John Fernandez, a top economic offical from the Obama administration tours southern Maine with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree

“It’s not just about recovery but it’s also about accelerating the transition to a 21st century economy. And it’s important for me to get out of Washington and see what’s happening on Main Street,” said Fernandez.

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Like it’s namesake bird, the Kestrel JP-10 turboprop is highly maneuverable due to its streamlined, sleek design and lightweight yet strong composite body. It can land on grass or gravel with short runways and fly at high altitudes at maximum cruise speeds. And the company owners of Kestrel Aircraft chose Maine over anywhere else in the world to start to manufacture their new aircraft.

“Maine has exactly what we need; it’s where we want to be,” said Kestrel CEO Alan Klapmeier. “When it comes right down to it, it’s about productivity and expertise. With the training going on here in composites, we will have the workforce we’ve been looking for. And we believe that Maine people have an outstanding work ethic; that’s why we decided to locate here.”

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During the 34th Conference of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers being held in Lenox, Massachusetts on July 12-13, 2010 Governor John E. Baldacci signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham to establish a Maine-New Brunswick Cultural Initiative.

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PlumChoice today announced it has entered into a partnership with Southern Maine Community College and Maine Quality Centers, both part of the Maine Community College System, in an initiative to train and employ 350 Maine residents as work-at-home service technicians. The effort, facilitated by the non-profit economic development group Maine & Company, is funded by a $550,000 Maine Quality Center grant that will provide customer service and certified Microsoft and Apple systems training at no cost to accepted students.

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Governor John E. Baldacci today joined representatives from the Nordic Heritage Center, the Maine Winter Sports Center, the U.S. Biathlon Association and the Libra Foundation to announce that Maine will be hosting two 2011 Biathlon World Cup events.

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Gov. Baldacci signs his Quality of Place legislation while the Quality Place Counci looks on {photo R. du Houx)

Maine has quality of place assets not many New England states offer. Artists and writers have flocked to the state for centuries inspired by the state’s mountains, lakes, and over three thousand miles of coastline. Industries were created in the state using Maine’s natural assets. Hydropower generated the energy to sustain mills that utilized the state’s forests, last century.

Since Governor John Baldacci has been in office, mills are being transformed to produce energy from their waste becoming more efficient and productive. In the past seven years 1.3million more acres of forest lands have been preserved. Maine now has sustainable forests for future generations to enjoy and prosper from. An energized push to promote the state’s natural assets for tourism has been underway. And with the governor’s focus on building the creative economy Maine’s downtowns continue to be revived, as buildings are being restored, innovators are setting up unique shops, and an abundance of restaurants and cafes are welcoming customers.

“Quality of place is really about jobs. Maine’s quality of place has always been the foundation for jobs in Maine; whether it was our fishing, farming, and papermaking industries that located here because of our natural resources or businesses that came here because of our distinctive communities. A major objective of the council is to maintain our quality of place for jobs now, and in the future,” said Martha Freeman, Director of the State Planning Office.

Two years ago Gov. John Baldacci signed an Executive Order establishing Maine’s Quality of Place Council. In March a new law, An Act to Create Regional Quality of Place Investment Strategies for High-value Jobs, Products, and Services in Maine, established the council, permanently.

The Council, in consultation with economic development districts, will help establish standards and guidelines for regional quality of place investment strategies.

“Maine is a unique place, and what is special about Maine is also the foundation of our future prosperity,” said Governor Baldacci. “Our downtowns, culture, livable communities, natural beauty and recreational assets give Maine a strong competitive edge in today’s global economy. Maine’s special character helps us retain and attract the skilled workers we need for our economy to grow.”

With the work the Baldacci administration has done with broadband Maine is building a comprehensive broadband infrastructure, utilizing recovery act funds for the initiative. Broadband makes it possible for people, working in the global economy to live and work from home. These skilled professionals have the freedom to live where they choose.

“One of the pieces of research the council did was a study that fund workers who have skills they can use anywhere, because of the technology, are attracted to areas with a strong quality of place. They look for good schools, recreation opportunities, a clean environment with safe wonderful communities, and Maine has all that in abundance. Our goal is to attract more people to Maine, to grow the economy and increase incomes,” said Freeman.

In 2009 the state began an effort to map all of its assets working with economic development agencies in every country. From workforce skills to quality of place attributes this new profile of Maine will help communities take advantage of their natural assets. The initiative called Mobilze Maine is working with the Quality of Place council. Mobilize Maine relies on people in local communities taking part in discussions to promote their region. It’s the first time an effort like this has been undertaken by the state.

“I truly believe that the special character of Maine’s people, Maine’s communities and Maine’s natural resources are powerful economic drivers. It will take more hard work to realize the prosperity that Maine’s quality of place promises,” said the Governor. “We must now turn to the work of investing in and marketing these assets effectively working with Mobilize Maine. Working locally and regionally developing what is needed economically to grow and use Maine’s quality of place, will grow jobs and incomes. We must continue to shape Maine government and Maine’s economic and workforce development strategies to target investment in our quality of place assets.”

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, led an effort to retain adequate funding for federal economic development efforts.

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Congresswoman Chellie Pingree announced on January 22, 2010, that $4.8 billion in stimulus funds is available in a second round of grants and loans to expand broadband access in rural areas across the country.

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Governor Baldacci delivers his State of the State address. photos by Ramona du Houx

In his speech, the Governor said that in these challenging times, Maine people rise to the occasion, and that working together, Maine will have a more secure future.

“Despite the difficulties we face, the hard choices and hard work ahead, the next chapter in Maine’s history will be one of resurgence, growth and opportunity,” said the Governor. “The choices we make will help to determine which way Maine goes.”

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