The Maine Economic Research Institute, (MERI), announced today it is re-establishing its research and reporting on key state economic policies, legislation, and state legislator votes. Guided by Maine’s Economic Development Strategy, MERI provides non-partisan, objective information on the economic impact of state policies and legislative proposals, as well as state legislator votes. MERI’s goal is to improve economic policy development in Maine; and strengthen Maine’s business climate, competitiveness, and overall economy.

This July, Maine will be hosting the National Governor’s Association Annual Summer Meeting. This conference will bring together all the U.S. Governors, as well as approximately 600 additional attendees. We fully expect attendees to expand their trip into a vacation.

Employees can play a meaningful role in mental health education and outreach among their peers in addition to the employer’s efforts. Promoting mental health in the workplace needs to take place at all levels and throughout the year until it becomes a part of the company culture.

The recognition of the hazards of fluorinated compounds of emerging concern known as “PFAS” and their presence in wastewater and industrial effluent streams has raised legitimate concerns about land spreading of industrial and wastewater sludge.

Airing live at 10:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month, The Bottom Line podcast features a wide variety of guests and presents interviews relevant to public policy priorities both in state and nationally, to economic recovery efforts of the pandemic, and to other significant issues of interest to Maine’s business community.

Earlier this week, the Legislature passed to be enacted LD 1923, An Act To Establish the Maine Space Corporation. Introduced by Sen. Mattie Daughtry (D-Cumberland), this bill had a list of bipartisan cosponsors. LD 1923 received a strong bipartisan vote in the Legislature, passing unanimously in the Maine House of Representatives, and by a vote of 23-7 in the Maine State Senate. The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is in strong support of LD 1923, and we thank all legislators who voted in support of this bill. We look forward to Governor Mills signing this into law when it reaches her desk.