AUGUSTA, Maine — State officials on Tuesday said four communities have received the “Certified Business-Friendly” designation during the latest round of approvals.
The four latest communities chosen for the recognition are Ellsworth, Fairfield, Kennebunk and Topsham. Their addition brings to 18 the total number of Maine communities participating in the program.
The state in October announced it was considering five communities for the designation. Of those five, Lubec was the only one that did not meet the criteria for the designation.
Certification is determined by a team of public and private economic development experts, which reviews each municipality’s application and judges it against various criteria, including customer service, involvement and collaboration with the business community, public input and licensing and permitting, according to the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Drew Morris, spokesman for the DECD, acknowledged that Lubec did not succeed this time around in earning the certification, but was optimistic about its prospects during future rounds.
“I know DECD Commissioner George Gervais had a great talk with the town and is encouraged that Lubec will reapply, hopefully in the next round,” Morris said. “Lubec has a well-established Revolving Loan Fund with great examples on how it is utilized effectively. The town has in place other community programs, and we’re certain that as they provide examples of how those programs help businesses, they’ll be successful in receiving certification.”
Morris added that it’s the program’s goal to have every Maine community be certified as business friendly, and that one of the benefits of the application process is that communities are prompted to look critically at their business development efforts.
Calls to the Lubec town office late Tuesday afternoon went unanswered.
The state offered the following details about the four communities that will receive the designation:
• Ellsworth, which was applying for the second time, was recognized “for its significant efforts to proactively address business concerns regarding traffic congestion issues,” as well as the programs it offers related to skill enhancement and workforce development.
• Fairfield was rewarded for its efforts to network and collaborate “with regional economic and community development entities, such as the Central Maine Growth Council, on a broad range of development initiatives.”
• Kennebunk, which also was applying after previously failing to pass muster, apparently impressed the judges with its “active and involved Economic Development Committee” that used approximately $2 million in Community Development Program Grant funds for infrastructure and facade enhancements.
• Topsham received certification because it has a “full-time economic and community development director and its own economic development corporation,” as well as “its proactive use of TIFs to retain and recruit businesses.”
Communities deemed business-friendly are presented with a certificate, a DOT-sanctioned “Open for Business” road sign, recognition on the DECD’s website, and become a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy, according to the DECD.
Kennebunk seems to be very business friendly.
Here is what is wrong with Skowhegan’s business community
Take the downtown area
Have a non stop,24/7/365 parade of bumper to bumper,LOUD, tractor trailers,log trucks,oil tanker trucks,and other traffic going in and out and around the downtown Skowhegan area streets and other business areas in town
Now add to the mix: about 50 redneck 20-year old-something intoxicated losers that live at home with their mommies,driving around endlessly in the downtown Skowhegan area and other business areas in town but not going anywhere in their pickup trucks,often looking to buy or sell POT, while harassing lone single woman driving alone in vehicles. When they get bored driving, they go into local Skowhegan businesses and cause scenes.
That is Skowhegan’s downtown and why the only businesses that survive in Skowhegan ‘s unfriendly business community are the businesses that sell vices,early-life heart attack fast foods and used clothing.
You live there. What are you doing to make it better, or would you just rather b i t c h about it?
The town spent tens of thousand of dollars to a firm,trying to figure out what is wrong with Skowhegan, I gave a free analysis.
Besides, Jan1st, i am an official CapeCod resident.
As they say, ” don’t let the door hit ya in the arse on the way out”. I heard there’s plenty of good reefer down on the cape. Good luck.
the state has a 3 strikes and your out mandatory life sentence for criminals. the state has Workfare not welfare. EBT recipients can not buy booze,lottery tickets,drugs,or POT. .The state has had 4 republican governors in the past 20 years. Last but not least, the towns are still predominately white. Doesnt seem like a liberal state.
On CC, it seldom goes under 32 in the winter,ie dont have to spend $1000s of dollars on heat,by a new car instead.
……
‘3 strikes and your out’ with flaws is better than ’50 strikes and still released from jail on probation’ from maine courts
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Maine has become too liberal for me. even mass is less liberal nowadays
Seriously, good luck to you. I’ve kind of busted your balls off and on with my replies, and you’ve always taken it graciously.
CC is the place to be. Lots of ex mainers down there
Incidentally, There are more Republicans in Ma. than the entire population of Me. Wealthy Liberals seem to want them around
Did Lubec forget to put up their moronic “Open For Business” sign?
Talk about a waste of taxpayer money. Towns spend staff time and money preparing information to be presented to and reviewed by State employees. The end result is that no company will choose a town based on this designation. Bangor and Portland have chosen not to play this stupid game. It would be more beneficial to have Augusta redesignated as a ” mural friendly city.” That would send a real message.
And all they get for it is a cheesy little sign from the mighty Lepage? Hardly worth the time, money, and effort.