yeah, but how does it work?

While economic development is a great concept, getting under it's hood to see the mechanics can be a little trickier. I'm a web application programmer, I make my livelihood by writing programs than can be incredibly complex; by nature I like to know how things tick.

One of the Magnet's guiding principles is to connect innovative professionals. In the first couple of years I lived here I met one other programmer, and that was only because our kids go to the same school and our wives were chatting and happened to mention something about "my husband does something crazy with programming." Not the most direct or ideal way to make a connection.

It was not that I hadn't tried to make contact with others, I had, but without a social or professional introduction it was hard to establish context. Email threads back and forth faded or were lost in a crunch time.

Since getting involved with the Magnet and meeting up with Maggi Blue, I've established strategic relationships with creative services firm Ariel Creative and local-grown-though-now-out-of-state Flash and PHP hacker Klick 175.

Both of these relationships are growing my client base both in Maine and out-of-state. I particularly like the out-of-state roster since income that I generate through non-Maine work is a pure cash injection into the local economy.

Especially interesting to me is the fact that Brian Wilson at 3 Islands Press is one of the folks that I had initially contacted. We talked about getting together for coffee, but it just never worked out. Brian's on the Magnet's board of advisors and after meeting in person within the context of the Magnet, we've totally hit it off and will soon be meeting to talk about ways we can work together.

So, how is the Magnet accomplishing that sometimes enigmatic goal of economic development? If my experience is any indication, part of it is simply providing the social and professional context for otherwise isolated innovators to connect. And quite simply, it's already working; I for one am very excited to see how in what ways it can scale out moving forward.

human glue

Anyone that's been a part of an organization, particularly one in the start up phase knows that for anything that actually gets done there are key people that make that thing possible. Those people are the human glue that hold the organization together and keep it moving forward.

Sometimes they are in leadership roles, though just as often they're down in the trenches producing deliverables or connecting these producers at a very granular level.

In March 2006 the Magnet celebrated its (more or less) first birthday. The idea of the Magnet was conceived earlier than March 2005, but that's about the time it reached critical mass.

In those early days there were a lot of people that put in a lot of time and thought to coalesce the idea and concepts of the Magnet into a cohesive organization. Many of those individuals are now on our Advisory Board. One of them in particular is now on our Board of Directors.

Prior to this post she initially managed, and after Noah came on board co-directed with him the Magnet through the crucial first 10 or so months when the Magnet was literally being cobbled together through the will and passion of its founders. Through this process, Maggi Blue was the glue that held these ideas and thus the organization together.

So here's to Maggi, next time you see her buy her a non-alcoholic beverage, unless it's after September 2006 and her little one has been born. In that case, buy her a strong one =)

belties!

Yes, that's right, Belted Galloways, which are the best looking cows you ever saw. And see them, we did. This weekend was the annual Unveiling of the Baby Belties at Aldermere Farm in Rockport. It was a gorgeous day, everybody, young and old, came out and man, if that isn't the most picturesque farm in the land. What a great way to spend Saturday morning.

Besides enjoying the awesome cows, I love Aldermere Farm's example of great land stewardship. The land was carefully tended and developed for many years and now belongs to the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, which operates the working farm. When I drive between the pastures on the way from Rockport to Camden, I love knowing that I can count on that land remaining preserved (but not secluded behind walls) and worked forever.

entrepreneurs part 2

What does it take for In House Architecture + Construction to make it in the Midcoast? Here are some of Carrie's and Steve's thoughts:

Affordable (and inspiring) space - In House needed an affordable downtown office. Main Street in Rockland provided something that would have been out of reach in their recently departed San Francisco. "Where in the City could we have afforded this space?" says Carrie. The ceilings are high, the floors are original wood. Looking out big windows across Main Street, you can just about smell the coffee at Second Read.

A community that understands entrepreneurialism. Carrie launched In House from her home. It kept costs low as she built her business. Working from home would have been inconvenient and would have put her at a professional disadvantage in San Francisco's high-powered (yes, you heard me) metropolitan environment. Here in Midcoast Maine, it's what people have been doing for generations.

Pool of talent. A big pool of skilled workers is important to any small shop as it begins to grow. In House has to spend extra time and energy fishing around for the right people with the right skills at the right price. Contrast this with a metropolitan scene where entry- and mid-level workers are popping out to colleges and universities left and right. (Is this beginning to improve? You tell me. . .)

Market. Carrie says that one of the best things about setting up shop here has been the scope and scale of projects that they've landed. You can see how this would be counterintuitive to someone who still had their city glasses on. Big cities are supposed to be the places that provide opportunity and variety. But all these local projects have provided more of a range than this husband and wife team ever imagined for this stage in their careers.

More to come.