On Wednesday, December 11, Governor Janet Mills released her 10-year economic development strategy for Maine. If you haven’t already, you can read more in-depth information about it starting on page 1 of this edition.

The strategic plan creates a blueprint for economic growth in our state that builds on the state’s opportunities and reinforces the need for talent and innovation. It is the product of many months of thoughtful deliberation with input from a broad cross-section of stakeholders, experts, employers, employees, and lawmakers. It is realistic, achievable, comprehensive, and inclusive.

Airing live the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m., “The Bottom Line” builds upon our previous television program with the same name. The Bottom Line features a variety of guests and highlights the various priority areas of the Chamber and issues of importance to Maine’s business community and economy.

Ensuring that 60 percent of Mainers obtain a post-high school credential of value can't be accomplished without involving everyone here
 
EDITOR’S NOTE: This Special to the Press Herald was written by Katherine Johnston and Megan Diver and published on November 26, 2019. We have reprinted it below and it appears online at pressherald.com/2019/11/26/commentary-helping-diverse-students-thrive-is-an-economic-imperative-for-maine.
 
Maine has a long history of welcoming diverse populations who have come to Maine from all parts of the world seeking opportunity, community and quality of life. Today, Maine is seeing our school-age population diversify rapidly. That is why our organizations, Educate Maine and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, recently partnered on a report titled “Helping Diverse Students Thrive,” in which we look at the unique challenges students from diverse backgrounds face, and specific strategies to make sure Maine is welcoming and supporting diverse learners as best we can. The success of all students, including diverse learners, is not only the right thing to do, it is an economic imperative for Maine.

Calling the growth of Maine’s economy one of our state’s highest priorities, Governor Janet Mills unveiled the State’s new 10-year strategic economic development plan. The non-partisan plan, which is the first of its kind in more than two decades, aims to foster collaboration among the public, private, non-profit, and education sectors to grow and diversify Maine’s economy. It establishes three overarching goals, recommends seven core strategies, and then outlines numerous concrete actions to achieve that growth.

The statewide sessions bring comments from businesses and workers
 
For the past two months, the Maine Department of Labor has been holding listening sessions around the state for the purposes of collecting information and comments from both business owners and employees concerning Maine’s new “paid time off” (PTO) law, which was passed by the legislature this past session and signed into law by the governor. The listening sessions are in advance of rulemaking that the department is tasked with undertaking in 2020. The rules will form the backbone of the law and fill in many of the details purposely left out in statute. The listening sessions and rulemaking are in anticipation of the law becoming “live” for any business with more than 10 employees in 2021.

Governor also unveils the recently completed Blaine House solar installation, which is expected to provide a quarter of the house’s electric supply
 
Joined by state officials, legislators and solar installers on November 26, 2019, Governor Janet Mills signed an Executive Order directing state government agencies to lead by example in pursing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability measures, all of which are expected to reduce operational costs and reduce state government’s carbon emissions. To underscore her Administration’s commitment to these goals, Governor Mills unveiled the recently completed solar panel installation at the Blaine House. Comprised of solar panels on the garage roof and a GPS sun-tracking mount, the installation is expected to provide a quarter of the Blaine House’s electricity.