County towns yet to earn
‘Business Friendly’ status
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
A number of Maine towns and cities have been awarded recognition through a program established by Gov. Paul LePage earlier this year designed to promote Maine communities as “business friendly.” To date, however, no Aroostook County municipalities have made the list.
Two selection rounds have taken place so far, with a third currently in the decision process in Augusta. During the first two rounds, 26 communities (including repeat applicants) vied for the honor, including: Auburn, Augusta, Bath, Biddeford, Brewer, Bucksport, Cumberland, Ellsworth, Falmouth, Gorham, Guilford, Houlton, Kennebunk, Lewiston, Lincoln, Pittsfield, Presque Isle, Rumford, Saco, Sanford, South Portland, Waterboro and Westbrook. Of those, nine made the cut on the first selection round: Augusta, Bath, Biddeford, Brewer, Bucksport, Guilford, Lincoln, Saco and Sanford; and five made the second selection: Auburn, Cumberland, Lewiston, Pittsfield and Westbrook.
The program was created to encourage municipalities to adopt more business-friendly ways of promoting economic growth through streamlining procedures and improving the way communities address business needs.
“The Certified Business Friendly Community Program is another step towards partnering with business, to ensure they have the tools and environment they need to expand and create jobs in Maine,” said Gov. Paul LePage in an online statement on the program.
LePage said, “It is critical that government at all levels work with job creators, not against them.”
“Encouraging business expansion takes a partnership between local communities and the state. We all must be working together to reduce red tape and promote job creation in Maine,” he said.
“Our goal is simple. We want our local communities to partner with businesses and we want to identify those communities who exhibit a ‘can do’ attitude,” said LePage.
LePage said his administration is focused on “creating an attitude in state government that works with job creators.”
“We are dedicated to working with local communities to be ‘open for business,’” said LePage.
Presque Isle officials applied for the designation during the first round but failed to make the cut.
“Among the positives, the review committee noted Presque Isle’s 2012 Strategic Plan. The site design review process is clear and timely and the revolving loan fund is a good tool to have locally,” said Doug Ray, development program manager/legislative liaison for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
Ray said the city’s application lacked sufficient detail to earn the designation.
“The review committee felt the application was without detail in many key areas such as capacity, utilization of programs with specific examples of the permitting process and project the city supported,” said Ray.
Houlton’s application ran into similar circumstances.
“The review committee commented positively on the fact the town actively partners with the private sector and has a very good collaborative effort in place with the Chamber. The review team also commented on the DVD series as being a very interesting idea,” said Ray.
Like Presque Isle, Ray said the committee would like to see more information.
“What Houlton needs to focus on is updating its comprehensive plan and provide more information on licensing and permitting efforts — timelines to better process the town’s application,” said Ray.
Communities hoping to make the designation in round three include: Ellsworth, Fairfield, Lubec, Kennebunk and Topsham.
Being certified a business-friendly community means:
• The municipality will receive recognition on the state of Maine DECD website;
• The community will become a key part of Maine’s business attraction strategy;
• The town/city will receive an award presented by the governor; and
• The community will receive an Open for Business sign.
Towns and cities who’ve been turned down are eligible to re-apply to be reconsidered for the program, with communities certified on a quarterly basis.
“The goal of this program is to get all Maine communities certified and DECD is committed to working with any community that wants to earn this designation,” said Ray.
For more information about the program and how you can become a certified Business-Friendly Community, call Andrea K. Smith at 624-9813, tty: 800-437-1220, or e-mail bizfriendly.DECD@maine.gov.
