PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage noted a change in attitudes about the Maine “brand” during his opening remarks to about 40 business and economic development leaders gathered Friday at Northern Maine Community College for a job creation workshop.
“At one point in time, maybe a couple of decades ago, Maine had a solid brand,” said LePage, who hosted the event, adding that he felt that reputation had “slipped” over the years. He said that he wanted the state to capture that reputation once more.
“I despise average,” he told the group. “And the reason I despise it is because you are just as close to the bottom as you are to the top.”
LePage said his office has completed surveys to determine common concerns.
“There are three [concerns] that keep coming up all the time,” he said. “And they are health care, energy and work skills.”
Breakout sessions were set up to discuss those topics and other themes. The media was not allowed to attend the breakout sessions, as officials said that they wanted attendees to be able to speak freely about proprietary information.
“These workshops have proven extremely useful in making Maine more business-friendly,” LePage said.
The four-hour event in Presque Isle focused on Maine’s agricultural sectors and was attended by multiple representatives from various state departments, including Agriculture Commissioner Walter Whitcomb, Environmental Protection Commissioner Pattie Aho and Labor Commissioner Robert Winglass.
Among the workshop participants were Alan Theriault and his son, Nathan Theriault, both of Eagle Lake, who operate Eagle Lake Sporting Camps and offer tours and guide services.
Alan Theriault said shortly after the workshop, which ended about noon, that he attended because he was interested in working with the state to relieve regulatory impediments to development. He said he found LePage “very responsive.”
“He was obviously interested in economic development and creating jobs.”
Nathan Theriault agreed, saying that he felt LePage was interested in seeing small businesses succeed.
“I think we are leaving with a renewed sense of accomplishments that we can work to remove impediments to our business,” the younger Theriault added.
In Oct. 2011, LePage announced that he planned to host a series of workshops with business leaders and state officials to discuss Maine’s economy and ways the state can improve policy to assist job creation. The primary areas of focus are on regulatory reform, workforce development and marketing the Maine brand.
The Presque Isle session was the third such event. The fourth and final workshop of the summer will be held in August and focus on Maine’s forestry sector.
On Friday, the governor noted The County’s “rich agricultural history” and said he wants to help the industry grow.
According to statistics provided by LePage’s office, Maine’s agricultural sector has provided an average of 17,000 jobs annually over the past five years, although the number fluctuates depending on the season. The state’s agriculture and farming industries produced approximately $500 million last year alone.
In 2010, Maine farmers planted 55,000 acres of potato crop, yielding a potato harvest worth $140 million — accounting for about 23 percent of the state’s total agricultural production. A large percentage of potato, small grains and hay crops are grown in The County.
LePage plans to be in Aroostook County on Friday and Saturday to participate in an array of events, including the Maine Potato Board Annual Industry Dinner on July 20 and the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, which started on July 14 and runs through July 22.
Interesting isn’t it? LePage is in the “County” talking about job creation which he claims is the primary focus of his administration. While LePage is “talking” about job creation new unemployment data from The US Dept of Labor claims that for the sixth month in a row Maine’s unemployment rate has gone up. The rest of the Country with a few exceptions is seeing unemployment go down unlike Maine. LePage has been talking about his ability to create jobs since 2010 when he was running for Governor. Unfortunately for the citizens of Maine talking about jobs is about all LePage has done. He certainly hasn’t kept his promise of creating any. There are less jobs in Maine today then the day LePage took office.
The same could be said about Obama, but on a much grander scale.
Instead of losing 750,000 jobs monthly, under Obama, the job gains are 80 to 100,000 monthly. Of course we all wish the gains were higher.
Bush was destroying 750,000 jobs per month with his economic Depression. This went on for years.
Bush was offering incentives to companies that outsourced. We lost 17 million jobs!
He also followed Clinton. Well, after the upholstery was cleaned.
It wasn’t cleaned until Bush licked it while in one of his drunken stupors.
The difference there is that LePage has gotten everything he wanted from the legislature and still produced nothing. Obama has to deal with a useless congress that is too busy with internal fights to pass anything. What did you want Obama to do? Pass bills by himself/ Read the Constitution and learn who is responsible for paying the bills and passing laws. The Repubs said their only goal was to put Obama out of work. Repubs don’t have a clue when it comes to the working man.
Except that unemployment rates are coming down at the national level and new jobs are being created every month unlike here in Maine where unemployment is rising and the number of jobs sinking. But hey if you are all for lower personal income, like Maine has experienced under LePage, less jobs like Maine has seen under LePage and having him say things that embarrass The State of Maine, as well as support a rising unemployment rate then keep on making excuses for Tea Party LePage.
Osama Bin Laden is Dead, and General Motors is Alive,
Obama
2012
You mean goverment motors
AGI
Another Government Investment
Just as it takes time to turn around an aircraft carrier, it takes time to turn around an economy. The governor has been in office for merely 18 months. Let’s see what happens in the next 18 months if the national economy doesn’t decline in the meantime.
That’s not what he said when he was running! Besides, we have fireworks. I believe the Romans had something like “Panem et circences.” Been a long time, but that’s close…
He said he would concentrate on building a better environment for business. Tell me what he said any differently. He is not about to provide more provisions of the means of life and recreation as the Romans did simply to appease the masses. No, I believe he will only do what is necessary to save the state and taxpayers financially.
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The vulnerable are doing just fine. The governor has repeated he will do all he can to protect the vulnerable. I think he has kept his promise so far.
007’d
Jobs, jobs, jobs, was, I believe, the mantra.
007
If you are not happy with the governor’s performance when the next gubernatorial election occurs, then vote for someone else. In the meantime I believe the governor is trying to save a ship that started sinking long before he was installed as governor.
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The legalization of fireworks had nothing to do with the governor’s plan for the Maine economy. Besides, I’m not all that thrilled about fireworks. They’re very dangerous to use.
Then don’t use them
007
How about just letting those bond issues that were voted on by the people go forward so that would create some jobs?
Then swim to the good ship Massachusetts.
0000
that actually isn’t true, if you’ve looked at the figures, the unemployment rate when LePage took office January 2011 was 8%, and has never gone about 8% while LePage has been in office. Also the State of Maine has risen from rank #40 to #35 in the national list of business friendly states.
That’s because they only count the people on unemployment – not the ones who still had no job when they fell off the books.
Correct didn’t consider that, but you have to at least concede to the point he did inherit a crappy state of affairs taking over for Baldacci. If people are going to use the that for Obama, same can be said for LePage. Oh no I’m using a progressive’s argument…that’s what I get for reading from the Bangor Daily.
In December of 2011 Maine’s unemployment rate was 7 percent. It has been rising ever since. It is now 7.5 percent. If you want to call that going down okay, but I am sure most people who can actually read and think will understand that it is rising.
Also the State of Maine has risen from rank #40 to #35 in the national list of business friendly states.
You believe That?
That and a Case of Coffee will open a Starbucks, (RRRRRRight)
He has created jobs. One for his daughter and another for another family member. Besides,they had to pay someone to take that mural down. that ought to count for something. Other than that – not so much
The rest of the Country with a few exceptions — Wisconsin,——With another Tea Party Austerity Wingnut Governor!
JUst food for thought. Do you have the stats on the amount of people that have move in from other states that jump onto Maine’s unemployment and receive welfare? I think if you researched this it would be more then what the unemployment rate that has gone up.
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Maines Unemployment is a paltry sum compared to Massachusets. It wouldn’t even afford you a bus ride there!
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welcome to politics … they all do.
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Under Grandebouche we have been very much less than average.
Average? Don’t worry LePage. You put Maine fighting for the last place position, with Mississippi in most economic and educational categories.
I find it so funny that in 2010 republicans ran on Job Creation, now in 2012 they yell about all the jobs not being created.
86’d
And he’s worried about the “Maine Brand”? He’s doing a great job in diminishing it with his foot-in-mouth disease.
“At one point in time, maybe a couple of decades ago, Maine had a solid
brand,” said LePage, who hosted the event, adding that he felt that
reputation had “slipped” over the years. He said that he wanted the
state to capture that reputation once more.
What does he base this assertion on? I can’t think of a single Maine brand that does not have as good or better reputation than ever. LL Bean – check; Maine Lobster – check; Maine blueberries – check; Maine potatoes – check; Maine Maple Syrup – check; Maine crafts – check; Maine Milk – check; Maine Craft beers – check; Maine seafood – check; Maine beaches – check; Maine State Parks – check; Maine Whoopie Pies – check; Maine Moxie – check; ETC. ETC. ETC.
As my mother would say, “What in Sam Hill is he talking about?”
Maine became and still is the place where out of state businesses go to raid technology and take it back somewhere else.
Apparently you completely misunderstood his statement. He ment collectively, the “Maine” brand is a dead product. What is appealing about our state? The mentioned products and companies you listed have either outsourced a lot of their labor or their market is waning. The term “Made in Maine” is not what it use to mean.
Grandebouche just talks. He doesn’t have to actually say anything. a catch-phrase here, an insult there, a sweeping generalization finale. He is only playing to his base. No new folks will clamber aboard this Maritime shipwreck.
He said on 103.9 this morning that southern New England wants to “keep Aroostok County people obese, stupid, and poor”.
I hope he issued a clarification later.
Maine had a great brand image until the Tea party clowns and their dufus leader, Paul Lepage replaced it with their own stupid sadistic face.
The best thing LePage could do for Maine would be to quit his job and go back to Florida. He couldn’t run an ice cream stand.
he was the General Manager of Marden’s and Mayor of Waterville from ’03 – ’11…just a “little” step up from running an ice cream stand. He lowered taxes, and increased the city’s rainy day fund balance from $1 million to $10 million..
Gee That’s great! Maybe he should go back there
Actually Waterville is a step down from an Ice cream Stand!
To gsgofer , Maine has next to nothing for technology and never did. You want technology you go to California Washington or Oregon. Most of Maine’s Antiquated Industry is either dead or dying. We can’t even keep our trains on the tracks over 5 MPH.
Really? Because what I see are family farms in the county not getting their contracts renewed and shutting down because they can’t compete with the bigger farms. “Opened for Business” — yeah, but which ones?
LePage said that his office has completed surveys to find out what residents are concerned about.
“There are three [concerns] that keep coming up all the time,” he said. “And they are health care, energy and work skills.”
Work skills? How about we need a niche before we can worry about work skills. Currently there are no jobs to fill, no matter how “skilled” the workforce is up in the county. Farming use to be our income generator, but now it’s not. Until we can find a niche for the county and become relevent again, all efforts of broadening our “work skills” is hopeless.
He certainly isn’t average! Much closer to the bottom! AND with the BS this man can throw, he certainly should be supplying the counties farmers with plenty of fertilizer! Go back to Mardens IF they will have you….I know I sure don’t! You have made us the laughing stock of the nation with your ignorant manners and comments!
What do you believe is a better course of action for the county? How do you suppose do you plan to fix the county’s struggling situation? Do you have any bright ideas?
Actually, yes I do. #1. Get someone other than Lepage in office. #2. Find someone that VALUES hard working Mainers instead of catering to outsiders #3. Read through the BDN, do you see the people that are scamming the welfare system, the people who come here from Somalia and other nations, making a mockery of the welfare system ( us taxpayers!) Ship their butts back to wherever they came from…and any assets that they acquired while stealing from the system…turn back into the state coffers to help the truly needy. #4. The dopers…those headed to the methadone clinics, getting their fix at tax payers expense……use the money instead to open a 30 day cold turkey rehab. They get their 30 days, and then either sink or swim. The $ they get reimbursed for travel? First off, if there are 6 people in 1 van, making the trip, then why do all 6 get reimbursed for expenses….its not like the van is costing 6 times are much to deliver them! #5. if someone that is of working age applies for welfare or general assistance….give them a hand. BUT, make them work for it……scrub headstones at the cemetery….read to the elderly at the nursing homes….children at the library….have them apprentice so as to learn a trade so they are self reliant….help the elderly clean their homes or winterize for winter….plant and take care of community gardens….can food under proper supervision for the food pantries.
yes and let’s all sing kumbaya by the camp fire. While a lot of those ideas would help eliminate expenses in the state budget, it does not promote long term sustainability. JOBS. What are you going to do about JOBS. Currently, the state is in a rut that we have no sustainable source of income. Casinos are flourished the Bangor area (while some may contest they have brought a drug habit) none the less flourished the surrounding areas tourism. Other then that, what do we have to provide to the world as a state? Not much. We need to become innovative. Be come a state of invention and design. Take Jackson Lab for example. They are testing new products on the regular. It is advancement like that we need to find.
I have to disagree with you Justin, concerning some of my ideas sounds simplistic, perhaps sometimes solutions can be simple.
IF we can get people off the welfare system, it will help reduce taxes. We, as a society in Maine are taxed to death. Our taxes go to support the welfare system….support through the metadone clinics for dopers. If we could save $ to rebuild our economy by doing away or at least reducing some of these programs we MIGHT be able to lower taxes. By lowering taxes, there would be an incentive for business to come into the state. The taxpayers would have more money to spend for things they want or need instead of paying it in taxes to support dopers and bums.
The “volunteer ” readings for children, that might actually help children learn, and gain knowledge…let some of these children know that there is a better way to live their lives than like their mom and dads who are sponging off the system…using drugs……break the cycle of welfare.
The apprentice programs? Perhaps if some of these young people who cannot afford to go to college. have an option of learning a trade they may not need the welfare..again, LOWER taxes.
yep…lets sing sing around the campfire eating smores….might actually be fun
Keep up the great work Mr. Lepage…
As far as the ability to create jobs, you need new ideas,some ideas already in place but needing some changes & put these on the table. Theres a lot that can be done,but if you don’t see them, your wasting your time. Business leaders have the same old ideas that no longer work,so nothing changes. The top three concerns could be solved & would be glad to sit withn Mr Le page to go threw them. I been following these stories & post & to say the lease, none of the ideas haven’t come up since the begin. If your reading this Mr Le page, pick your day & we can talk. No news crews & a open mine is all thats needed.