Hannah LaClaire is a business reporter at the Portland Press Herald, covering topics such as real estate and development, entrepreneurship and the cannabis industry among others. Before joining the Press Herald in January 2021, Hannah covered the town of Brunswick for The Times Record. She graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Journalism, and reported for The Cape Cod Times in Hyannis, Massachusetts, and The Telegraph in Nashua, N.H., before moving back to Maine. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, running, cooking (eating) and traveling. She lives in Saco with her husband, her dog Olive and her cat Fred.
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PublishedJanuary 14, 2024
With increased demand for home contractors in Maine, is the time right for licensing requirements?
Maine is one of just 15 states that does not require general contractors to be licensed. A bill in the Legislature seeks to change that, although past attempts have been unsuccessful.
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PublishedJanuary 8, 2024
Maine’s adult-use cannabis sales continue to grow, but the market is getting crowded
Sales hit $217 million in 2023, a 36% increase over the previous year, although some store owners believe saturation will lead to the closure of some businesses.
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PublishedJanuary 7, 2024
Flooding’s on the rise in Maine, but just 1% of homeowners have insurance
Few Mainers have a policy that covers the kind of severe flooding seen in the Dec. 18 storm. As climate change brings more extreme weather events to the state, the impacts could be costly.
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PublishedJanuary 5, 2024
Cargo volume in Portland Harbor broke records in 2023, but pace of growth is slowing
Imports dipped by about 2.4%, while exports increased by 5.5%, according to data from the Maine Port Authority.
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PublishedJanuary 1, 2024
Maine’s minimum wage gets a lift
While the new statewide minimum wage is $14.15 an hour, up from $13.80 in 2023, Portland’s minimum wage is now $15 an hour, up from $14.
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PublishedDecember 26, 2023
State announces online hub for flood relief; FEMA to assess damage
If FEMA decides the costs of damage from last week’s storm are beyond what the state can handle, Gov. Mills will formally request a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government.
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PublishedDecember 18, 2023
Biddeford’s Five Points Shopping Center to become entertainment complex
The developer had proposed housing there, something the city sorely needs. But this plan, which will include indoor golf, pickleball, bowling and more, presents a different opportunity, he said.
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PublishedDecember 18, 2023
Bowdoin College offering employees up to $50,000 in forgivable loans to buy homes
The program, believed to be the first of its kind in Maine, is part of a trend of employers considering big perks to attract and retain employees in a challenging housing market.
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PublishedDecember 9, 2023
Maine real estate industry braces for changes to home sales commissions
A federal judge last month ruled that the National Association of Realtors and major brokerage firms conspired to keep commissions artificially high. It’s still unclear what will change as a result, but Maine agents fear it could hurt them, and buyers, too.
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PublishedDecember 2, 2023
Death becomes her: The future of funeral home work is female
Nearly half of the country’s funeral directors say they plan to retire in the next five years, and there’s already a critical shortage of directors. Not everyone is comfortable making a living out of death – the job is emotionally taxing and requires long, often unpredictable hours.
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