AGP Executive Report

Egg Price-Fixing Settlement: The DOJ and 17 state attorneys general reached proposed antitrust settlements with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova/Centrum and Hickman’s Egg Ranch, alleging they coordinated bidding that helped set benchmark egg prices used nationwide; the deals total $3.3 million in payments and 53 million eggs donated to food banks and nonprofits, with no wrongdoing admitted and court approval still required. Maine Housing Data: Maine’s Housing Opportunity Program released 2025 municipal housing results showing 7,499 new units permitted (about 9% above the 6,900 goal), plus 518 demolitions; the data also suggest most new supply is market-rate and only 13% has income restrictions, raising questions about where affordability is landing. Community Food Growth: In Van Buren, a long-unused downtown parcel has been turned into the Van Buren Community Garden, funded by a $44,345 Community Action Grant, adding greenhouses, an apiary and garden boxes to boost local food production and community ties. Librarians vs. AI: Searsmont Town Library added help for patrons to remove AI features from phones and adjust search settings, aiming to keep residents in control of how they use technology. Maritime Training Spotlight: Maine Maritime Academy cadets are set to witness Sail250 from New York Harbor as part of their summer sea term, tying Maine’s maritime education to a major national shipping celebration. Energy & Permitting Watch: Portland-based Ocean Renewable Power Company is seeking a single-year state land-use permit to measure tidal potential near False Pass, a step toward possible hydrokinetic power. Agriculture Meeting Calendar: Maine DACF’s LSOG Work Group Meeting #4 is scheduled for July 9 (virtual), focused on LSOG strategies with a public comment period.

Egg Price-Fixing Fallout: The DOJ and 17 state attorneys general reached a civil settlement with major egg producers, alleging coordinated manipulation of egg price benchmarks; the companies will pay $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs to food banks, with no criminal charges announced. Maine Lobster Industry: Maine lobstermen launched the “Billion Egg Challenge” to protect one billion lobster eggs using the V-notching conservation practice, pairing conservation with a statewide competition. Healthcare Costs & Debt: A new policy-trends report says Maine and several other states passed measures this year aimed at easing patient medical debt, including limits on how debt can be handled. Maine Housing & Energy: Penquis received a Maine Community Foundation grant for solar panels at Millinocket Manor, targeting lower electricity costs for affordable senior and disability housing. Fraud Watch: AARP Maine issued a scam alert focused on card skimming at gas pumps and ATMs, urging consumers to inspect machines and use tap-to-pay or digital wallets. Local Construction: Niles-Maine District Library approved a $2.7 million renovation, with work set to start in September and focus on lower-level updates.

Antitrust & Food Prices: The DOJ and 17 states reached a settlement with major egg producers Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch over alleged collusion to artificially inflate the Urner Barry egg price index from June 2022 to March 2025. The deal requires $3.3 million in penalties and 53 million eggs donated to food banks and nonprofits across participating states, with allocations including about 2 million eggs for Wisconsin and 1 million eggs potentially headed to Hawaii. Maine Business & Housing: Old Town’s new economic development director says she’s getting interest from would-be businesses and tourists, but downtown space and storefront availability remain a major bottleneck as the city looks for new tax revenue after the paper mill shutdown. Coastal Infrastructure: Saco’s Camp Ellis spur jetty project is officially underway, aiming to reduce wave energy and erosion after decades of shoreline damage. Local Culture & Industry History: The Patten Lumbermen’s Museum is expanding with donated watercolors that document Maine’s shift toward mechanized logging during the spruce budworm era. Weather Watch: NOAA forecasts possible northern lights visibility in parts of the northern U.S. near the Canadian border around July 1–3.

Antitrust & Food Prices: The U.S. DOJ and 17 states reached a settlement with egg producers Cal-Maine, Versova/Centrum, and Hickman’s Egg Ranch over alleged coordinated manipulation of Urner Barry egg price quotes, requiring $3.3M in penalties and 53 million eggs donated to food banks and nonprofits nationwide, with Vermont Foodbank expected to receive about 915,000 eggs and other states getting shares. Maine Housing Development: M&R Development announced Windham Village, a 172-unit mixed apartment/condo project in Windham aimed at easing Cumberland County’s “missing middle” pressure. Local Land-Use Governance: Milo voters will decide in November on a new municipal land use ordinance to bring the town into state compliance and set clearer permit steps. Municipal Cannabis Policy: Sangerville approved a 180-day pause on new commercial cannabis licenses while it drafts a longer-term ordinance. Clean Energy Grid Fight: Northport and CMP are sparring at the Maine Public Utilities Commission over how a new solar law should be applied to a proposed municipal sand-shed project. Coastal Resilience in Saco: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began a $45M Camp Ellis Beach shore damage mitigation project after decades of erosion impacts tied to historic jetties. Infrastructure & Trails: High Peaks Alliance secured a $1M Northern Border Regional Commission grant for the Sandy River Bridge project in Farmington, targeting spring 2027 construction bidding. Maine Education & Research: UMaine rising senior Autumn Perley won a 2026 Goldwater Scholarship for biomedical research work. Business & Consumer Watch: A Maine judge barred a Bangor-area wedding caterer from operating after testimony that clients paid more than $145,000 and received little or nothing in return.

Antitrust & Food Prices: Maine consumers may feel it nationwide as the U.S. DOJ and 17 states reached a $3.3M settlement with major egg producers Cal-Maine, Versova and Hickman’s over alleged price manipulation, with 53 million eggs headed to food banks and nonprofits. Housing & Permitting: Bangor approved just 32 new housing units in 2025—far behind other large cities—raising fresh questions about how quickly the city is building compared with peers. Freight & Logistics: Rail companies are investing millions in Maine as cross-border freight grows, with state officials pointing to better connections and competition with trucking. Road & Construction: MaineDOT starts wearing-surface work on Hotel Bridge in Jefferson July 13 (one-lane alternating traffic; fall 2026 finish) and plans similar bridge work on Pondicherry Bridge in Bridgton starting July 13. Downtown Development: Skowhegan broke ground on the New Balance Foundation Boardwalk as the first phase of the River Park initiative, aiming to reconnect downtown to the Kennebec. Public Safety: Maine’s rodenticide ban is pushing pest control toward prevention and professional methods, while state fire officials remind residents to follow local rules for consumer fireworks.

Maine Fishing & Manufacturing: Four Maine lure makers shared what’s been working post-ice-out, highlighting locally made spoons and plugs that are pulling in trout and salmon. Solar & Utilities: A Northport-CMP dispute is headed to the Maine Public Utilities Commission over whether the utility must approve a town solar project, while RooflessSolar is marketing guaranteed 20% community-solar savings to CMP and Versant customers. Maritime & Construction: MDOT awarded the Lubec Safe Harbor breakwater bid to Gordon Contracting for about $25.7 million, with the project scaled down but still set to add berthing floats. Energy Policy: Duke Energy agreed to sell back a North Carolina offshore wind lease area, with the company redeploying funds to other generation and grid upgrades. Local Revitalization: Skowhegan River Park broke ground on a funded boardwalk phase, aiming to deliver “big things” for a small-town downtown. Public Safety: A Hampden mobile-home fire started from a grill and spread to a shed, with pets rescued and the Red Cross assisting residents. Housing & Infrastructure: MaineDOT starts Pondicherry Bridge work in Bridgton July 13, reducing lanes and closing one sidewalk at times through fall. Tech & Surveillance: Flock Safety hit 100,000 cameras deployed as more than 53 cities cancel contracts over data-access and sharing concerns.

Housing & Safety Codes: States and cities are loosening building code rules to cut construction costs for affordable housing, including allowing some low-rise apartments to use just one stairway and updating codes less often—while safety critics warn these changes could raise risk for residents. Maine Energy Costs: Lewiston-area customers packed a public hearing to oppose CMP’s rate request, arguing another hike will hit fixed-income households hardest as bills rise faster than checks. Data Centers & Community Backlash: Utah voters turned against a major Box Elder County data center project after fast-tracked approvals, reflecting a broader national pattern of residents pushing back on AI-driven power and land deals. Maine Housing Production: New statewide data says Maine exceeded a major housing production goal in 2025, adding fuel to the policy debate over how quickly supply is growing. Agriculture & Soil: UMaine Extension and local partners are running pasture-walk and soil-health workshops across the region, focusing on rotation, pest scouting, and water management. Local Events: Maine Coast Heritage Trust announced free Aldermere Farm tours in Rockport, plus a Strand Theatre film-and-conversation series in July.

Housing & Construction Policy: States are loosening building code rules to cut construction costs and speed affordable housing, including allowing some low-rise apartments to use a single stairway—though safety experts warn this could raise risk for residents. Maine Infrastructure: MaineDOT scheduled pavement resurfacing in Portland (Fore and Commercial streets) and a 90-day River Road closure in Lewiston for a bridge replacement, with detours and fall 2026 completion expected. Maine Agriculture & Conservation: Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Aldermere Farm in Rockport will host free Friday farm tours in July and August, featuring the historic saltwater farm and Belted Galloway cattle. Maine Energy/Environment: EPA awarded $14.5M for Maine brownfields cleanup, targeting redevelopment of former industrial sites. Maine Politics & Business Ethics: Sen. Susan Collins and challenger Graham Platner traded accusations over federal contracting ethics, with Collins responding after Platner’s claims. Regional Workforce/Industry: A new Oneida County public works commissioner was appointed with long engineering and infrastructure experience.

MaineDOT Road & Bridge Moves: MaineDOT is resurfacing Portland’s Fore Street (Hancock to Center) and Commercial Street (Franklin to India) from June 3 to July 2, with daytime delays; the $1.83M job is by Coastal Road Repair of Westbrook. Lewiston Detour: MaineDOT will close River Road in Lewiston for 90 days starting June 8 for River Road Bridge replacement, with Goddard Road to Alfred Plourde Parkway as the main route; work runs through fall 2026 under a $1.74M contract with T Buck Construction of Turner. Maine Agriculture & Food: UMaine Extension’s Pasture Walk Series heads to Waldoboro July 18 at East Forty Farm and Dairy, focusing on value-added grazing and how forage quality feeds into cheese, pork, and grass-fed beef. Housing Finance: Bangor Savings Bank reported issuing $711M in residential mortgages in 2025, up from $528M in 2024, as it continues pushing affordable-housing programs. Local Industry Spotlight: A new crowdsourced map is helping Mainers find more than 100 roadside farm stands across the state. Public Works Leadership: Oneida County (NY) appointed Jeffrey Quackenbush as commissioner of public works effective July 6, bringing decades of engineering and infrastructure planning experience.

Housing & Permits: Maine communities approved nearly 7,500 homes in 2025, beating the state’s housing production goal by 9%, with most growth concentrated in Cumberland and York counties. Local Economy & Finance: Bangor Savings Bank reported $711M in residential mortgage loans in 2025, a big rebound from 2024, as it continues pushing affordable-housing programs. Energy & Industry: The Trump administration bought back four early offshore wind leases from Invenergy, including projects off Maine, redirecting funds toward natural gas and geothermal. Agriculture & Food Systems: UMaine Extension’s pasture walk series heads to Waldoboro July 18, spotlighting value-added grazing and on-farm production. Coastal & Fisheries: A new economic study adds fuel to the Atlantic menhaden debate, estimating bait-fishing trips generate about $1.5B in output and support thousands of jobs. Tech & Jobs: A Jay data center project reportedly hit a pause after concerns about future Maine data-center legislation. Community & Tourism: A new map catalogs more than 100 Maine roadside farm stands, aiming to make local food stops easier to find.

Housing & Growth Watch: Maine’s new housing data portal shows municipalities approved nearly 7,500 permits in 2025—about 9% above the state’s goal—though some population centers still lag, with Cumberland and York leading in permits but falling short of targets. Local Governance: Machias voters approved a $3.9 million FY27 budget, while a proposed airport grant match sparked debate over whether funds should instead support a school resource officer. Energy & Industry Policy: Gov. Ned Lamont and a coalition including Maine urged Congress to reject federal fossil-fuel immunity protections, arguing states must retain power to enforce pollution laws. Infrastructure & Transportation: County Road 32/11th Avenue SW redesign in Forest Lake moves forward with $5 million in federal funding, adding a middle turn lane and a new trail connection. Rural Economy & Tech: A Jay data center project was put on hold amid concerns about further Maine anti-data-center legislation, highlighting how AI-era infrastructure is colliding with local politics. Farming & Land: Georges River Land Trust and partners will celebrate conservation protection for Hope’s Edge Farm, keeping a working 100-acre operation in agriculture.

Housing & Construction: Maine says it beat its 2025 housing production target, with nearly 75,000 units permitted statewide—about 7,000 over the goal—adding fresh momentum for builders and local permitting pipelines. Tribal Gaming: Caesars expanded its Maine iGaming partnership with three Wabanaki Nations, aiming to launch online casino gambling this year pending approvals, a notable move for Maine’s regulated entertainment market. Ports & Marine Infrastructure: State DOT picked Gordon Contracting for the $25.7M Lubec Safe Harbor breakwater project, a two-year build that includes a long rock breakwater, floats, and a new boat launch. Energy & Data Centers: Maine’s Data Center Advisory Council will hold a public meeting focused on energy impacts from large-scale data center development. Agriculture Tech & Soil Health: UMaine Extension and local soil and water partners will host a free pasture walk in Hodgdon on July 14, spotlighting organic soil practices and how livestock pastures and crop fields interact. Public Health: Maine DEP closed Tassel Top Park (Raymond) and Chickawaukie Lake (Rockland) and warned against swimming at nine other beaches due to elevated bacteria. Workforce & Education: Maine DOE highlighted new alternative education awardees and invited middle and high school students to join the NASA TechRise Student Challenge.

Housing & Construction: Trump canceled a signing ceremony for a bipartisan federal housing overhaul, refusing to sign until Congress passes the SAVE America Act—raising uncertainty for affordability efforts that could matter to Maine’s supply crunch. Food Industry: Cal-Maine and other egg suppliers are nearing a settlement with DOJ and states over alleged egg pricing coordination, with proposed civil penalties and commitments to stop exchanging sensitive pricing info. Agriculture: UMaine’s wild blueberry field day in Jonesboro brought growers together after a $28M shortfall tied to last year’s flash drought, with producers discussing mulching and irrigation as key drought defenses. Local Business & Tourism: East Brown Cow in Portland welcomed Stone Fox Creamery’s seasonal mobile scoop shop at Old Port Square, highlighting Maine-made ice cream and local sourcing. Energy & Infrastructure: Oakland, Maine councilors debated data center growth after Gov. Mills vetoed a statewide restriction, with some pushing for new facilities to capture tax revenue while others worry about water and power impacts. Manufacturing & Mining: Elmet Group exercised an option to buy 20M shares of tungsten producer EQ Resources, aiming to strengthen the U.S. tungsten supply chain. Public Policy & Jobs: T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants wrapped up with 26 final awards totaling $22.8M since 2021, supporting small-town projects and local small businesses. Consumer Safety: The FDA upgraded the Utz potato chip recall to a Class I risk category over potential Salmonella presence. Sports/Workforce: UMaine orientation welcomed incoming students across colleges, underscoring the pipeline into Maine’s education and future workforce.

Maine Pesticide Rules: Maine’s Board of Pesticides Control says new restrictions on certain rodenticides and herbicides took effect June 16, moving products with brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, difethialone and brodifacoum-related actives to Restricted Use Pesticides—meaning only licensed applicators can buy and use them, and general dealers can’t sell them to unlicensed homeowners. Maine Workforce & Skills: A Northeast dairy processing modernization grant program is opening pre-applications with $1M available to expand dairy processing capacity across Maine and the region, while Maine students are also being invited to join the 2026-2027 NASA TechRise Student Challenge for hands-on experiment testing. Local Health Support: Midcoast restaurants are rallying around a Robbins Lumber explosion victim—UMaine graduate and volunteer EMT Lily Robbins—raising funds through benefit specials and auctions. Energy & Industry Pressure: A national report says local opposition has blocked or delayed about $64B in data center projects since 2023, with Maine-relevant themes including electricity costs, water use, noise, and land-use fights. Politics & Business Climate: Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner rolled out an anti-corruption platform targeting campaign finance and lobbying rules, setting up a sharper contrast with Sen. Susan Collins.

Workforce & Training: Kennebec Valley Community College’s Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking certificate program kicked off its 10th year June 22 at an active harvest site in central Maine, with students moving from classroom to equipment operation in July. Energy & Environment: EPA announced $14.5M in brownfields cleanup grants across Maine, including $4M each for former Great Northern Paper sites in East Millinocket and Millinocket and planning funds for Augusta’s former textile and recycling areas. Coastal & Seafood Economy: A Portland summit brought fishermen, chefs, and conservation groups together to tackle invasive green crabs, warning that warming Gulf of Maine waters are boosting the species and threatening shellfish and habitats. Maritime Industry: The American Maritime Partnership says the ongoing Jones Act waiver could disrupt family-wage careers for the 1,250+ graduates entering the workforce, including Maine Maritime Academy students. Local Business & Community: Midcoast restaurants coordinated benefit specials for an injured Robbins Lumber EMT and server, showing how Maine’s hospitality sector rallies after industrial accidents. Infrastructure & Public Spaces: New Balance Foundation pledged $1M for Skowhegan River Park’s boardwalk, with construction set to begin June 29.

Workforce & Forestry Training: Kennebec Valley Community College in Hinckley kicked off its 10th year of the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking program, a 20-week certificate that moves students from classroom to equipment operation starting in July. Energy Costs & Regulation: Central Maine Power faced pushback at a Lewiston Public Library hearing over a proposed $189M revenue increase, with customers arguing bills are already too high. Textiles & Tourism: Lewiston’s Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning, and Labor (MILL) reopened in a renovated former textile factory, putting a major Jacquard loom on public display. Local Housing & Preservation: Boothbay’s Kenniston Hill House opened for tours after restoration and a move to a new foundation, preserving a historic inn for a new private-home future. Trucking, Trails & Housing Infrastructure: Franklin County won $2.37M from the Northern Border Regional Commission for a Sandy River bridge to extend the Whistle Stop Trail, ski upgrades, and workforce housing support. Tribal iGaming Expansion: Caesars inked a long-term deal with three Maine Wabanaki Nations to bring multiple online casino brands to the state as iGaming rolls out later this year. Public Safety & Compliance: Maine’s Orrington trash facility fire was linked to improper battery disposal, with cleanup underway. Marine Industry Watch: A national boating-industry piece flags new EPA and state/federal rules that could raise costs for boatbuilding materials and sales.