The Biz
The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem and Appleton Farms in Ipswich were among 11 energy efficiency projects statewide that will share $16.25 million in federal stimulus money, Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Tim Murray announced.
"The Hawthorne Hotel and Appleton Farms are two deserving sites for these federal funds," Congressman John Tierney said in a statement.
The Hawthorne Hotel's owner, Three Corners Realty Trust, has teamed up with Nexamp of North Andover to win a $1.4 million grant for a deep energy retrofit to reduce the historic building's annual energy use by 50 percent.
The hotel will replace light bulbs and get a high-efficiency hot water distribution system. The hotel will also install geothermal heating and cooling and high-efficiency interior distribution systems, displacing natural gas heat.
"It is exciting to be a historic property and still be on the cutting edge of technology and green initiatives," said Kristie Poehler, regional director of sales and marketing for the hotel.
Appleton Farms will get new exterior super-insulation, air source heat pumps and solar thermal hot water systems. This project is part of a $650,000 grant to the Architectural Heritage Foundation in partnership with Historic New England and the Trustees of Reservations to retrofit three historic Bay State properties.
The Salem and Ipswich projects are expected to start in April.
Blog takes on health care
North Shore small business owners are weighing in on rising health insurance costs thanks to the Commonwealth Business Health blog launched by the Enterprise Center at Salem State College.
The problem, says the Enterprise Center's Executive Director Christine Sullivan, is small businesses have little say on health insurance policy and typically face 18 percent to 50 percent increases in their premiums, unlike big businesses.
The center has called on state lawmakers to rescind a 1996 law that blocks small businesses from forming a group to negotiate lower premiums.
"Small businesses in Massachusetts cannot be a group," Sullivan said, so they cannot combine to compete for better rates.
Sullivan started the blog after testifying in Lawrence before the state insurance commissioner looking into increases in health insurance.
The blog has even attracted a post from candy maker Harbor Sweets in Salem, which has soured on its rising health care costs.
"Health insurance costs have increased at a greater rate than any other cost in our business," said Billie Phillips, Harbor Sweets' vice president of marketing.
To weigh in, go to www.commonwealthbusinesshealth.com.
Business plan competition announces six semifinalists
Six small businesses are semifinalists competing for $10,000 in prize money in the 2010 North of Boston Business Plan Competition run by the Enterprise Center at Salem State College.
Judges will select the three finalists March 31. Semifinalists are:
BIOARRAY Therapeutics of Belmont, a biotechnology company working on an early detection test for breast cancer.
EcoCentric Resources, doing business as TOPIA of Salem, a company that sells environmentally responsible household products online.
Local Ginger of Newburyport, a marketing communications company for local merchants.
Lou Penn & Associates of Pepperell, an Internet compliance software development and service company.
Solar Sheds of Peabody, a developer of energy conversion products for the solar photovoltaic industry.
'Your City' Interactive Information Systems of Lynnfield, a maker of highly intelligent kiosks.
Finalists will make a public presentation starting at 3 p.m. on April 12 at Salem State College's Recital Hall, 352 Lafayette St. First prize is a cool $5,000.
Navy: More GE engines
General Electric Aircraft Engines in Lynn has been awarded a more than $326 million option for 80 F414-GE-400 engines and modules, two spare engines, and other equipment for the Navy, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a recent press release. About 49 percent of the work will be performed in Lynn, the Department of Defense said, with other work spread out to GE plants around the country.
"While this engine line is key and represents much-needed military workload for the facility, the contract modification was anticipated and does not drive new hires," said Rich Gorman, a GE Aviation spokesman based in Lynn, in an e-mail.
GE was awarded the contract in 2007, and it included options to purchase additional engines over four years, said Deb Case, a spokeswoman for Cincinnati-based GE Aviation, in an e-mail.
The engine powers the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet strikefighters and the EA-18G Growler, a special version of the Super Hornet, according to online reports. Both types of aircraft are carrier-based.
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Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673 or by e-mail at eforman@salemnews.com.
