Software Engineer I

Root Down Market awarded $20,000 Amex Shop Small(R) Grant from American Express and Main Street America to launch community ice cream stand employing local teens. July 13, 2026 July 12, 2026 4 mins read NEW SHARON - Root Down Market, a restaurant, local food market and gathering place in New Sharon, Maine, has been selected as a recipient of an Amex Shop Small(R) Grant from American Express(R) and Main Street America. The grant provided Root Down Market with $20,000 in funding to purchase a new ice cream stand featuring Maine-made Gifford's Ice Cream while creating meaningful employment opportunities for local teenagers. The new ice cream stand will serve a variety of premium Gifford's Ice Cream flavors and provide local youth with valuable first-job experiences, helping them develop workplace skills, responsibility, and confidence in a supportive community environment. "We are incredibly honored to receive this investment from the American Express Shop Small grant," said Erica Emery, co-owner of Root Down Market. "Since opening two years ago, we have consistently had teenagers apply for jobs here, but we are not set up as a seasonal or after-school job. Dave and I both had our first jobs in the food industry, and we wanted to create a part of our business that would be a good fit for teens looking to work. I really stressed in the grant application that we are focused on local and Maine products and that our community has eager teens looking for work. We were thrilled to be awarded the grant to purchase our ice cream stand." The Root Down Market ice cream stand will proudly feature Maine-made Gifford's Ice Cream and is expected to become a seasonal destination for residents and visitors alike while serving as a model for youth employment and community investment in rural Maine. "Since the Giffords stand in Farmington closed, we thought we could fill the niche for people who were craving this premium Maine brand ice cream. We have brought on six local teens to scoop and serve for the summer. My personal favorite flavor is Southern Peach, and we have a great lineup of their other popular flavors," says Dave Allen, co-owner of Root Down Market. Hours are currently Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm. Check their Facebook page for the most current hours for the ice cream stand. For a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner and restaurant hours, head to www.rootdownmarket.com. "Small businesses play a vital role in our communities," said Jennifer Skyler, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, American Express. "The Shop Small Grants Program builds on our longstanding commitment to small businesses, which began with Small Business Saturday, by putting meaningful investment behind the people and places that drive local impact." "At Main Street America, we believe that supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses builds community wealth and a culture of innovation - yet, far too often, this vision isn't realized due to a variety of factors, including lack of access to resources and funding," said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. "This is why we are so proud to partner with American Express on a program that provides meaningful support to small business owners working to strengthen their livelihoods and their communities." About Root Down Market Root Down Market is a community-focused business located in New Sharon, Maine, dedicated to supporting local producers, creating meaningful community connections, and providing quality products and experiences for residents and visitors throughout western Maine.

Bank of America and American Express, two of Warren Buffett's largest financial holdings, delivered strong returns over the past decade. A $1,000 investment in Bank of America 10 years ago would have grown to $4,332, a 333% return, whilst the same investment in American Express would have reached $5,915, a 492% return. Both outperformed the S&P 500's 235% return over the same period. Bank of America's recovery from the financial crisis drove performance, with deposits exceeding $2 trillion and 2025 net income of $30.5 billion, up 12.45% year-on-year. The stock trades at 12 times earnings. American Express capitalized on premium card growth amongst younger consumers, with Gen Z and millennials now representing 60% of new acquisitions. The stock trades at 19 times earnings.