Join SBA's Maine District Office, Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in welcoming Elizabeth Nitzel and Amanda Muller, from the Maine Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), for a discussion on opportunities your business can use to expand hiring capacity and strengthen workforce development.

On Thursday, March 19, from 8 - 11 a.m., at Nautilus Seafood & Grill, local experts from SCORE, Small Business Administration, CEI, New Ventures, FAME, Penquis, and the City of Belfast will provide resources and support for business owners, hosted by Our Town Belfast’s (OTB) Economic Vitality Committee.

This free event welcomes entrepreneurs, small business owners, and those interested in starting a business.

This spring, Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) invites youth ages 10 to 18 to get up close and personal with the Belted Galloway calves at Aldermere Farm, a historic saltwater farm preserve located at 20 Russell Avenue in Rockport.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension is hosting a virtual presentation covering growing and marketing practices for specialty potato varieties in Maine on March 20, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

"Consumer interest and demand for fresh-market potato varieties with unique size, shape, color and taste profiles has been on the rise," said a UMaine Extension news release. "The trend presents new market opportunities for specialty crop producers."

ROCKPORT and BELFAST — MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals have received a $10,000 grant from Free ME from Lung Cancer to help uninsured and underinsured patients access follow-up lung cancer screenings, which are frequently not completed due to cost barriers, according to MaineHealth, in a news release.

United Midcoast Charities (UMC) opened its annual grant application window on March 1. Nonprofit organizations serving residents of Knox County and Waldo County in the areas of food, housing, health and safety, and economic security are invited to apply.

On Monday, March 2, City of Rockland Mayor Adam Lachman presented a proclamation to the AIO Food & Energy Assistance naming the weekend of March 13 through 15, 2026 Rockland Pi(e) Weekend, in honor of the upcoming 2026 Pies on Parade festival. The presentation took place at the Limerock Inn in Rockland, which re-established Pies on Parade in 2025 in partnership with AIO and Camden’s Blue Harbor Inn.

ROCKLAND — A City-wide parking ban will be in effect TONIGHT, Tuesday, March 3, 2026, starting at 11 p.m. and ending tomorrow, Wednesday, March 4, at 8 a.m.

"Please move your vehicles to the Winter Street or McDougal parking lots where off-street parking is available," said the City, in a parking ban notification. "Guests of 250 Main may park along the stage in Harbor Park.

"Help us keep Rockland safe and accessible for everyone—thank you for your cooperation!" said the notification.

ROCKPORT — This year's Fishermen's Forum includes four sessions concerning safety. At least three of the four sessions provide first-hand accounts from those who have experienced challenges.

Thursday, March 5 

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (Camden Room) Safety Preparedness for Fishermen
This session will feature firsthand accounts from fishermen who have experienced serious safety challenges and those who have completed safety training.

SWANVILLE — University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host a workshop on the principles of pruning apple trees on Wednesday, March 25, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., at the Waldo County Gardens, 685 Swan Lake Ave, Swanville.  

BELFAST — MaineHealth Waldo Hospital is now offering parathyroid surgery, expanding access to advanced endocrine surgical care for patients in Midcoast Maine.

“Previously, patients had to travel to Bangor or Portland for endocrine surgeries—procedures that are typically lowrisk, outpatient operations that can safely be performed in a rural hospital with the right expertise, training and equipment,” said surgeon Lauren Slattery, MD, in a MaineHealth news release. “We’re excited to provide these surgeries in Belfast and keep patients closer to home.”

Rockland's Emergency Warming Center will be open at the Rec. Center (Flanagan Community Center) for two nights beginning Sunday, March 1.

• Sunday, March 1, from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.
• Monday, March 2, from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. 

"We offer transportation for those who don't have another way to get to the space and back," said the EWC, in a news release.

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will hold a memorial procession from the MaineDOT Fairfield Training Center to the Augusta Civic Center, Saturday, Feb. 28, to honor the memories of fallen MaineDOT employees James Brown and Dwayne Campbell. The procession will include vehicles from MaineDOT, regional partners, and departments of transportation from across and beyond New England.

Maine Department of Labor announces its no-cost trainings for March 2026.

Upcoming classes:

Mine Safety & Health Administration: Refresher – March 3, 2026 l 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

AUGUSTA — The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will be closing the Augusta Memorial Bridge to westbound traffic,  March 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to perform a routine inspection of the bridge.

The Safe Routes to South School Community Workshop has been postponed. Initially scheduled for Thursday, February 26, the workshop has been rescheduled to March 26.

Initial press release:

On Thursday, February 26, the City of Rockland will host a Safe Routes to South School Community Workshop. The workshop will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the Gymnasium at the South Elementary School, 30 Broadway in Rockland.

CAMDEN — Herring Gut Coastal Science Center invites teachers to an engaging professional development workshop focused on wetlands. Dive into the importance of wetlands, explore hands-on activities, and gain valuable resources to bring back to your classroom.

Participants will receive a stipend, 1.5 contacts hours, and a class materials kit.