'Portland Press Herald' editorial foresees blossoming maritime business for Portland with proposed 鶹ýpublic-private waterfront venture
On August 29, 2015, the Portland Press Herald published an editorial on the potential contribution to Portland’s blossoming economic relationship with Iceland that 鶹ýmay make as the result of a partnership it formed with Southern Maine Community College and a private business called the New England Ocean Cluster House.
The public-private partnership between the educational institutions and the Cluster House, the brainchild of an Icelandic businessman, has resulted in plans to create a marine-focused business incubator on the Portland waterfront, which could be a hub for both industry and research.
“鶹ýsees it as an opportunity to use work done in its marine research and pharmaceutical laboratories to bring commercial products to market,” the article stated.
The group plans to bid on state bond funds to bring the idea to fruition.
In conjunction with the fact that Eimskip, a major Icelandic shipping company, recently made Portland its North American headquarters, the proposed venture could, according to the article, lead to “an international relationship that could write a new chapter in Portland’s maritime history.”