Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 J U N E 1 0 , 2 0 2 4 From the Editor M aine's economy is at a crossroads right now, and we need to be reminded of the big picture. I was struck by the similarity of two Maine speeches made 25 years apart. Let me explain. On June 3, Gov. Janet Mills gave a rousing speech about the need to build the Maine workforce. Some 13,400 people have joined the state's workforce in the past three years. But that's just a start, she said. "at's good news, but we know that our eco- nomic growth is continuing to outpace the number of people who are available to work in Maine," Mills said at an event co-hosted by the World Affairs Council of Maine and the Maine International Trade Center. "We need every person who is able to work in Maine to be able to do so — to support them- selves, to contribute to our economy and fill the jobs that our businesses are creating every day." It was a call to action, about the value of welcom- ing immigrants to Maine employers, but also in convincing potential workers who have been on the sidelines since COVID to rejoin the workforce. Mills' comments echoed those published 25 years ago, in the June 1999 issue of Mainebiz (and revisited elsewhere in this issue, in A Look Back, on Page 6). Steve Levesque, who may be best known for overseeing much of the growth of Brunswick Landing, was in the late 1990s commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. In a 1999 speech at the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments, Levesque indicated that Maine tends to be too humble about its attributes as a place to do business. "e biggest thing we've found is that we really need to sell Maine," he told the audience. "Mainers don't like to tell other people how good we are, and that's hurting us. ere's a lot of money out there, but we're not getting our fair share of it." Good speeches, good points. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Two comments made 25 years apart show the need for Maine to keep growing. Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get all the latest business news from around Maine in the Daily Report and from the Real Estate Insiders. Here is the top content from May 20 to June 4: 1. How much do you plan to travel this summer, whether for business or fun? (Poll question) 2. Apartment residents question eviction by Travis Mills Foundation 3. Should short-term rentals be regulated? (Poll question) 4. With Jessica Estes stepping down, Boulos Co. names new leadership team 5. Long-time Bar Harbor restaurant to see new life as food pantry 6. Portland paves the way for Free Street building demo, museum's planned $100M expansion 7. Charms of the farm: From goat hikes to flower festivals, Maine agritourism is thriving 8. Cousins Maine Lobster makes leadership changes 9. On the Record: Auburn safety trainer draws on her law enforcement background 10. Amid squeezed Freeport housing market, condo conversion attracts attention bernsteinshur.com Meet Kate. Campaign finance guru, lobbying law legend, and social justice advocate, Kate works where the law, the Legislature, the governor and politics meet. She navigates the complex reality of elections and public policy. We're attorneys. But we're people first. Katherine R. Knox, Attorney and Shareholder Maine's economy depends on growth — and, yes, selling Maine

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