AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Friday presented seven Maine companies with the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence in a ceremony at the State House.
The award, presented annually since 1991, recognizes Maine businesses for their community commitment and their overall contribution to the state’s economy.
In a statement, LePage said he was honored to recognize Maine businesses that compete both nationally and internationally.
“As a businessman myself, I understand and respect the opportunities and challenges every business faces,” he said. “It’s my job as governor to make state government work more efficiently so all businesses can focus their time and resources on creating good-paying jobs and quality products.”
Here are the seven Maine businesses that received the award:
• Falcon Performance Footwear, Auburn — Established in 1963, Falcon began as a manufacturer of children’s shoes, and then moved to industrial footwear in the 1980s. Today, Falcon’s 55 employees manufacture 12 styles of fire boots for its partner, Globe Firefighter Suits of Pittsfield, N.H., and four styles of industrial/mining boots.
• FHC Inc., Bowdoin — FHC has served the neuroscience community for more than 40 years in its mission to advance cranial micro-targeting worldwide. The FHC facility, which employs more than 100 people, is in a 21,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility at the former Bowdoin Central School.
• Howie’s Welding & Fabrication Inc., Jay — Howie’s Welding & Fabrication was established in 1983 and has shown continued growth, working in all types of structural steel fabrication. In addition to welding, the 10-employee company runs a paint shop and retail store. Howie’s is also experienced in aluminum, stainless steel and brass welding.
• Lapointe Lumber Co., Augusta — Lapointe Lumber Co. was started in 1947 with little more than a saw mill and wood lot on North Belfast Avenue in Augusta. Today, Lapointe Lumber employs approximately 30 people and remains a family-owned and -operated lumber and building material retailer serving the professional contractor, builder, remodeler and retail public of central Maine.
• Lonza Rockland Inc., Rockland — Originally established in Rockland as Marine Colloids in the 1960s, today Lonza develops and manufactures products used in life sciences, including basic cellular and molecular biology research, drug discovery and forensics. The Lonza Rockland facility employees 59 people in a mix of engineering, manufacturing, quality and professional roles.
• Norway Savings Bank, South Paris — Norway Savings Bank was founded more than 145 years ago with a commitment to personal values, community values and financial values that have never faltered. Over the years, Norway Savings Bank has grown to serve a wide area throughout western and southern Maine and currently employs more than 250 full-time people.
• TD Bank, Portland — TD Bank is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. with deep roots in the community dating back more than 150 years. Its Maine presence now includes 54 branches, nearly 3,100 employees and several major office buildings.
The 23rd annual awards were administered by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and sponsored by FairPoint Communications. More than 120 businesses have received the award since its inception in 1991.