Business and Economy

Two small airports in Maine are getting a boost from the federal government to make improvements.

Maine's labor leaders are calling on Congress to extend the $600 weekly supplemental unemployment benefit for people out of work because of COVID-19. That benefit is part of the CARES act, and it expires at the end of this month.

OXFORD, Maine - Maine's casinos are emerging from a COVID-19 closure. Bangor's Hollywood Casino opens at noon Friday, a day after the opening of the Oxford Casino.

Sappi paper has announced that it's permanently shutting down a paper machine at its mill in Westbrook, as well as major components of the Westbrook mill's energy complex. The company says this will result in the layoff of 75 employees, and the work will be shifted to mills in Showhegan and Minnesota.

UNITY, Maine - A credit union in Maine said a new program will pay closing costs for purchasing or refinancing farmland in the state.

Maine Harvest Federal Credit Union made the announcement about the new Conservation Grant Program on Tuesday.

The credit union said the program would help borrowers to take advantage of low interest rates by reimbursing them up to $3,500 per loan.

Maine Harvest Federal Credit Union cofounder Scott Budde said the program would incentivize farmers who are interested in buying land.

It didn't take long for the new coronavirus to slow Maine's economy.  The federal Bureau of Economic Analysis says Maine's gross domestic product shrank at a 6.3% rate in the first quarter of this year.