City’s Annual Awards Presented To Four Portland Businesses

Posted on by
Share

Award Winners and City Officials  From 22nd Annual Award Ceremony  Pose at Think Tank Coworking, Congress Street, Portland,  Last Night.  At the Far Left is Outgoing City Councilor David Brennerman.  Second From End on Right is Mayor Ethan Strimling and on the Right End is Tim Agnew, of PDC.

Peter Handy of Bristol (L) and Larus Isfeld of EIMSKIP (R) at Last Night’s Award Ceremony.

Four Portland businesses were recognized for their achievements last night at the 22nd annual award ceremony at Think Tank Coworking, on Congress Street, Portland.  The winners are as follows:

The 2017 Economic Development Achievement was awarded to EIMSKIP, the 2017 Business of the Year Award went to Bristol, the 2017 Small business of the Year Award went to Think Tank Coworking and the 2017 New Business of the Year Award went to Fork Food Lab.

“America has a problem.  No one eats fish in the United States.  We want people to eat more fish,” said Peter Handy, who bought Bristol Seafood three years ago.   Handy said that when selling seafood there should be no fraud.  “One third of all seafood is sold fraudulently,” Handy said.

“We are going in the right direction, but not there yet,” said Larus Isfeld of EIMSKIP upon receiving  his award.  We are growing and expect to continue to grow.”  He thanked the many “fantastic partners” EIMSKIP has cultivated since its arrival on the Portland waterfront in the last few years.  He went on to say that “the state has so much potential …. a lot of energy to be harnased here.”  EIMSKIP was complimented for its contributions to the cultural and educational communities here in Portland.

The award ceremony was held at Think Tank Coworking, the winner of the Small Business of the Year Award. The seven year old company, founded by Patrick Roche, has since opened two additional locations – in Yarmouth and Biddeford – and has over 300 members.   Roche said he was honored to be in the same league with EIMSKIP and Bristol.  Eric Holstein, co-founder of Fork Food Lab and winner of the New Business of the Year Award catered the ceremony.

The ceremony was conducted by Tim Agnew, of the Portland Development Corporation Board of Directors, with introductions by outgoing Councilor and chair of the Economic Development Committee David Brennerman and Mayor Ethan Strimling.