New 'Portland Press Herald' Owner Wants Financial Assistance

By: Joe Strupp The new owner of the Portland (Maine) Press Herald and three other papers previously owned by Blethen Maine Newspapers is asking city officials for financial help to keep the newspaper in Portland, the Press Herald reported Wednesday.

Portland City Manager Joe Gray and Portland economic development director Greg Mitchell met last Thursday with Bob Baldacci, a consultant for the newspaper's new owner, MaineToday Media Inc. Mitchell later met with Rory Connor, son of Publisher Richard Connor, at the site of office space the newspaper wants to lease in Portland, the story said.

Richard Connor told the paper Tuesday that the company wants the same kind of financial incentive the city would give to any company that was considering locating in Portland.

"We would be interested to get some kind of help from the city or incentive to stay here," Connor said in the story.

The newspaper is seeking a tax break on part of the investment in new offices or a reduced rate in a city parking garage, he said.

Blethen Maine Newspapers, which was a part of The Seattle Times Co., sold its Maine properties to MaineToday Media last month.

The full story can be found here.