March 24, 2025

Mainebiz 2025 Business Leader of the Year award recipient Jim Godbout balances running two Biddeford companies with extensive community service. From transforming St. Andre's Church into a teen center to renovating Waterhouse Field, Godbout's 45+ years of 80-hour workweeks exemplify his commitment to mentoring youth and giving back to his community.

Jim Godbout, honored as a recipient of the prestigious Mainebiz 2025 Business Leader of the Year award, owns Provencher Fuels and Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating Inc. in Biddeford. He exemplifies extraordinary community leadership while managing 70+ employees across his businesses. This distinguished recognition celebrates the 61-year-old's volunteer work spanning decades, beginning with coaching Little League at just 17 years old.
Godbout's most recent achievement was serving as general contractor for the $3.7 million transformation of St. Andre's Church into a second location for My Place Teen Center, a nonprofit supporting at-risk teens in Westbrook and Biddeford. Despite challenges including structural issues and extensive cleanup, Godbout's team of nearly 50 workers completed the renovation, motivated by his personal connection to the church and Executive Director Donna Dwyer's passion for youth services.
His community contributions extend to the major renovation of Waterhouse Field in Biddeford, featuring new turf, bleachers, lighting, and facilities. Current projects include renovating the Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, building facilities for Girls Little League softball, and constructing a splash pad in Saco.
Despite working 80+ hours weekly for 45 years, Godbout maintains hands-on involvement, often working alongside his team "up on a roof or in a ditch with a shovel." His commitment to mentoring the next generation and community service stems from his own experience with influential mentors who taught him "sacrifice and caring for others are the most important things we can do in life."