Bringing Business to the Coast
“Maine can become anything we want it to become, we just have to decide and take action.” That was the theme expressed by our four panelists at the Farnsworth on April 3rd. If Midcoast Magnet has anything to do with it, Maine’s future will grow out of a creative economy.
We tried to capture the essence of the creative economy with our entertainment for the evening, with strong representation from the technology sector, the performing arts and the visual arts. Starting out with drinks and appetizers in the Farnsworth Museum library, the evening got rolling with demonstrations of robotic technology by Stuart Rich of Spatial Robotic Solutions. This was followed by a short performance by the award winning Calliope Quartet of the Odeon Youth Chamber Orchestra. In addition, David Berez of Pen Bay Media and Post Office Editorial presented a rough cut of his film work in Iraq.
All of this provided the setting for a heartening panel discussion which included Berez; Jonathan Daniels, President of Eastern Maine Development Corporation; Matt Jacobson, CEO of Maine & Co., and John Richardson, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for the State of Maine.
Each of the speakers described their roles in helping to grow Maine’s economy. Jacobson recruits business by networking outside the state and by sponsoring the Maine Investment Exchange. Daniels focuses on bringing businesses to Eastern Maine, including Knox and Waldo counties. Richardson is responsible for economic development statewide.
All of the speakers lauded the importance of developing the creative economy. According to Richardson, the future of Maine’s economy will come from internal, organic growth, and he said that his policy work is focused on helping individual Mainers to succeed. Daniels concurred, saying, “If we do not have a creative economy, we will not be able to attract outside companies.”
All of the speakers referenced the importance of developing a cohesive political and social will to be successful. Maine has a lot to be proud of, and we should celebrate the positive, said Daniels. In the end, it comes down to attitude.
Each of the speakers referenced economic development efforts in other states. Wisconsin has attracted biotech firms, Mississippi has courted the auto industry. Both efforts have been concerted, focused campaigns to grow in a specific market. Tax policy, infrastructure, education, all of these were factors in the decision-making, but what decisive element, said Jacobson, was the attitude of the residents.If Maine is going to be a creative economy state, then we have to get the public behind the idea. Educational resources, technological infrastructure, downtown redevelopment and favorable tax policies – these are all places to focus our efforts.
We tried to capture the essence of the creative economy with our entertainment for the evening, with strong representation from the technology sector, the performing arts and the visual arts. Starting out with drinks and appetizers in the Farnsworth Museum library, the evening got rolling with demonstrations of robotic technology by Stuart Rich of Spatial Robotic Solutions. This was followed by a short performance by the award winning Calliope Quartet of the Odeon Youth Chamber Orchestra. In addition, David Berez of Pen Bay Media and Post Office Editorial presented a rough cut of his film work in Iraq.
All of this provided the setting for a heartening panel discussion which included Berez; Jonathan Daniels, President of Eastern Maine Development Corporation; Matt Jacobson, CEO of Maine & Co., and John Richardson, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development for the State of Maine.
Each of the speakers described their roles in helping to grow Maine’s economy. Jacobson recruits business by networking outside the state and by sponsoring the Maine Investment Exchange. Daniels focuses on bringing businesses to Eastern Maine, including Knox and Waldo counties. Richardson is responsible for economic development statewide.
All of the speakers lauded the importance of developing the creative economy. According to Richardson, the future of Maine’s economy will come from internal, organic growth, and he said that his policy work is focused on helping individual Mainers to succeed. Daniels concurred, saying, “If we do not have a creative economy, we will not be able to attract outside companies.”
All of the speakers referenced the importance of developing a cohesive political and social will to be successful. Maine has a lot to be proud of, and we should celebrate the positive, said Daniels. In the end, it comes down to attitude.
Each of the speakers referenced economic development efforts in other states. Wisconsin has attracted biotech firms, Mississippi has courted the auto industry. Both efforts have been concerted, focused campaigns to grow in a specific market. Tax policy, infrastructure, education, all of these were factors in the decision-making, but what decisive element, said Jacobson, was the attitude of the residents.If Maine is going to be a creative economy state, then we have to get the public behind the idea. Educational resources, technological infrastructure, downtown redevelopment and favorable tax policies – these are all places to focus our efforts.
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