond Foundation pledges $500 million to help Maine economy

The Harold Alfond Foundation today announced more than $500 million dollars of new grant investments in Maine people and institutions to help grow the state’s workforce and economy and support quality health care. These new investments build on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to provide opportunity for the people of Maine to thrive from birth through career. Click the green heading to read more

/29 Sep 2020

Maine’s Food Companies are Winning

FocusMaine’s job creation strategy is dedicated to building the bench of successful businesses that will help our economy grow and add value to Maine’s food bounty. This month, we are sharing the great news about the winners in two industry-specific Top Gun programs implemented by our partners Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) and Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE). FocusMaine supported this program to advance Maine’s...

/25 Aug 2020

Together, We’ll grow Stronger

This month, two of FocusMaine’s initiatives have reached significant milestones, and we wanted to share these successes with you. In the coming months, you’ll be hearing more from us as we launch our next three-year plan to work alongside partners and to help grow and sustain jobs at this critical time. While the context for our work has changed, the fundamentals of our strategy remain...

/15 Jul 2020

Maine’s Food Businesses Benefit all Mainers

When FocusMaine identified Maine’s Food Economy as one of our big bets to create jobs across the state, we had no idea how important this choice would be today. Food security, resilient food systems, and healthy foods have always been important. More than ever, we know that the producers and farmers who grow good food in Maine’s soil and sea are vital to emergency response...

/18 May 2020

FocusMaine Intern Experience Goes Virtual

With summer around the corner, post-secondary students across Maine are considering their summer plans for work, internships or other opportunities. This year, however, looks very different. In Maine, and across the country, businesses are rethinking how they engage interns and how they build their talent pipeline while retaining and retraining their current workforce. The current context demands that we reposition the traditional summer internship into...

/10 Apr 2020

FocusMaine and MTI receive $2M award to develop marine economy and workforce

Today, Maine’s Congressional Delegation and the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced a $2 million Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) award to the State of Maine to help it develop an industry-led roadmap and action plan for economic growth and greater resiliency in its marine economy. The award provides critical funding to support Maine’s Marine Economy initiative – – a three-year project that will provide strategies...

/28 Jan 2020

FocusMaine Results-January 2020

FocusMaine’s Strength Comes From Its Innovative Partnership Model Working with seven mission-aligned partners, FocusMaine works at the intersection of global trends and Maine’s unique assets. Our efforts are oriented toward one north star: job creation. Each organization plays a unique role, and together, we are stronger. Our accomplishments in just two years speak to the power of this approach. Download the full Report: FocusMaine Results...

/27 Jan 2020

FocusMaine adds Toby Ahrens to Team

Excerpt, courtesy of MaineBiz: FocusMaine, a private-sector-led initiative founded in 2014 to create jobs in Maine, plans to beef up its leadership. Kimberly Hamilton, president of the organization, said in a news release that FocusMaine has hired Toby Ahrens, who previously worked at the Los Angeles-based Larta Institute, as its new program director. Ahrens’ professional experience includes a combination of developing technology, raising capital, and...

/20 Jan 2020

Number of Maine specialty food and beverage businesses keeps rising

Excerpt, courtesy of Press Herald: At a time when the total number of Maine businesses is declining, one segment of the economy is rising like a well-proofed loaf of bread – specialty food and beverage businesses. The number of food and beverage manufacturing companies in Maine grew 35 percent from 2007 to 2017, according to federal census data gathered by James C. McConnon Jr., a...

/16 Nov 2019

FocusMaine featured on Greenlight Maine

FocusMaine President, Kim Hamilton, appears as a panelist on Greenlight Maine, Season 5, Episode 7 This week’s contestants had the judges wringing their hands and wracking their brains over who should move on. When you tune in to watch Jen Fulmer of Boots2Roots and Margo Walsh of Maine Works tell their amazing stories you’ll understand why. These two brilliant and accomplished women on a personal...

/03 Aug 2019

August 2019 Newsletter

Summer is here and FocusMaine’s work is heating up! We hope you’re as inspired as we are by the extraordinary people and organizations working together to grow great careers and competitive industries across our state. Read our full August 2019 Newsletter: FocusMaine newsletter August 2019

/07 Jun 2019

Cultivator Program Celebrates First Anniversary

The Maine Center for Entrepreneurs (MCE) and FocusMaine celebrated the first anniversary of the Cultivator Program and the first 10 member companies in March 2019. MCE’s Cultivator program supports the growth of Maine food, beverage and agriculture companies over a 12-month period by providing hands-on strategic assessments, tailored professional resources, and interactive business forums focused on overcoming the specific strategic challenges participant companies face as they attempt to grow...

/16 Jan 2019

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