The Blaine House Conference on the Creative Economy, held at the Bates Mill Complex in Lewiston in May 2004, focused the spotlight on the contributions to state and local economic development by Maine citizens and businesses working in cutting edge technologies, the arts and culture. Activities defined under the label of the Creative Economy include artists, artisans, performers, architects, software engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers and financiers. 

The Conference presented significant research data on the nature and extent of these activities, compiled by the Muskie School of Public Policy. The report provided detailed case studies of the experiences of several Maine communities engaged in developing their creative economies.