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 A P R I L 3 0 , 2 0 1 8 From the Editor F iber optic networks are critical to economic development, but downtowns are key to rebuild- ing some Maine communities. For our focus on central and western Maine, Staff Writer Maureen Milliken visited Wilton, Skowhegan, Norridgewock and Rumford. (See Page 22.) Offi cials are fi nding ways to leverage grant money to improve the infrastructure, including broadband networks, and bring people back to the downtowns. Bringing in retailers is a priority, but so are attractions like kayak parks, farmers markets and live music. " e more that are able to reinvent themselves and revitalize, the stronger the state's economy," Doug Ray, spokesman for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, told Maureen. Downtowns across the state "are working to pre- serve their heritage and shore up their infrastruc- ture," Maureen writes, "fi nding ways big and small to get people and businesses back downtown." Reduce the tax burden, grow the population Maine was recently named among the Top 5 states for tax burden. Maine ranked No. 3, behind New York and Hawaii, according to WalletHub. I had a conversation recently with an acquaintance who'd come into a nice sailboat, with a price of $1, courtesy of a doctor who was selling many of his pos- sessions and moving out of state. "He was fed up with the taxes," my acquaintance explained. He was tired of Maine and "all its taxes." I was thinking he was moving to New Hampshire, Florida or even the Cayman Islands — places with no personal income tax. But the kicker was he was moving to Massachusetts, which I'd never heard of referred to as a tax haven. It's safe to predict that the upcoming governor's race will provide plenty of fodder for candidates of both parties. Taxes will likely be a topic. Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, vowed to cut government. Anyone coming into the offi ce — whether a Democrat, Republican or independent — will have to get cooperation from the Legislature. Who's to say the new governor will have any luck reducing Maine's tax burden? e challenge plays out on the local level all the time. Homeowners complain about high prop- erty taxes or about school districts asking for more money or spending on parks and recreation. We could argue about whether Maine has too much government, but there's another aspect to the discussion. We don't have enough people to shoulder the burden. e population is stagnant and it's getting older. People are moving of the income- producing (and tax revenue generating years) and into retirement, which doesn't help our standing on WalletHub's ranking. Let's get some more people in here to build busi- nesses and add jobs. Should we aim to attract people from other states? Immigrants? Yes, both. Building a workforce will pay off in a number of ways. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Some Maine towns look to downtowns to spark growth Benjamin Shaw, founder and CEO of Vets First Choice 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 Maine's business news daily at mainebiz.biz and on Twitter (@Mainebiz). Below is our top content from the week of April 9–23. 1. Maine makes top 5 in states with highest tax burden 2. Skowhegan entrepreneur challenge winners announced 3. Reinventing workspaces: Employers finding new ways to engage staff and attract new hires 4. MTI awards $10.9M in technology grants to seven Maine firms 5. One entrepreneur's solution to womankind's 'three-bag-schlep' frustration 6. Historic church turned into apartments sells for $4.3M in 1031 exchange 7. Marine-based magnet school set to open in Searsport 8. Vets First Choice to merge with spinoff of Fortune 500 company 9. UMaine hires high-profile researcher and STEM advocate as president 10. Colby College buys Camden National building to add to hotel plan P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY 8 Be smart. BE SHUR. bernsteinshur.com When you want a law firm t hat puts your interests before [h]ours. Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to Bringing in retailers to downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but downtowns is a priority, but so are attractions like kayak parks, farmers markets and live music.

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