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V O L . X X I I I N O. X V I 36 FA C T BO O K / D O I N G B U S I N E S S I N M A I N E B U S I N E S S R E S O U R C E S M aine's motto is Dirigo, a Latin word for I lead or I direct. Since our statehood in 1820 we have had some leading roles, and lead- ing ladies and men. In the 1800s, there were James Blaine, Hannibal Hamlin, omas Brackett Reed, Joshua Chamberlain. In the 1900s, Margaret Chase Smith, Bill Cohen, Ed Muskie, George Mitchell, Olympia Snowe, just to name a few. Bangor was one of the foremost ports in the United States. We are well known for our lobster and blueberries. L.L.Bean is an international retail icon. Maine for- ests have provided timber and paper for over a century. Our shoe and textile industries had an interna- tional reputation. But over the last few decades Maine and its economy have faltered. We have seen manu- facturing decline and and our popu- lation stagnate and age. is does not have to be our future, we need to rethink and reset our goals, building on the assets that we have: Vast coastline and ports, our geographic proximity to Europe, the Canadian provinces and major population centers of the Northeast. Our natural resources and historic agricultural off er- ings and the legendary industrious nature of Maine people. Maine can off er good deep-water locations, which can with a little help support large cargo ships for both imports and exports of goods and materials. Our rail can provide lines south to major cities or west to major inland logistic centers and we can off er double stacked carloads because of the open corridors they will travel. We are the closest point to Europe and its markets and we have a labor force that shows up every day, works hard and is pretty innovative. Ask C&L Aviation, or Tempest Jets, Cianbro or numerous others who in recent years established or grew operations in Maine. And yes, we still have great agricultural products; forest products, lobsters, blueberries and potatoes to name a few. It is how we develop value- added components to these that will really make the diff erence. We just need policy leaders to see the forest for the trees and stop focus- ing our attention and resources on government programs that impede industry, creativity and opportunity. Sometimes simple changes like the elimination of the use tax on avia- tion, which brought C&L to locate its main operations and offi ces in Bangor, or the work done with Cianbro to convert a defunct paper mill with environmental brownfi eld issues into a modern welding and fabrication facil- ity. ese places where policy change spurred growth show the diff erence we can make, Maine just needs lead- ers who will off er the right economic course corrections. Remember busi- ness leaders and investors look for the right mix to place their operations and capital and they stay in those places where they feel welcomed by its people and strategies. Let's get rolling on these changes! A C I I I o f H a m p d e n i s R e p u b l i c a n w h o r e p r e s e n t s D i s t r i c t i n t h e M a i n e S t a t e S e n a t e . He can be reached at . @ . . • eCommerce Solutions • Amazon & Ebay Solutions • Customer Engagement • Drop Shipping Follow us on Ship-Right Solutions delivers quality and experience to your business everyday one box and customer at a time. Fulfilling Your Expectations Maine Logistics Business Operating Since 2000 Visit us online today! www.shiprightsolutions.com 165 Pleasant Ave. South Portland, ME 207-321-3500 ext #208 Thornton Academy Dorms — Saco Expansion Since 2011 Thornton Academy has added three dormitories as part of their program to house international students on campus. PM Construction has worked with TA building all three projects. PM Construction congratulates the school on the success of their growth and enrichment of the community. The team at PM Construction would like to help you make your expansion strategy a reality. Call Laura Blanchette 207.282.7697 D E BAT E B Y A N D R E C U S H I N G I I I R-DISTRICT 10, MAINE STATE SENATE Economic development in Maine: A Republican's perspective We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, We need to rethink and reset our goals, building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast building on the assets that we have: Vast coastline and ports, our geographic proximity to Europe, the Canadian provinces and major population centers of the Northeast.

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