HOULTON, Maine — On Monday, Sept. 23, Houlton Rotarian Matt Nightingale invited Paul Towle, president and CEO of Aroostook Partnership, to speak at the weekly luncheon. After living and working away from Maine for a period of time, Towle moved back to the area a few years ago.
Towle spoke highly of Aroostook County and how the quality of life is pulling more people from away to the County for a more meaningful and safer way of life. He expressed his relief to be back in the County where the “grass is greener.”
Towle’s mission at Aroostook Partnership is to enhance Aroostook County’s Economy; market the region to the U.S., Canada and Europe; develop downtowns into attractive and vibrant business centers; and facilitate an effective economic development dialogue for the region.
Towle spoke of Governor Janet Mills’ Economic Vision Statement which focuses on growing Maine’s economy by increasing the quality of the state’s workforce, boosting job opportunities, and elevating the median wage.
The Governor has committees in place to evaluate how housing availability, transportation, and childcare are hindering growth and what can be done to overcome the struggles. Especially promising, Towle said, is the Governor’s commitment to focus efforts and resources on growing Maine’s rural economy.
Towle reviewed occupations slated to grow considerably in Maine. Jobs in healthcare and personal care continue to top the charts as Maine’s population ages rapidly. Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) continue to top the charts, while jobs in management and administrations continue to decline.
Towle feels the County is poised for growth because more and more talented people are looking to escape the cities for a better way of life. With great broadband internet, especially in Houlton, Northern Maine can serve as the home base for many professionals who can telecommute instead of reporting to an office every day.
