Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1546328
4 Fact Book / Doing Business in Maine Room for improvement: 1 st Highest percentage of vacant homes in U.S., with 20.6% 43 rd State economy 43 rd State for telecommuting 23 rd Best state to start a business 23 rd State ranked by taxpayer ROI 34 th Best state for singles 37 th Best state economy Where Maine ranked high on national lists: 14 th Military retirement 9 th Job market 4 th Health care access 4 th As a charitable state 5 th Best state to have a baby 5 th Most environmentally friendly state 9 th For summer road trips 9 th For health care 10 th As a place for working moms 12 th As a place for working dads 13 th Best state to live 14 th Best public school system 14 th Best state to retire Q UA L I T Y O F L I F E N early a year ago, longtime Mainebiz photogra- pher Tim Greenway stopped by the Mainebiz office to let me know he had connected with the Mallett Brothers about possibly following the band for a photo shoot. We talked about the possibility of a photo essay for the Mainebiz Fact Book. I immediately had visions of Elliott Landy in Woodstock, N.Y., spending time with Dylan and the Band, or Martin Scorsese filming "e Last Waltz." Over the subsequent months, Tim showed me photos from time to time, as the project took shape. I think you'll share my enthusiasm when you see the images and read Tim's accompanying essay. e black-and-white images have a timeless quality and Tim's words add an intriguing backstory. Elsewhere in the issue, Mainebiz contributing photographer Jim Neuger explores Maine's "ties to the animal world." "Moose roam the North Woods and adorn the state flag; lobsters grace dinner plates and license plates; chickadees, themselves longtime license- plate decorators, tough it out through the winter … is photo series looks at some of the creatures — wild, domesticated and purely imaginary — that call Maine home." Mainebiz staffers Renee Cordes, Laurie Schreiber and Tina Fischer offer stories ranging from the Portland Sea Dogs to Jackson Lab to a house mover. Contributor Sloane Perron talks to the women running Maine's two pri- mary electric utilities for the "Women in power" feature. As always, the Fact Book includes stats, lists and tidbits that in their own way bring Maine to life. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz A Maine-grown band, featured in black and white LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO BRAG ABOUT MAINE … As always, the Fact Book includes stats, lists and tidbits that in their own way bring Maine to life. For a state with just 1.4 million people, Maine seems to get more than its fair share of its attention nationally. Apart from a high-profile Senate race, much of that attention is focused on quality of life topics: Maine's appeal as a vacation destination, its ski and watersports options or its restaurants, fall fairs or antique shops and museums. S O U R C E : WalletHub, LendingTree