Economy/Jobs
A Moody administration will renew growth and prosperity. Together, we will restore the pride in Maine’s old adage “As Maine goes, so goes the nation.”
Maine’s economic development will be a top priority. Maine spends 200 million dollars each year on economic development yet we’ve only created 56 net new jobs over the last decade. If you were to move your family to another state, you would spend a great deal of time and effort checking on employment opportunities, schools, taxes, and quality of life. Imagine what a multi-million dollar business would spend in time and resources performing due diligence before committing to a new location. Maine needs to redeploy a greater portion of that 200 million to take care of the businesses that are already here and bolster our marketing and outreach programs that boost tourism. When we’ve fostered a positive and productive business climate, word will spread, and new businesses will choose to locate in Maine…but not until we’ve taken care of the business climate, right here, right now.
Maine is a hard-working state. We are independent and diverse, caring and compassionate. My goals are clear. Together, we will restore Maine to its basic strengths – agriculture, forestry, and fishing – while embracing emerging business models and alternative energy sources. A distinguishing fact in talking to Maine business owners is many have had great success gravitating toward “niche” markets in manufacturing and machine work. We consciously create job security when we support and attract businesses that aren’t easy to relocate to another state or overseas. We will work diligently to release ourselves from the increasing regulations, oversight, and higher taxes that keep our society caught in the bondage of bureaucracy.
First day on the job, I will set the tone for our state’s workforce and will do all I can to support Maine’s businesses. Lowering energy and health care costs while increasing tax incentives will rekindle organic business growth.
There are two key components to renewed economic growth and prosperity – retention and restoration.
We will conduct “exit interviews” on businesses that have closed, relocated, or downsized. After analyzing and interviewing businesses, we will reach out to segments that we find are at risk. We will create incentives for Maine’s “micro” businesses which represent half of all Maine’s small business.
We will take an aggressive role promoting and supporting the “Buy in Maine” campaigns to strongly encourage businesses and consumers to re-ignite Maine’s economy. Again, it’s up to us to take responsibility for this crucial initiative.
We will treat our citizens and businesses like customers,
not revenue sources.
We will revamp the state’s budget process. Our current system is obsolete and does not inspire the right outcomes. We need incentives for innovating and saving. When times were good, we should have saved our surpluses. Instead, we spent our tax dollars as fast as they came in. That is just flat out inexcusable. I’m embarrassed at the lack of fiscal foresight from our state’s leadership. This will not happen on our watch! Had we been good stewards of the checkbook when times were flush, think about how far our tax dollars would go right now. When times are slow, we can put people who desperately need it to work. We can rebuild our infrastructure, but only if we have had prior fiscal foresight, discipline and responsibility to keep some money in the bank.
Endangered Species
Back in the late 1960’s, our country’s symbol of freedom and liberty, the bald eagle, was declared an endangered species. It took three decades, but once America was called to action, we succeeded in restoring the bald eagle to its position of strength.
Today, small business in the State of Maine should be treated as an endangered species. Restoring small business is one of the primary reasons I seek to become Maine’s Governor. We are small business. We have had continuous growth and success throughout three decades. Rest assured, we know how to grow! We will work with our business community to grow Maine’s economy sustainably and responsibly! There is no question in my mind economic growth is the foundation of our future. If we hope to keep our most precious resource in Maine – our young adults, our “best and brightest” – we must challenge and reward them for working and raising a family here in Maine. Let’s stop dividing our families and champion our quality of life. It’s time for us to take responsibility for our future!
I just want to say that I am very excited that Shawn is running for Governor. I worked for a small accounting firm in Gorham who Shawn dealt with and I used to do his payroll for the company that I worked for. I believe that if he is elected that he will make a change for the better for the state of Maine.
I am a single mom to 2 children ages 13 & 8, I myself have been currently unemployed for almost a year. I found out last July that I was being “let go” from my position as a medical assistant. I sent out probably 50-70 resume’s with only a handful of calls for interviews, I even had one call me back for a second. I never got any of the jobs interviewed for. I found out in October that I was being bumped up to the spring for the Nursing program at SMCC. I started my nursing classes this past spring and will continue this fall with the program. I was on the wait list for this program for 2 years. The program is wonderful, but they only take 32 students a semester and the wait list is probably over 500 students waiting for the program and this is just at SMCC. I am a strong believer that education even for us “older” students will help build a stronger Maine and hopefully when I am done with my program there will be a job for me.
Beckie Fischer
I love it!
hello!, thanks for the info, this post was really nice.
Ho..That’s right, got it
Heyy, Found your blog on Google and I will definatley be recommending and coming back to the site! =)
I have to state, you chose your words well. The ideas you wrote on your encounters are well placed. This is an incredible blog!
I’ve been checking your blog for a while now, seems like everyday I learn something new
Thanks
We get all excited about welcoming all those free spending tourists to Maine, but consider how many clean rest areas we have along the Turnpike and how much more the gas costs them at the few service areas as they travel along. Vacationland–yeah! I thought the Turnpike as supposed to be free once we paid for it anyway.
If you are not already acquainted with BALLE – The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies – I encourage you to explore their website: : http://www.livingeconomies.org
Their vision and the work they are doing speaks to the independent nature of many who live in Maine and, if their programs were implemented, would make us less dependant on large government/corporations for a good quality of life.
Good luck with your campaign.
I work at an “endangered species”. If you become Governor of Maine, how are you going to help enforce the law that prohibits insurance companies from steering customers to their “PRO SHOPS”? The insurance companies are killing small businesses and unless you join their “team” and receive substandard labor rates and “wine & dine” them, some bully the customer into going to their “PRO SHOPS”. There is a law against this, what are you gonna do to help small endangered species?
As someone who has had to move from Maine at least 3 times, and due to it’s climate economically as the major reason, I would like to state a few points that I think are necessary.
A. Rid State Government of the Biennial Budget Process: Whether it was Governors, McKernan (R) King (I) or Baldacci (D), it comes down to this. All three governors had to go back in the 2nd year of a 2 year (Biennial) Budget to plug the gaps and holes in spending. Why? Because giving a two year budget is like giving your kid $5.00 in a Candy Store. When it came to the Legislature, it spent like crazy.
B. Stop giving the Tourism Industry the welcome mat in Augusta: If Maine had done this when the Casino Bills were voted in referedum votes, Maine would have had one now, near the Candian Border, that would have had ALOT of Canadian Dollars (doing much better than our greenbacks), and the State would have weathered this storm just fine. Only one problem…the Tourism Lobby came into the Blaine House, and basically told the Governor what to do. Maine is MORE than just tourism, and I think it is time a Governor makes that clear. Tourism hasn’t solved all the problems in the Maine Economy, and while Casino’s aren’t the answer, beggars cannot be choosers, and because of Maine’s Apathy…their losers in that race.
C. Bring Maine’s Small Towns into the 21st Century: The rural character of Maine Towns are fine, but in this day of age, it is a very expensive proposition to run small rural towns. This isn’t just a “Maine Thing”, it’s happening in every state. If Maine is going to survive better than it is now, an industrial rebirth to some extent is necessary to make these small towns better able to live in for all Maine citizens is important. Anything else is keeping the status quo, which is a large outward migration from Maine.
D. Spend More on Economic Development: By spending less than one percent of the state budget on economic development, it isn’t surprising how economically depressed Maine is.
Just my opinion from someone who has lived in Maine several times, and feel that there needs to be changes. Hopefully, Shawn Moody can do better than past Independents, and insist on Change in State Capitol.
I’m not convinced yet. Any viable plan to improve the economy needs to address the onerous tax burden, both of small business and individuals. The last attempt at so called ‘tax reform’ was a non-starter. Instead of providing relief, it catered to special interests and in the long term would have increased taxation. What’s your plan for tax reform?
Thank you for the answer (quoted below) which, by the way, I agree with. I haven’t decided who will get my vote but you’re now on my list to consider.
“We’re committed to implementing “Lean” business practices in State
Gov’t. There in lies the savings and
capital to invest in our tax structure. As you know the money
doesn’t fall from the sky as some may like
us to believe. A flat tax ultimately would be the fairest and
simplest approach. Shawn”