11/27/2007 - The Downtown Portland Corporation awarded Becky's Diner its 2007 Small Business of the Year; the Council on International Educational Exchange its 2007 Business of the Year; and The Portland Sea Dogs for its Economic Development Achievement Award for 2007.

Becky’s Diner/2007 Small Business of the Year

Becky’s Diner opened in March of 1991 with the goal of serving breakfast and lunch for the working waterfront and “to go” meals for fishermen and lobstermen to take with them on their trips out to sea. They also packed live lobsters to go.

Over the years, Becky’s has evolved to a focus on breakfast, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week, 363 days a year. The business started with 15 employees, gradually increasing to the 45 employees it has today. Becky’s provides partial benefits to employees, making these jobs better than those you might find at most restaurants. The business donates weekly to a variety of charitable organizations in an effort to assist the community.

Becky’s is now expanding due to lack of space, allowing it to add more jobs and improve working conditions. This expansion includes adding a new kitchen, more counter space and a couple of new booths, a baking area, adding two handicap accessible bathrooms, an inside waiting area and much needed office space on the second floor. Rebecca Rand, owner, expects to add five new full time positions and some seasonal help. The cost of her expansion is approximately $500,000.

Council on International Educational Exchange/2007 Business of the Year
The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) is the leading U.S. non-governmental international education organization. CIEE creates and administers programs that allow high school and university students and educators to study and teach abroad.
CIEE moved its New York office to Portland approximately three years ago. Stevan Trooboff is its President and CEO and has been for fifteen years. CIEE in Portland (formerly at Custom House Wharf) is consolidating the weekend of September 15, 2007 with its Boston office (moving entirely from Boston to Portland) at 300 Fore Street, with just under 200 employees. Portland will be the headquarters for CIEE, with no other offices now in U.S. It will be open for business on Monday, September 17th.

According to its website, CIEE also has another interrelated but operationally independent entity in Tokyo, Japan.
Also, according to its website. “For U.S. high school and university students, CIEE administers approximately 95 study abroad programs in over 33 host countries and teaching programs in Chile, China, Spain, and Thailand. Educators can participate in 26 summer seminars in 29 countries.”
Portland Sea Dogs/2007 Economic Development Achievement Award

It all began in June 1992 when Dan Burke, President and CEO for Capital Cities/ABC, filed an application with the Eastern League to establish a franchise in Portland. He was then one of thirteen applicants for the two new Double-A teams as a result of the National League’s expansion. In October 1992, Portland and New Haven, CT are selected as the sites for the two new teams, while in July the Portland City Council voted to support Burke’s efforts to bring professional baseball to Portland.

Burke then hired Charlie Eshbach, President of the Eastern League, to be President and General Manager of the Portland franchise, soon to be named “Sea Dogs”. The Sea Dogs logo quickly became one of the most popular in Minor League baseball.

In May 1993, ground-breaking ceremonies are held at Hadlock Field to upgrade the facility to Double-A standards. The cost was slightly over $4 Million, with the City of Portland contributing about half and Dan Burke contributing the rest.

The Florida Marlins are announced as the Major League affiliate for the Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs played their first game against the Phillies in Reading, PA on April 5, 1994. This first game resulted in Charles Johnson’s 14th inning home run, giving the Sea Dogs a dramatic 2-1 victory. The Sea Dogs then played their first home game on April 18, 1994, but are defeated by Albany-Colonie Yankees 7-6.

The Sea Dogs first season set a new all-time Eastern League attendance record as 375,197 fans come out to Hadlock Field; followed next year by 429,763 fans. Their One Millionth fan is welcomed June 29, 1996. The Two Millionth is welcomed September 6, 1998; three Millionth, July 25, 2001; four Millionth, April 30, 2004.

On September 18, 2002, the Sea Dogs end their nine-year affiliation with the Florida Marlines and begins its new affiliation with the Boston Red Sox, and Hadlock begins a transformation with a likeness to Fenway, including the Green Monster.

September 2004 shows a new all-time attendance record as 434,684 fans come to Hadlock during 2004, surpassing the previous record of 429,763 set in 1995.

Ticket prices are still family friendly in 2007, with children and senior citizens eligible for $3 general admission seats and adults at $6. Average attendance is approximately 6,290 fans per game. Since 1994, the Sea Dogs has been a strong component in the life of Portland.