Presque Isle: Advocate Says Economic Report Upbeat on Rural Maine Growth
By Rachel Rice, Bangor Daily News, Maine
Jan. 29–In a technological age when someone can live in Aroostook County and work in Tokyo, Alan Caron believes that Maine is nearing a new stage in its economy.
“Maine has a unique quality of place,” the president, CEO and founder of GrowSmart Maine said Saturday. “We’re hot. Dare I say, we’re hot. People now can live anywhere and not be tied to where they work because of telecommunications. This is a revolution for Maine because places like Aroostook County are not at the end of the line anymore.”
Caron brought his message of economic development and innovation to about 50 people last week when he gave a presentation at the University of Maine at Presque Isle on the recently released Brookings Institution report “Charting Maine’s Future.”
The presentation was sponsored by the university and Northern Maine Development Commission.
The report offers a comprehensive study of the economy in Maine. It points out that the state population is growing and that changes in the economy are favoring Maine’s unique quality of place, such as its small towns, family farms, working waterfronts and natural areas.
But it also points out that Maine has many problems, such as bloated state bureaucracies and some ineffectual approaches to economic development.
An action plan included in the report calls for a more streamlined state government and more investment in infrastructure and innovation.
GrowSmart Maine sponsored the report, which was produced by the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institution, an independent research and policy institute.
GrowSmart is a statewide citizens group dedicated to promoting sustainable prosperity and quality places. The organization believes every part of Maine has the chance to prosper “if we work together to protect what’s special about the state.”
Caron has been presenting the report all over the state and said the response has been incredible, from average residents to legislative officials to former Gov. Angus King.
“It’s created more of a buzz than I’ve seen here in my lifetime,” Caron said. “I think it’s because people are kind of hungry for a positive road map to move forward. The report says we have a lot of problems, but there’s a lot of good stuff happening, so let’s jump on it.”
Some of the report’s recommendations are to:
— Reduce administrative spending.
— Use that funding to revitalize cities and towns and protect natural heritage.
— Invest in research and development innovation for both new and traditional industries.
“This is very hopeful news for all of Maine but certainly for the most remote parts of Maine,” Caron said of the recommendations. “We have to take advantage of this. This is a big deal. It’s the beginning of the next stage in our economy.”
Caron will begin hosting in early March a series of open town meetings — one in each of the state’s 35 Senate districts — to further discuss the report and its recommendations. He expects the series to take about 12 weeks.
“This is an opportunity for people to come out and not only become part of the conversation, but also to get involved in a movement for positive, constructive change,” he said.
Copies of the report are available for download or hard copy purchase at www.growsmartmaine.org. They also are available at all public libraries in the state.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Bangor Daily News, Maine
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