Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1475265
W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 23 A U G U S T 8 , 2 0 2 2 MB: How does the creation of startups intersect with economic development? And do they ever work at cross purposes? RK: ey do come together. I was on the board of economic development for the state. e thinking evolved so that economic development efforts included the startup com- munity. ere was a recognition that much of economic development was smokestack chasing: you go out of Maine, look for a big company and try to bring them in. But if some- thing is started in Maine it is rooted in Maine. A startup won't necessar- ily leave when a better opportunity comes along. MB: What is still needed to help startups? RK: Talent is the biggest issue. We're still a small state. We have to be creative to find someone who can round out a team. We need people who can become CEOs and CFOs. [For a startup], these are big leaps from two people to 10 people to 25 people. MB: What are other missing pieces? RK: Live + Work in Maine is doing talent recruiting, to find people for bigger companies. Is there a cam- paign for startup talent? How can we leverage the good of the pandemic or people becoming more comfort- able with distance? In the past two years, lots of people have come to Maine, but a lot of them still think of Maine as a vacation place, not as a place to do business. Finding talent is more and more critical as we try to scale up. Peter Van Allen, Mainebiz editor, can be r e a ch e d a t p vanal l e n @ m ai n e bi z . b i z a n d @ M a i n e b i z E d i t o r University of Maine umaine.edu Orono What it does: More than 100 degree programs Founded: 1868 Number of students: 11,989 (undergraduate and graduate) (207) 827-4456 • (800) 648-4202 Bangor • Portland www.sewall.com Consultants in: Engineering | Survey | Energy | Geospatial Solutions | Natural Resources • Solar & Wind Energy Site Design • Environmental Permitting • Stormwater Management • Pavement Management/ Better Roads ™ • Transportation / Traffic Engineering • Construction Management LEFT TO RIGHT — Diane Morabito, PE, PTOE: Expert in traffic impact studies, traffic permitting & traffic signal design / Jodi O'Neal, PE, CPESC: Expert in stormwater permitting, site design & permitting / Heather Hayes, PE: Expert in construction management, bridge load ratings & design / Janine Murchison, PE: Expert in civil design and construction administration & monitoring activities / Lynn Frazier, PE, PTOE: Expert in traffic signal design, traffic analysis & Maine DOT permitting A salute to our talented women engineers