Maine
Relief fund to offer grants to Maine businesses impacted by flooding, power outages
A special fund is being established to offer grants to small businesses that were affected by last month’s severe flooding and windstorm.
The Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association announced Tuesday that the relief fund will offer grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 to help businesses recover from the storm. The groups expect the Maine Business Relief Fund begin accepting applications for grants by Jan, 4 and they are asking other businesses or individuals to make tax-deductible donations to the fund.
Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, said the timing of the Dec. 18 storm resulted in many businesses losing inventory, suffering equipment damage and losing sales one week before Christmas.
“It was important for our industries to pull together to try to help directly and quickly,” Picard said. “The goal of the Maine Business Relief Fund is to provide some direct financial relief to help businesses clean up, restock and get back on their feet quickly.”
Many riverfront downtown areas along the Kennebec, Androscoggin and other rivers experienced some of the most severe flooding in decades following the storm. Some areas received more than 6 inches of rain while others were buffeted by wind gusts exceeding 70 mph. Hundreds of thousands of Maine residents and businesses were without power at the peak of the storm and immediately afterward.
Speaking inside the restaurant of Cushnoc Brewing — one of multiple downtown Augusta businesses affected by the flooding — Gov. Janet Mills said her administration supports the creation of the new grant program and plans to contribute $10,000 from her office’s contingency fund. Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency also arrived in Maine this week to assess damage from the storm, which is a precursor to a federal disaster declaration that would make areas eligible for additional federal assistance.
“My administration will keep doing all we can to support efforts like these that will help businesses and individuals in our communities and help our state recover from last month’s horrific storm,” Mills said.
Organizers say an anonymous donor has offered to match $250,000 in donations to the new fund. More information about the program is available online at www.MaineBusinessReliefFund.com.
WISCASSET, Maine (WMTW) – A Maine man has been arrested after police say he intentionally set a bed on fire after a dispute with his girlfriend, while they were still in it.
Police responded Monday, March 9, to a report of a fire that had been intentionally set inside a home on Beechnut Hill Road, according to the Wiscasset Police Department.
Investigators say the homeowner, Terry Couture, 41, set the bed on fire following an argument while both he and his girlfriend were in it. Authorities said the fire was extinguished and no serious injuries were reported.
Couture was arrested and charged with attempted murder, arson, aggravated criminal mischief, and domestic violence criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.
The investigation is ongoing.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
CLIFTON, Maine (WABI) – Maine Maple Sunday is less than two weeks away, and the Williams Family Farm in Clifton is gearing up for one of the sweetest seasons yet.
A long stretch of frost and snow meant a late start this year, but the first boil of sap has finally run through the evaporator, and maple season is officially underway.
At Williams Family Farm, everything is done by hand:
- Fresh maple syrup, bottled on-site
- Maple sugar, carefully extracted in small batches
- Baked candied pecans, cashews, and more
The Williams family has spent years working with whatever weather sends their way.
Long winters, surprise warmups, and everything in between—they’ve learned how to adapt so community members can enjoy their products.
As co-owner John Williams explains, the key is in the temperature.
“You need to have it warm during the day and still freezing at night, so typically that’s the middle of February,” said Williams. “We have a lot of trees, so we have to start tapping them before the conditions are ideal, so we start tapping way before it’s time for it to run just so we can get them all tapped. If you have ten trees in your backyard, you want to wait until roughly now, the middle of February to now, and when it’s actually running and put them in then because you can put all your taps in, in one day.”
They’re excited to welcome the community during Maine Maple Weekend on March 21 and 22.
They will be boiling up sap, hosting demonstrations, and providing free samples.
Locals can also join them for their third annual pancake breakfast where all proceeds are donated to Holbrook Recreation.
Follow the link to find out their hours for March and more.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
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