What We're Hearing...

Here's an anonymous comment we received...

Hosting a web conference on Building a Vibrant Maine Economy is a great idea, and the first step in getting a variety of folks involved in a conversation that impacts us all. I work in the technology field, and one of the most difficult challenges we face is our inability to recruit qualified experienced professionals either from within the State or from “away”.

Technology, when used properly, is a tremendous business tool that enables a business to reach hundreds if not hundreds of thousands of potential new customers. Look at what LL Bean has done through technology reaching customers around the world. Hospitals have embraced technology, allowing medical professionals to exchange life saving information around the world in the blink of an eye. Maine should be embracing technology and building an infrastructure to meet current and future business demands. Look at the trouble Jackson Labs is having in obtaining the necessary bandwidth that would enable them to transmit large volumes of scientific data from Bar Harbor.

Building a vibrant Maine economy requires the State to define what we want for an economy. It is said that Maine is not business friendly. Why is that? Is it because of the tax structure? Is it because we lack the people with professional skills that new and existing businesses require? Is it our climate? Is it our geographical location? Or is it because Maine does not have a sustainable economic development plan? What are we doing at the State level to create a vibrant economy? Are we waiting for the businesses to come to Maine because we are Maine? Well, the ones that have come have been shown the door and said no thank-you and please do not come back (Casinos, LNG to name a few).

How do we move forward? I would suggest that the State of Maine recruit prospective businesses and offer them incentives to relocate here. For example would a business listen to a Maine delegation that said, if you relocate to our State we will waive all or a portion of the State tax burden, provided you hire X number of employees, pay them a minimum of Y dollars and also provide them with full family medical benefits? What does this do for the State? It will put people to work in good paying jobs (minimum $45K - $50K per year (taxable)), the business becomes a little more profitable, the State’s unemployment rate goes down, and the skilled positions being created will be enough to give our young college graduates a chance to consider staying in Maine.

Technology can open a lot of doors. When a business knocks on the door, what do we say and what is our plan?