Coalition Says June Bonds Will Create Jobs, Build Economy, and Help Communities
SOUTH PORTLAND - Leaders of Maine's University System and biomedical research community have announced the formation of the Maine Economic Growth Coalition to promote passage of two bond proposals on the June 11 ballot.
Question #1 is a $25.5 million bond proposal to provide funds for school renovations, sprinkler systems, and other community-based needs and improvements. Question #2 is a $34.9 million proposal targeting a variety of job-related investments in manufacturing, biomedical research, tourism, and economic and community development capital projects.
Speaking at a news conference held last month (5/15) at Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland, University of Southern Maine President Richard Pattenaude and Warren Cook, president of research systems at The Jackson Laboratory, said that passage of bond questions 1 and 2 would provide a variety of benefits throughout the state.
"Maine is losing jobs because of plant closings and a lack of working capital and technical resources to keep those businesses and others operating and employing, at competitive levels," said Pattenaude." The bonds, he said, "will help ensure that we have quality jobs, stronger communities and economic growth."
Question #2 includes $9 million so that the USM and the University of Maine can provide critical educational and technical assistance services to Maine manufacturers.
More than 70 businesses from Caribou to Kittery have told the universities that lack of access to advanced manufacturing technologies is a major impediment to economic growth and job creation and retention. In response, the universities developed a joint manufacturing assistance program but current facilities cannot handle the demand.
Passage of Question #2 would help fund the needed campus-based facilities, including a 20,000-square-foot Technology Assistance and Training Facility to be added to the John Mitchell Center on USM's Gorham campus.
Representing the biomedical community, Cook said that passage of the bond proposals will create good-paying jobs in clean, high-tech industries such as research and development. He said the approach outlined in the proposals has tried successfully in other states.
"We know it works," Cook said. "It does provide jobs, not just any job, but high quality jobs that will allow Maine's young people to stay here in Maine for their careers."
Noting that several elements of Question #2 will allow Maine to qualify for millions of dollars in federal grants, Cook gave examples of his own industry's experience.
"We have created about 200 jobs, training opportunities for hundreds more, and -- in our first efforts -- have brought in about $60 million dollars in federal grants," he explained. "The money we have brought in has generated more than $33 million
in construction activity, which supported 300 jobs. "All in all, biomedical construction alone accounted for 574 jobs and $17.8 million in payroll in Maine -- all outside the laboratory!"
Kirk Pond, chief executive officer of Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland, hosted the news conference and expressed his support for the two bond proposals. Pond, whose company employs many USM and UMaine graduates in technical and management positions, said that state investment in schools, advanced manufacturing, research and development, and small business assistance will help provide the kind of quality jobs that will have long-lasting economic benefits.
"The bond proposals have several elements," said Pattenaude. "Each element offers something of value to Maine's economy, the creation of jobs, and community improvement. With the low interest rates currently available, now is a smart time to
invest in these important opportunities."
A similar news conference was held in Brewer where University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal joined Cook at ZF Lemforder Corp., a manufacturing facility that has worked successfully with UMaine on technology and manufacturing projects.
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