“Making Maine Work” breakfast held at NMCC

    PRESQUE ISLE — The results of an extensive statewide study, which has resulted in focused recommendations around key economic issues to encourage investment in Maine and to grow the economy, was the topic of discussion at an Aug. 3 breakfast at Northern Maine Community College.    
    “Making Maine Work” was presented by leaders with the Maine State Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Development Foundation in the Edmunds Conference Center at NMCC on Tuesday morning. The Aroostook County event, co-hosted by NMCC and Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD), is one of six scheduled around the state.
    The publication, “Making Maine Work: Critical Investments for the Maine Economy,” issued in mid-July, highlights challenges and opportunities facing Maine. It is based on two background reports issued by the MDF and State Chamber: “Maine’s Investment Imperative II” and “Survey with 1,000 Maine Businesses.” Copies of the “Making Maine Work” document was made available to participants at the event.  It, along with the other two reports, are available online at www.mdf.org.
    “The analysis and subsequent recommendations contained in this report can serve as a vehicle to strengthen Maine’s economy, but we must not waste any time,” said Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. “The challenge is real, but so are the opportunities.”
    According to Connors, the publication reflects the priorities of the state’s business community, as determined by a series of comprehensive surveys and interviews with approximately 1,000 employers statewide. Chamber and MDF officials intend for the report to inform and guide the gubernatorial debates.
    “Maine’s population is aging rapidly and growing slowly, and our economic productivity and wages currently rank 45th (in the nation). If we are to attain the vision we seek of ‘a high quality of life for all Maine people,’ it will be imperative that Maine take immediate steps to increase productivity by creating an environment conducive to private sector investment and by investing in the health and education of every single Maine person, young and old, unleashing the economic and human potential of Maine,” said Laurie Lachance, president and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation.
    The findings and recommendations in the presentation are based on a review of over 100 published reports from Maine’s business, government and academic leaders. The recommendations included in the report center around a number of “cost issues” that are currently barriers to private sector investment — health insurance, energy, taxes, regulations and transportation — and also focus on education, innovation, connectivity, quality of place and business finance.
    According to both the MDF and Chamber, the joint project contains a straight-forward, executable plan for Maine’s economy with detailed recommendations for the next governor and legislature to implement. The two organizations hosted press events in Portland and Orono on July 15 and, in addition to the breakfast at NMCC, meetings were held on July 28 in Augusta, Aug. 2 in Orono, and upcoming events include Aug. 17 in Auburn, Aug. 18 in Westbrook and Aug. 25 in Rockport.