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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 17 JA N UA R Y 1 1 , 2 0 2 1 F O C U S 2 0 2 1 E C O N O M I C F O R E C A S T mentors and local educators to keep students of all abilities and back- grounds on track and prepared for post-secondary educational and skill development opportunities." Malloy's prediction about this year's college grads: "ey will be the most resilient and best-prepared class of 21st-century learners to ever earn a college degree. ey will graduate … with not just knowledge and skills, but more importantly, the adaptability to be competitive in a post-pandemic, digital economy that has been thrust forward a decade or more by the need to overcome COVID-19 disruptions." omas College President Laurie Lachance is equally upbeat about higher education's next chapter. "Maine's many colleges and universi- ties have worked together closely since the pandemic began in March, and have modeled tenacity, ingenuity, hard work, collaboration and resiliency — the very attributes we work to impart on our students," she says. "Higher education in Maine has shown the nation how to provide a quality, in-person learning experience during a global pandemic, keeping the students we serve on track to com- pleting their degrees and strengthen- ing Maine's economy." H O S P I TA L I T Y Hospitality faces a second challenging year B y M a u r e e n M i l l i k e n M aine's hospitality industry, the sec- ond-largest employer in the state after health care, was also the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020, the industry had recovered less than half of the 41,000 jobs it lost because of shutdowns and travel bans. Even though there's optimism as vaccines roll out, 2021 is still going to be a tough year for the industry. e full recovery is going to take a group effort stretching the federal govern- ment down to consumers, says Greg Dugal, director of government affairs for HospitalityMaine. "Unfortunately, the challenges are still the same," Dugal says. It will be spring or summer before the vaccine rollout's effect begins to be felt, which means distancing rules still in place for at least the first six months of the year. "e biggest chal- lenge will be making it to summer and having the resources to open up or [for those that are open] ramp up," he says. Once things open up, pent-up travel demand combined with the perception of Maine as a safe place to visit, will help. e bottom-line prediction? "First half of 2021: Awful. Second half: Better," he says. More money from federal and state sources will be critical if small hospitality businesses are going to survive, he adds. Dugal, who advocates for the hos- pitality industry with the Legislature, says word is that there are an over- whelming amount of bills backed up this session, many of which will address COVID-19 issues. "It will be incredibly busy at both the state and federal levels in 2021 when it comes to legislation, he says. Steve Hewins, HospitalityMaine's CEO, announced in October he would step down at the end of 2020 after leading the association since its formation in 2018. His successor will have to lead an industry through "a massive rebuild" in 2021, Dugal says. But the strength behind the recovery will come from the business owners and their employees, who "are tremendously resilient." "If 2020 provided any good at all, it proved that resilience to all Maine citizens and to hospitality employers and employees themselves," he says. He hopes the state's residents will step up, too, and continue to get takeout and find ways to support the industry that has worked so hard to stay afloat. "row in a cocktail to go and a gift certificate for a loved one," Dugal says. "Honestly, that 's the only way that the great dining landscape created over many years in the state of Maine can return to normal." Protecting dreams. Building assets. TheFirst.com/WealthManagement Individual | Nonprofit | Municipal RESPONSIBILITY FIRST Securities and investment products are not bank deposits, are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency, are not obligations of, nor guaranteed by, any bank or bank affiliate, and may involve investment risk, including the possible loss of value or principal amount invested. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » The biggest challenge will be making it to summer and having the resources to open up or ramp up. — Greg Dugal HospitalityMaine F I L E P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Greg Dugal, director of government affairs for HospitalityMaine

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