Maine

Maine Launches Campaign to Promote Manufacturing Careers

Maine Governor Paul R. LePage joined with business leaders of the Manufacturers Association of Maine (MAM) to launch a statewide outreach campaign aimed to attract more youth and job seekers to careers in technology and manufacturing.

Manufacturers Association of Maine

Manufacturers Association of Maine (photo – mainemfg.com)

MAM partnered with the Office of the Governor and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) to develop the two-year outreach campaign.

It will focus on students, parents, teachers and the general public to promote manufacturing-related job opportunities located in Maine.

MAM has set a fundraising goal of $300,000 for the campaign, of which $30,000 from the private sector has already been raised within the past few weeks. The Governor announced that DECD will provide $50,000 to support the effort.

“Manufacturing is critically important to Maine’s economy. Manufacturing companies employ over 51,000 workers in high-tech, high-skilled jobs in Maine,” said Governor LePage. “They pay well too. Wages in manufacturing are 28 percent higher than all industries in Maine. An average salary in production is about $46,000 per year. Average engineering wages are $62,000.”

Even so, MAM has identified approximately 1,000 jobs unfilled because of a skills gap. Many Maine students and workers do not see manufacturing as a viable career option.

“We will use existing organizations and resources to make stronger connections between Maine manufacturers and schools to help students understand what companies need and to build the applicant pool with qualified young people,” said MAM executive director Lisa G. Martin.

The campaign will highlight on the contrast between dirty, noisy and sometimes dangerous mills and factories of previous generations as opposed to the fact that today’s manufacturing facilities are clean, well-lit, safe and state of the art. More than half of all manufacturing careers in Maine are now considered high-tech jobs.

McKenzie Brunelle, a junior at Oakland’s Messalonskee High School, was one of those attending the announcement. She told the crowd that she enjoys math and science and would like to stay in Maine.

“I want to find a job I love and I’m encouraged by what I’m hearing today because I know there will be opportunities for me when I graduate,” said Brunelle.

Maine Aims to Create Jobs by Using Liquor Sales to Pay Off $484M Hospital Debt

Maine Governor Paul R. LePage has submitted emergency legislation to pay the $484 million in debt owed to the state’s 39 community hospitals as part of a total direct investment of nearly $700 million into Maine’s economy in 2013.

Maine hospitals (photo - emmc.org)

Maine hospitals

A revenue bond on future liquor sales would cover the $186 million Maine owes its hospitals for MaineCare services dating back to 2009.

This would immediately trigger a $298 million federal match and erase the hospitals’ unpaid debt.

“By paying the State’s bills we strengthen our economy and the hospitals that care for and employ Maine people,” said Governor LePage. “Hospitals will be able do the same including paying new and existing employees and local vendors, pursuing capital improvements and maintaining the high level of service that has earned the state national recognition for quality care.”

The Governor said he will additionally issue voter-authorized bonds, including $51.5 million for transportation infrastructure improvements and $53.5 million for conservation, clean water upgrades, and construction and energy efficiency at post-secondary educational institutions.

The Governor has also proposed a $100 million facilities bond for the construction of new corrections facilities in Windham, to be paid from savings generated by more efficient operations.

The recipients, needless to say, are thrilled. Some of the reactions below:-

R. David Frum, President, Rumford and Bridgton Hospitals – “We have had selective layoffs, deferred hiring people, frozen wages and delayed needed capital projects due in part to our tenuous cash situation. Payment of the MaineCare debt is the single most effective way to improve the stability of our organization.”

“The sale of these bonds will allow the University of Maine to move forward with needed infrastructure upgrades on campus. Bond investments like these play an important part in ensuring that our students have access to quality educational facilities.” –James Page, UMaineSystem Chancellor

Steve Levesque, MRRA Executive Director – “I am delighted to hear that the Governor is releasing the bonds, which will allow for important economic development to proceed in Brunswick that will reoccupy these buildings and create jobs.”

Charles D. Therrian, President & CEO, MaineCoast Memorial Hospital – “As the second largest employer in Hancock County, the unpaid debt has played a major role in the management and operations of Maine Coast Memorial Hospital. Payment of the debt will be invested in people, services and community.”

Maria Vienneau, CEO/CNO, Millinocket Regional Hospital – “In July of 2012 we were forced to lay off staff, outsource jobs to a contractor to save money and reduce hours of clinical services in several departments. Payment of the debt will go directly back into the services and employees of our facility.”

Somerset Economic Development Corporation Receives $250,000 Grant From Sewall Foundation

http://www.somersetcountymaine.org/

The Somerset Economic Development Corporation in the state of Maine has received nearly $250,000 dollars from the Sewall Foundation.

The Executive Director of the Sewall Foundation was excited about the impact that the donation had on the Somerset region. The grant money was utilized to convert a jail into a mill for grain. The money was also used for brand new equipment for the farmers. The project will give the farmers an opportunity to convert the land into grain. The grain can also be used as flour for many of the local bakers, help support community kitchens and can be used at the local farmers market.

Jay Espy who is the Executive Director of Sewall states that the food hub serves as a positive driver for the economy in the Somerset region. Healthy food is provided to the area of Somerset but the grain mill also has economic benefits to the local community. The President of the Philanthropy Center states that the grant money is contributing to “years of benefits for a community”. President Janet Henry points out that the foundations are pinpointing the causes of main complications such as government cutbacks and lack of jobs. Many of the donors are also becoming innovative as they are coming up with different manners of allocating the grant money.

A report was conducted by the Philanthropy Center called “Giving in Maine” and it was determined that nearly 322 foundations had a total of $2.2 billion in assets and $135 million dollars in grants. The Sewall Foundation was started after the Heiress died in 2005 and built a fortune by wisely investing in a company called Standard Oil which was the Rockefeller family fortune. Every foundation in the state of Maine plays a pivotal role as the state ranks nearly last in donations from individuals.

Overall, the Somerset Economic Development Corporation has made a positive impact on the communities in the state of Maine.

Read More

Agenda 21 Protests Cast Shadow Over Rio+20 Conference

The inordinately huge impact politics has on policy in America is resulting in a slowdown in growth of sustainable development, and in some cases even the roll-back of existing and well-implemented projects.

Tea Party members all over America are protesting just about every kind of sustainability program in existence or being proposed, claiming that everything from smart meters to bike trails is part of an international United Nations led conspiracy to dictate how people should live.

The story goes back to 1992 when the original Rio conference green-lighted Agenda 21. But the protests against it have picked up steam only in 2011 as the economy has improved considerably and the Tea Party struggles to find a new meaning and cause to rally behind.

Agenda 21

Photo credit - UN.org

Back in early 2011, the board of commissioners in Carroll County, Maryland voted unanimously to eliminate the county’s Office of Sustainability.

Since then, the anti-Agenda 21 protestors have racked up a series of state-level victories, from Maine‘s cancellation of the Route 1 corridor expansion to ease congestion to Florida‘s derailment of high-speed rail.

But the impact on the local level is a lot more pronounced because these protestors dominate public meetings, as shown by the scrapping of a local land-use plan in La Plata, Colorado.

La Plata spent $750,000 and half a year on 137 public meetings trying to keep everyone happy, and ultimately created a new 400-page plan for local land use. It was supposed to promote sustainability, public transport and bicycling, and rein in sprawl without adding any new regulations.

Then the Agenda 21 protestors got on the case, and the full 400-page plan was scrapped. Apart from the fact that the county wasted $750,000 for no good reason, they also lost any chances they had of sustainable development in the near future and their planning director who quit his job over the incident.

A story published by the New York Times three days ago that focused on how Tea Party protests against the so-called Agenda 21 conspiracy has given the whole thing a lot of momentum and it is now even less about economic development and more about politics.

This is where it gets a little bit out of hand. This being a Presidential election year, the White House will never support anything remotely resembling Agenda 21 at the Rio+20 conference, scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro on June 20-22, 2012.

Simply put, you can kiss official American support goodbye for any kind of global sustainable development resolution, and that in turn means the Rio+20 conference is now a purely toothless affair.

Kestrel Aircraft Corp Lands in Wisconsin with 600 Jobs

Brunswick, Maine has a lot of egg (or aviation fuel exhaust) on its face, for letting slip 600 aviation jobs to Superior, Wisconsin.

Kestrel Wisconsin Jobs

Photo credit - Office of the Governor, Wisconsin

Kestrel Aircraft Corporation, which has been headquartered in Brunswick until now, was supposed to open up a new plant for building its prototype single engine turboprop airplane.

That was the plan back in July 2010. Kestrel had made it clear they needed about $100 million in financial assistance to set up the plant, and expected an incentives package of about $60 million.

A concerted effort by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDA), Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and local officials in the city and county made Kestrel an offer they couldn’t refuse.

The incentives package offered by Wisconsin to Kestrel in tax-credit supported investment is generous by any standard, and definitely far superior to the $20.7 million which Maine offered to Kestrel.

The WEDC will create an enterprise zone in Superior, WI to provide $18 million in tax credits to Kestrel. The company will also get a $2 million loan under the “State Small Business Credit Initiative” program loan.

For its part, WHEDA is working with Kestrel to obtain a $30 million allocation under the U.S. Treasury’s New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) federal program for assisting new projects in qualified low-income areas.

“I am pleased with the aggressive package we have put forth in conjunction with strong local support to make this major job creation contribution to Superior,” said Wisconsin Governor Walker. “This relocation will be a huge boost to the Superior-area economy.”

Kestrel is now not only setting up the new plant in Superior, but also moving its headquarters from Burnswick to Superior.

Back in Maine, the blame game has put the responsibility for the loss of the plant and 600 new jobs squarely on Coastal Enterprises Inc., the only non-profit in Maine authorized to distribute tax credits under the NMTC program.

They offered Kestrel a $20.7 million package, a mistake which Maine Gov. Paul LePage says cost Burnswick and Maine 600 jobs.

University of Maine Receives $95,000 Dollar Grant for Sustainable Development

news.softpedia.com/

A research team and a group of professors at the University of Maine have procured a $95,000 dollar grant that will focus on the field of research in regards to sustainable development.

The grant was officially allocated by the “Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research” as it was given to the research team. The money will be utilized for research purposes and will focus on the watershed of Aroostook River. The research team at the University has also received nearly 3 grants from the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research in the past 3 years for the watershed project. $66,000 dollars was allocated in 2009 while $75,000 dollars was given out in 2010. The total amount of grant money adds up to approximately $236,000 dollars as it can be utilized for the watershed project.

The University of Maine can also potentially receive the grants from the EPSCR for approximately 5 years excluding the 3 years of grants already received. The Aroostook watershed is also extremely populated in the state of Maine. The watershed seems to encompass the regions of Presque Isle and Caribou. The research team will focus on sustainability and the production of renewable energy by using the watershed. The grant for this particular year will focus on biomass production as the watershed is utilized as a particular sample space. 10,000 acres of land will also be established so that ecological benefits and impacts can be evaluated on the community.

The leader of the research team Jason Johnston elaborates on how the grants are a testament to how efficient the program is running. Jason also states that the sustainable development program also includes the stakeholders of the community as they are included with the process.

Overall, the grant for the research team will lead to successful sustainable development strategies that will be imposed in the state of Maine.

Read More

 Scroll to top