PFAS testing company from Norridgewock tops field of five finalists; others recognized for innovation and impact.

 

PORTLAND, Maine – October 22, 2025 – Maine Community Bank has named Maine Laboratories the winner of its 2025 LaunchPad small business competition, earning the company the bank’s $50,000 grant to expand its PFAS testing services for homes and businesses. 

Now in its 12th year, and its first under the Maine Community Bank banner, LaunchPad celebrates Maine entrepreneurs building innovative, high-impact companies. Five finalists pitched live at the University of New England’s Innovation Hall in Portland: 

• CarHop (Portland) – A no-commission food-delivery platform strengthening relationships between restaurants and customers. 

• Dunstan Smokehouse (Scarborough) – Turning underutilized Maine seafood into premium smoked products. 

• Maine Laboratories (Norridgewock) – Making PFAS testing accessible for homeowners and offering scalable commercial solutions. 

• Maine Love (Westbrook) – A beverage company using Maine’s clean water and creative flavor partnerships to grow. 

• UniteGPS (South Portland) – Building a patent-pending transportation management system for school districts nationwide. 

Judges praised Maine Laboratories for its measurable impact on public health, strong year-over-year growth, and ability to translate complex science into accessible solutions. 

“Katie Richards and her team are doing critical work for our communities,” said Steve deCastro, CEO of Maine Community Bank. “Their growth, mission, and leadership embody the spirit of LaunchPad—entrepreneurs building a better future for Maine through innovation and hard work.” 

All finalists received a $1,000 award and complimentary 90-day memberships to the Roux Institute at Northeastern University, providing access to its entrepreneurship resources, AI tools, and workspace in Portland. 

Maine Community Bank also honored an entrepreneur in the Emerging Business Award category. From a group of five additional finalists selected from LaunchPad applicants, Freeport-based Dirigo Sea Farm earned the distinction, along with a $10,000 cash grant from MCB and $10,000 in in-kind marketing, business development, and public relations services from Creative Imaging Group, Grove Marketing, iBec Creative, Nu-Yar, and Philbrook PR. Jay and Jennifer Yilmaz, owners of the Applewood Inn in Freeport, generously contributed an additional $1,000 to the Emerging Business Award, raising the total cash prize to $11,000. Maine Community Bank also awarded $500 grants to the remaining finalists—CIVA, Hoopsy, Industry, and Memory Lane TV—in recognition of their innovation and participation in this year’s competition.  

About the newly combined Maine Community Bank
Headquartered in Portland, Maine Community Bank is the largest mutual savings bank operating exclusively in the state, with nearly $3 billion in assets and 21 branches across Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York counties. Formed from the merger of Gorham Savings Bank and Maine Community Bank—two of Maine’s longest-standing community banks with rich 150+ year heritages—the bank combines the strengths of both institutions to create an even stronger, more capable, and more convenient institution for Maine families, businesses, and communities. 

As the only bank headquartered in Cumberland County, Maine Community Bank is a depositor-owned institution committed to local decision-making and offering a comprehensive suite of both personal and business financial services, as well as wealth management.  

Committed to the well-being of its communities, Maine Community Bank annually contributes thousands of volunteer hours and financial resources to community-based initiatives. By investing in local partnerships that promote financial literacy, stimulate economic growth, and foster entrepreneurship, the bank strengthens the fabric of the communities it serves. Learn more at maine.bank.