“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility.” 
― Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

Rachel Carson, the marine biologist who many credit with launching the modern environmental movement, wrote passionately about her beloved Maine: “The deep dark woodland and rugged shore … periwinkles grazing on the intertidal rocks, waiting for the return of the tide … all the heady, aromatic, bittersweet fragrances compounded of pine and spruce and bayberry, warmed by the sun.” 

As we take stock this Earth Day of the daunting status of the globe amidst the climate crisis, Mainers can take hope in some of the ways we are stepping up to the challenge. Two of the 31 indicators featured in MDF’s Measures of Growth 2022 Report speak to efforts that not only positively impact the environment, but the Maine economy as well. 

Water Quality 

In 2022, 95% of Maine rivers and streams and 91% of lakes achieved Category 1 or 2 – or “good” – in 2022. This can be a beacon of hope to other regions given that in national rankings just 31% of U.S. rivers and streams, and 19% of the lakes met the mark. Maine stands as a powerful model for addressing water quality issues and restoring the health of our rivers, lakes, and streams, which continue to provide drinking water, support ecosystems, bolster tourism, and therefore are a pillar of the Maine economy as a whole.  

Greenhouse Gas Emissions 

From 2018 to 2019, greenhouse gas emissions in Maine fell 2%, from 16.8 to 16.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. In 2019, emissions were 23% below 1990 levels, meaning Maine is continuing to progress toward its 2030 goal of reducing emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% by 2050. 

In 2003, Maine became the first U.S. state to enact a statutory target for lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and met that initial goal when emissions fell to 10% below 1990 levels in 2012. In 2019, further legislation set the current goals for 2030 and 2050.  

Continued Diligence 

These are just two of indicators the Maine Economic Growth Council, the nonpartisan, independent group that oversees the Measures of Growth Report, tracks Maine’s environmental health, how it intersects with Maine’s economy, and why the Council recommends continued diligence on these fronts. 

We hope you will dig into the data behind these Indicators and how they intersect with other critical elements of Maine’s economy. Visit the Measures of Growth section of our website where you can see all 31 indicators we featured in 2022, as well as past issues of the report dating back to 2010. 

Hallowell, Maine – November 16, 2022 – The nonpartisan Maine Economic Growth Council today released its 28h annual Measures of Growth Report, a comprehensive snapshot of how the state’s economy is performing relative to our long-term goals, to other states, and to the nation. The Report finds that overall, Maine continues to perform exceptionally well in terms of environment and safety. Wage growth and entrepreneurship were also areas of progress even as inflation, workforce shortages, and the lingering impact of COVID continue to challenge communities, businesses, and households, The Council noted that Maine’s quality of life and other enduring assets set the stage for additional investments to achieve economic growth, a more resilient economy in an uncertain global environment, and long-term and more equitable prosperity.

The Report also brings special focus to Maine’s particular challenges in workforce availability and participation, an urgent issue in every industry and region. This stems from years of demographic, economic, and social changes compounded by a global pandemic and calls for innovative responses if we are to build the workforce we need.

“This Report provides critical insight into Maine’s economy and workforce,” says Steve Von Vogt, Co-Chair of the Maine Economic Growth Council. “We must continue to harness Yankee ingenuity, innovation, and public-private partnerships to respond to the economic challenges posed by COVID, inflation, and climate change. To build the workforce we need, Maine business, community, and non-profit leaders of all races and ethnicities must continue to join forces to eradicate systemic inequities. We must work comprehensively: increase efforts to attract more working-age people from other states and countries, retain more of the young people born here, and help people of all ages, genders, abilities, races, and ethnicities to access the education and training they need to pursue the work and career of their choice, and to participate fully in our economy.”

In total, the 2022 Measures of Growth Report tracks 31 indicators that represent Maine’s assets and areas of challenge. To better reflect current circumstances, the report has a new measure: Mental and Behavioral Health, which acknowledges the growing impact of mental wellness challenges.

The Council assigns Gold Stars for significant progress in:

• Entrepreneurship – In 2020, the number of business starts exceeded closures by 9%, up from 4% in 2019.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions – From 2018 to 2019, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions fell 2%.
• Safety – Maine’s crime rate dropped another 7% in 2020 and is now 46% below the national average.
• Wages – In 2021, average wages rose 0.5% after adjusting for inflation. Maine made significant progress compared to peer states.
• Water Quality – In 2022, Maine maintained its excellent water quality rating – far above the U.S. average.

The Council assigns Red Flags for needed attention to:

• Cost of Energy – The price of industrial electricity rose 10% in 2021, mirroring increases across New England.
• Cost of Health Care – Health care expenditures fell 0.4% in 2021 but remain an ongoing challenge.
• Housing Affordability – Home ownership affordability got much worse in 2021, but the full index (including rentals) was not available at time of publication.
• Labor Force Participation – In 2021, 60% of Maine adults were in the labor force —unchanged since 2020 and below the U.S. average.
• Mental and Behavioral Health – In 2019-2020, the percentage of children with a mental and/or behavioral condition rose over 2%.
• Research and Development – In 2019, Maine’s R&D spending rose from 0.8% to 1.0% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

“We are encouraged by the rise in wages over the past two years, even after adjusting for inflation,” says State Senator and Council Co-Chair James Dill (D-Penobscot). “This comes after a decade of lagging wages and Maine is now surpassing our comparison states. This is a multi-year trend which sends a strong signal about the pace and scope of Maine’s recovery. However, it is tempered by the reality that wages are barely keeping up with inflation, and by the persistent income disparities between Maine’s white households and those of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Latino or Hispanic Mainers), and the gap between the income of women and their male counterparts.”

The report also highlighted important gaps in R&D investment, cost of doing business, and housing affordability. “The Measures of Growth annual report has long provided valuable information about what we are doing right, where we need to improve, and the trends of progress or decline over time,” says Yellow Light Breen, MDF’s President and CEO. “These indicators reinforce that talent, innovation, and infrastructure must be the focus for strategic investment – while also maintaining public health, a clean environment, and vibrant communities. We look forward to the opportunity to work with policymakers, businesses, and community leaders to continue building a Maine economy that is inclusive and sustainable – as we did in leveraging these insights to inform the 2022 Making Maine Work platform released by MDF, the State Chamber, and EducateMaine.”

The Maine Economic Growth Council takes a nonpartisan, data-driven approach to presenting an unbiased picture of Maine’s economy and well-being. Measures of Growth is designed to be a resource for policy and decision makers at all levels, helping them to focus their efforts and understand the connections between the key issues affecting the state. The Council is administered by the Maine Development Foundation (MDF). Council members are jointly appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the House, and represent a broad and diverse cross-section of Maine’s key constituencies.

Click here to dig into the data through our interactive Measures of Growth web section

Click here to read the Full Report

Click here to read the Executive Summary

HALLOWELL, Maine — September 19, 2022 — MDF’s Maine Downtown Center (MDC) is pleased to select the towns of Hallowell and Old Town to participate in our Downtown Revitalization Roadmap™ project. This process empowers communities to give new life to historic downtowns, broaden their local economy, and engage people and businesses in new ways. 

 “This project energizes communities and gives them powerful tools to move their community forward,” says Anne Ball, Maine Downtown Center Program Director. “Both Hallowell and Old Town have done much of the groundwork to improve their downtowns and this project will boost those revitalization efforts” 

 MDC will work with Ben Levenger, Downtown Redevelopment Services, LLC. The Revitalization Roadmap™ process is a streamlined planning process that takes 7-10 weeks and involves downtown visioning, a downtown assessment (ordinances, business health and building conditions), public input and strategic recommendations (tasks, initiatives or policy suggestions). The recommendations are grounded in short and long-term achievable goals that are highly action oriented and use existing resources for no and low cost implementation. 

 Ben will work with Vision Hallowell, one of fourteen Maine Downtown Affiliates across Maine, to collate the work of various community groups and committees who have touched the downtown including the Age Friendly Committee’s work focused on walkability and transportation while other groups have been working on downtown arts projects, Granite City Park, the future of the former fire station and most recently the community has undertaken Community Heart & Soul. The Roadmap Process will help the community and Vision Hallowell prioritize what they will do over the next 3-5 years. 

 ”Vision Hallowell was excited to be selected as one of the communities to benefit from the Revitalization Roadmap Project,” says Deb Fahy, President, Vision Hallowell. “We all have our passions and favorite projects, but we’re a small city with limited resources. Having professional consultants take a deep dive into all the work we’ve been doing over the past few years and make recommendations should be very illuminating. I encourage Hallowell citizens and business owners to take the opportunity to talk to the consultants when they are in town September 28-30.” . 

 In Old Town, which is one of the FOR/Maine Communities (Forest Opportunity Roadmap), Ben will work with the newly formed downtown committee, which is prioritizing the revitalization of their downtown into a broad community and economic development effort. Old Town will focus on existing assets such as the Penobscot River, public art, and long-standing events such as Riverfest while attracting new small businesses to the core downtown district. 

Our efforts to improve and enhance our Downtown will benefit tremendously from this project. The partnership we have formed with the Maine Downtown Center this year has given us the momentum to bring structure, leadership, and focus to Downtown Old Town (DTOT),” says EJ Roach, Dir. of Economic & Community Development, City of Old Town. “The impact this program will have on our community and this region will be transformational and will create more economic stability for the City of Old Town”. 

Main Street Skowhegan, one of MDF”s Maine Downtown center nationally recognized Main Street Maine communities, was featured in the latest edition of the National Main Street blog for their Skowhegan Center for Entrepreneurship. “After engaging 135 business owners and hearing positive feedback from a significant percentage of them, Main Street Skowhegan began searching for a space to lease and hired a new staff member to run the Center. ‘It’s important to have data, a plan, and strategies for success before applying for funding,” said Kristina Cannon, Main Street Skowhegan Executive Director. ‘Start small and figure out how to make the budget work to ensure future sustainability.'”

Read the full story.

As we acknowledge and celebrate the 52^nd Earth Day, Maine has much to be proud of and much work to do. Recognizing we are living on unceded lands of the Wabanaki people, we can continue to learn from their wisdom and adopt their approaches to environmental stewardship. In this spirit, we can also channel our inner Ed Muskie.

On April 22, 1970, Muskie was serving U.S. Senator from Maine. Assigned early on to the Public Works Committee – considered inconsequential at the time – Muskie seized the opportunity to tackle environmental causes and turned the Committee into a voice for clean air and water in the U.S.

His dogged efforts had already earned him the nickname “Mr. Clean” and resulted in fundamental environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act, passed later in 1970, and which Muskie considered his greatest achievement.

The cause of clean water struck equally close to home. Having grown up in Rumford on the Androscoggin River – considered one of if not the most polluted river in the U.S. during the late 1960s – Muskie dedicated himself to legislation that would regulate and enforce cleanup of the nation’s waters. This became the 1972 Clean Water Act.

Upon its enactment, Muskie said, “High quality water is more than the dream of the conservationists, more than a political slogan; high quality water, in the right quantity at the right place at the right time, is essential to health, recreation, and economic growth.”

MDF invites you to explore the Measures of Growth database and in particular this month’s “Indicator in Focus”, Water Quality. We hope it can be a tool to learn more about environmental aspects of the Maine economy, and ways we can engage in critical efforts to address the climate crisis.

The Maine Economic Growth Council, which develops the annual Measures of Growth reports, assigned a Gold Star to Water Quality in 2021, recognizing Maine’s “very high national standing and/or established trend toward significant improvement”. This was based on data from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that found Maine’s water quality has remained steady since 2006, with 95% of rivers and streams and 91% of lakes achieving Category 1 or 2 in 2016. Nationally, about 47% of U.S. rivers and streams and 29% of the lakes were rated “good”.

We hope you’ll explore our other Measures of Growth Environmental indicators, too: Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sustainable Forest Lands

HALLOWELL, ME – April 12, 2022 – MDF’s Maine Downtown Center (MDC) is pleased to award $656,789 through the REvitalizeME Gen2 National Park Service Sub-grant program for four historic preservation projects involving historic downtown buildings in Maine. These projects all support economic development in rural downtowns during this critical time.

“We are pleased to make these awards for catalytic projects in Maine downtowns,” says Anne Ball, Program Director, Maine Downtown Center. “The program set out to drive the connection between economic development and historic preservation. These projects illustrate this in four unique downtowns in four different Maine counties and in four different building types: a library, theater, mill, and former jail.”

The four awards prevailed through a process aimed at identifying new opportunities that will have a fundamental impact on economic revitalization and historic preservation:

• Colonial Theater, Augusta – $160,229 — for repair of windows and exterior doors
• Old Hancock County Sheriff’s Home and Jail, Ellsworth – $200,000 — for repair of masonry
• Porter Memorial Library, Machias – $48,000 — for plans and specifications to add an elevator to make the library accessible for the first time in its history and to redesign interior space
• Bag Mill, Rumford – $200,000 — roof repair and energy efficiency improvements; $48,560 — forplans andspecifications and a window survey

MDF’s partner in this effort was the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. “We are pleased to be able to support rehabilitation work on several historically significant buildings,” says Kirk Mohney, Director and State Historic Preservation Officer. “The variety of buildings that received awards underscores the rich architectural heritage of Maine’s downtowns.”

The REvitalizeME Gen2 sub-grant program was funded by the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants Program of the National Park Service, Department of Interior. The objective of the program is to support the rehabilitation of historic properties that will drive economic development in rural communities.

“One of the MDF’s strategic priorities is improving the economic vitality of the state’s downtowns,” says Yellow Light Breen, MDF President and CEO. “Even in difficult economic times, rehabbing our historic properties boosts the long-term prospects for sustaining businesses and jobs in our downtowns. These grants enable downtown historic building owners to be good stewards of their buildings and drive economic development.”

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Six Maine community and regional economic development entities were awarded $375,000 each from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as part of the Working Communities Challenge. The funds will be used to tackle pressing economic challenges. The Boston Fed announced the awards recently to the Greater Bangor, Katahdin, Maine Highlands, Sagadahoc County, Lewiston-Auburn, and Washington County and Passamaquoddy tribe regions.

Read the full article from the Bangor Daily News.

Hallowell, Maine— October 13, 2021 — The Maine Development Foundation (MDF), a statewide, nonpartisan, and data-driven nonprofit that connects people and strategies to drive economic improvement, is pleased to announce the election of our 2021-2022 Board of Directors. MDF Member organizations, businesses, and individuals cast their votes virtually during “Maine Rising: MDF’s 43^rd Annual Meeting and Champion Award Celebration” which was held via Livestream on September 24, 2021.

Madeleine Braun, Chief of Presidential Initiatives for The Jackson Laboratory, was elected Board Chair, Joy Barresi Saucier, Executive Director of Aroostook Agency on Aging Vice Chair, Treasurer Thomas Francoeur, Senior Managing Scientist, VHB, Inc., Treasurer.

“It is both my and The Jackson Laboratory’s privilege to be associated with MDF in a very deep and meaningful way,” said Madeleine Braun, incoming MDF Board Chair. “Never before has the mission of MDF been more critical, staking claim to the nonpartisan center with data-driven assessments of Maine’s economic realities and opportunities. MDF weaves the regions, sectors, and viewpoints of Maine together to forge consensus and common ground like no other organization does.”

MDF welcomes new Board members Lisa Sockabasin, Director of Wabanaki Public Health (WPH) and Linda Ball, Vice President of Customer Service, Central Maine Power Company.

Lisa is a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk with extensive experience and expertise in Tribal, State, and Federal governments, non-profits, and philanthropic organizations. In her capacity as the Director of Wabanaki Public Health, she collaborates with tribal leadership, the WPH team, and philanthropic partners to address systemic inequities experienced by Wabanaki communities in Maine and to develop and implement culturally based programs that respond to the needs of our communities. Lisa has over 19 years of experience addressing inequities experienced by and providing opportunities to tribal populations.

Linda started with Central Maine Power as a customer service representative more than 20 years ago and has worked her way through the organization, always focused on making CMP a company that is dedicated to the needs of every individual customer. Linda is determined to help CMP improve and to help the team resolve customer issues efficiently and satisfactorily. Linda works to use her position to improve the CMP customer experience.

MDF is grateful to our continuing Board members Dan Bookham, Director of Business Development Allen Insurance and Financial; Scott Blake, SVP, Chief Information Officer Bangor Savings Bank; Eric Soelberg, Vice President, Customer Insights & Planning L.L. Bean, Inc.; Meredith Strang Burgess, President & CEO Burgess Advertising & Marketing; Lori Dwyer, President & CEO, Penobscot Community Health Care; Amy Landry, Executive Director Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG); Dr. Hannah Carter, Dean, UMaine Cooperative Extension, University of Maine; Catherine Wygant Fossett, Executive Director Institute for Family Owned Businesses; and the Governor’s Appointed Ex-Officio Directors Carlos Mello, Finance Authority of Maine and Deborah Johnson, Director, Office of Community Development at the Maine Dept. of Economic and Community Development.

MDF owes special gratitude and recognition to our outgoing Board Chair, Al Raymond, Vice President – Chief Compliance Officer, AVANGRID, Inc., for his steadfast and compassionate leadership during the ongoing pandemic.

Hallowell, Maine — October 12, 2021 — The Maine Development Foundation (MDF), is thrilled to announce our 2021 Champion Award winners. These awards recognize outstanding, innovative leadership toward economic improvement and recovery during the ongoing pandemic, and in the drive for systemic change toward equity and inclusion.

“These awards honor individuals, organizations, and businesses who are involved day in and day out in innovative and critical work that is helping Mainers adapt, respond, and rise above the challenges of the ongoing pandemic while also driving the necessary systemic change to bring about an equitable, inclusive Maine economy,” says Yellow Light Breen, MDF’s President and CEO. “These efforts led by our awardees represent actionable and scalable methods to ensure Maine continues to be a great place to live and work for all.”

MDF proudly bestowed the following awards before a virtual audience of 200 during “Maine Rising: MDF’s 43^rd Annual Meeting and Champion Award Celebration” held virtually via Livestream on September 24, 2021:

2021 Champion of Education and Workforce Development to Strengthen LA for their commitment to supporting professional and educational attainment goals of working age Mainers, helping meet the workforce development needs of employers, and for creating safe space to discuss and act on systemic change toward equity and inclusion. Strengthen LA is an initiative of the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, spearheaded by Chamber President and CEO Shanna Cox, and Workforce Program Manager Delan Fulgham.

2021 Champion of Rural Economic Development to Andy Hamilton, Economic Development Attorney with  Eaton Peabody and a member of the FOR/Maine Coalition Steering Committee, for his three decades of work with municipal governments, state and federal policymakers, community organizations, businesses, and individuals to stabilize local economies in times of crisis and to provide legal and technical assistance so they can diversify and grow.

2021 William F. King, Jr., Downtown Champion Award to Greg Paxton, Retired Executive Director of Maine Preservation for his decades-long guidance, technical assistance, and unabashed enthusiasm for preservation-based economic development and community investment in Maine downtowns. Greg has helped dozens of Maine downtown communities turn a vision of a vibrant, prosperous, and socially connected historic downtown into a reality.

2021 ICL Distinguished Alum Award to Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State and a member of ICL’s Xi Class, for her career of service to protecting human rights, working tirelessly for multi-partisan solutions to longstanding issues, and dedication to an equitable, inclusive Maine culture and economy.

2021 Kenneth M. Curtis Leadership Award to Kevin Hancock, Chairman & CEO of Hancock Lumber and a member of Leadership Maine’s Lambda Class, for his career-long dedication to an employee-led, “inside-out” culture for the company, and helping non-profits, communities, and Maine establish a shared leadership approach to economic development.

2021 President’s Award to the MDF Staff for their unwavering dedication and support of individuals, organizations, businesses, and communities as they navigated the challenges and trauma of the pandemic, and for their ongoing commitment to build an equitable, inclusive Maine economy.

The event also featured stirring, inspirational, and action-oriented Keynote Speeches by Lisa Sockabasin, Director of Wabanaki Public Health, and a member of the Passamaquoddy Nation, and Tae Chong, Director of Multicultural Markets and Strategies for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Watch Lisa’s Keynote Speech. Watch Tae’s Keynote Speech.

A terrific, in-depth story about how the Town of Lisbon is benefitting from a $60,000 grant through Maine Community Foundation and MDF’s Maine Downtown Center. Read the full story: https://www.sunjournal.com/2021/09/29/moxie-hub-offers-resources-to-help-local-entrepreneurs-and-creatives-grow-their-businesses/