Last week, I boarded one of two chartered buses (in the snowstorm) for the Maine Development’s Foundations Bus Tour. Over 60 colleagues of mine from the Legislature joined MDF on their themed economic bus tour called “Unleashing Maine’s Potential: Making Maine Work: Critical Investments for Maine Economy.” MDF picked strategic companies and educational institutions in Washington, Kennebec, Hancock and Penobscot counties to look at the cost of health care, energy costs, state regulations, education and quality of place. Highlight stops were: Verso Paper in Bucksport, Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research in Franklin, and Port and Economic Development Opportunities in Eastport.
The tour was excellent. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to see parts of Maine that I have only visited as a tourist. It was great meeting the business owners, City Managers, and other spokespersons for industries. I learned a lot about economic development opportunities across the state: aquaculture in mussels and oysters, dairy cattle being exported to Turkey, and pulp heading to China. I am encouraged that our state’s investments are creating big returns. In Eastport, the State’s bond package provided millions of dollars for their upgraded port facility. Additionally, the folks at Verso Paper went out of their way to share how Maine’s regulatory agencies worked well to ensure their new $40 million biomass fire-steamed generator started on time!
