Can U.S. economic growth continue forever? The economist Robert J. Gordon doubts that the country is innovating at a rate that will match the last 250 years. Even if Americans continue innovating at the same rate of the two decades prior to 2007, the country will still face six specific challenges that will drag down […]
Archive | Growing Maine’s Economy
Current Focus
Training ME: Hard questions about the University of Maine are being asked amid another budget crisis. The community college system is successful, but even so, the state still lacks the workforce it needs. What must change about higher education in Maine to be sustainable and develop the workers of tomorrow?
What these 3 innovators need to succeed
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusThree Maine-based innovators will present their business ideas at the free Big Gig pitch-off on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The networking event, with food and a cash bar, will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business at Husson University in Bangor. The local entrepreneurs have already won […]
More people are celebrating Maine’s sense of place
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusIt’s always a pleasure to hear how a particular Maine Focus piece prompts someone to do something. You might remember the project we did in mid-January called My Maine Culture where people across the state sent in images and descriptions of what Maine means to them. We published 50 of them. It turns out the project inspired a similar effort […]
How can Maine communities support older residents? Send us your ideas
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusWe’d appreciate your feedback! On Friday, Maine Focus published the first piece in a yearlong series on aging in Maine called Age of Opportunity. The series will highlight people, organizations, towns and businesses that are helping keep older residents safe, healthy and happy. Our first piece told the story of At Home Downeast, a first-of-its-kind […]
The results: Top 5 ideas to grow Maine
Growing Maine's Economy Maine Focus Project AnnouncementsWe asked for your thoughts on what specific steps should happen to grow Maine’s economy, and you responded. In November, a total of 2,066 people took a Maine Focus survey to give their feedback on which economic development ideas deserve priority. We put forward 20 economic initiatives that have been proposed in one form or another […]
What you love about Maine
Growing Maine's Economy Maine Focus Project AnnouncementsWe asked you to share what Maine means to you, and you did. Here are 50 digital postcards that capture your sense of place and Maine pride.
What if Maine actually met its biggest challenges head on? Here’s a chance to have a say
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusWe’re asking you to get the conversation going about Maine’s economic future.
What should Maine do to draw more people here?
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusFluid Imaging Technologies, which manufactures a first-of-its-kind imaging particle analyzer, has been growing — and fast. In addition to attracting lots of capital, it has doubled its number of employees in the past year. But one thing has CEO Kent Peterson, and others across Maine, worried. How will the state address its population decline and its anticipated […]
A new way of preparing Maine’s future workforce?
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusThere are all sorts of ways to get kids prepared for life after high school. But what would you do if your school didn’t have a computer science class, and you knew information technology employees would be in high demand in the future? Machias Memorial High School Principal Brian Leavitt decided to partner with Susan […]
‘It doesn’t mean [Maine] doesn’t have a lot to offer:’ Forbes editor on Maine’s last-place business ranking
Growing Maine's Economy Maine FocusI blogged about this over at my own blog, but am re-blogging it here because the Forbes list, and its place in our conversation about Maine’s economy, is central to what we’re trying to do with MaineFocus. Have you heard of Kurt Badenhausen? No? He’s the guy we all love to hate. Kurt is a senior […]