Wednesday, April 19, 2006
GrowSmart Maine & The Brookings Institution Schedule Regional Town Meetings to Discuss Links Between Maine’s Economy, Quality of Life, Taxes and Spraw
The public is invited to offer their ideas at meetings next week in Aroostook County, Downeast Maine, North Central Maine, the Western Mountains region, Central Maine, the Midcoast area, Cumberland and York County. (see details below)
>CLICK HERE< to go to the complete Online Press Kit from GrowSmart Maine.
STATEWIDE -- Last fall, GrowSmart Maine, a statewide non-profit organization supporting a sustainable future for Maine and to reduce unplanned growth and sprawl, hired the Brookings Institution to undertake a major study of the relationship between future economic prosperity, the character and quality of Maine’s communities and environment, the cost and design of Maine government and the dispersal of Maine’s population into the rural countryside (sprawl). That study, together with a series of recommendations constituting a ‘Blueprint for Action’, is expected to be released this fall.
The Brookings Institution, widely considered one of the country’s leading and most respected think tanks, has engaged nine economists and researchers on the project, to add to their extensive internal capacity. Seven of those researchers are in Maine and include two former state economists. Together, they are reviewing much of the data that has been produced over the last two decades about trends in Maine, as well as producing new research in each of their study areas.
One of the key steps to producing the report is input from Maine people. Over the last six months, Brookings and GrowSmart Maine have been reaching out to groups around the state, holding over thirty informal ‘listening sessions’ with representatives of businesses, elected and appointed leaders at the state and local level, sportsmen, economists, foundations, environmentalists and many others. “We have learned an enormous amount by reaching out to people around Maine’, said Bruce Katz, VP of the Brookings Institution. ‘This is an extraordinary state with unlimited potential, if it takes the right steps and builds on its unique competitive advantages’, he added.
Alan Caron, President of GrowSmart Maine, encourages the public to attend the sessions. ‘We are working to engage Maine people in a discussion about our future’, he said. ‘We want to connect the dots between some of the challenges we face in the economy, the environment, the health of our communities, taxes and the shifting population of the state. One step we can take, as a state, is to move beyond talking about those things as though they’re all separate’.
The work of producing the report, and reaching out to Maine people, is funded and supported by a broad cross-section of the state’s businesses, foundations and conservation organizations, as well as from prominent individuals such as former Governor Angus King.
For further information, the public is encouraged to go to the GrowSmart website at www.growsmartmaine.org Attached below: Listening Sessions Schedule Brookings Report Summary
About the 'Regional Town Meetings':GrowSmart Maine & The Brookings Institution Invite You To:
A REGIONAL TOWN MEETING
ENVISION MAINE'S FUTURE
How Can We Build Prosperity Without Losing Our Unique Character?
• How can we grow in a sustainable way that protects our quality of life? • What are the connections between Maine’s economic competitiveness, our environment and quality of life, government fragmentation, and unplanned growth and sprawl?• Can Maine people work together on new approaches and a new spirit of cooperation and creativity to move the state forward toward a more hopeful future?
Come and share your ideas in a Regional Town Meeting
>CLICK HERE<>
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Caron, President
(207) 847.9275 x307
acaron@growsmartmaine.org
>CLICK HERE< to go to the complete Online Press Kit from GrowSmart Maine.
STATEWIDE -- Last fall, GrowSmart Maine, a statewide non-profit organization supporting a sustainable future for Maine and to reduce unplanned growth and sprawl, hired the Brookings Institution to undertake a major study of the relationship between future economic prosperity, the character and quality of Maine’s communities and environment, the cost and design of Maine government and the dispersal of Maine’s population into the rural countryside (sprawl). That study, together with a series of recommendations constituting a ‘Blueprint for Action’, is expected to be released this fall.
The Brookings Institution, widely considered one of the country’s leading and most respected think tanks, has engaged nine economists and researchers on the project, to add to their extensive internal capacity. Seven of those researchers are in Maine and include two former state economists. Together, they are reviewing much of the data that has been produced over the last two decades about trends in Maine, as well as producing new research in each of their study areas.
One of the key steps to producing the report is input from Maine people. Over the last six months, Brookings and GrowSmart Maine have been reaching out to groups around the state, holding over thirty informal ‘listening sessions’ with representatives of businesses, elected and appointed leaders at the state and local level, sportsmen, economists, foundations, environmentalists and many others. “We have learned an enormous amount by reaching out to people around Maine’, said Bruce Katz, VP of the Brookings Institution. ‘This is an extraordinary state with unlimited potential, if it takes the right steps and builds on its unique competitive advantages’, he added.
Alan Caron, President of GrowSmart Maine, encourages the public to attend the sessions. ‘We are working to engage Maine people in a discussion about our future’, he said. ‘We want to connect the dots between some of the challenges we face in the economy, the environment, the health of our communities, taxes and the shifting population of the state. One step we can take, as a state, is to move beyond talking about those things as though they’re all separate’.
The work of producing the report, and reaching out to Maine people, is funded and supported by a broad cross-section of the state’s businesses, foundations and conservation organizations, as well as from prominent individuals such as former Governor Angus King.
For further information, the public is encouraged to go to the GrowSmart website at www.growsmartmaine.org Attached below: Listening Sessions Schedule Brookings Report Summary
About the 'Regional Town Meetings':GrowSmart Maine & The Brookings Institution Invite You To:
A REGIONAL TOWN MEETING
ENVISION MAINE'S FUTURE
How Can We Build Prosperity Without Losing Our Unique Character?
• How can we grow in a sustainable way that protects our quality of life? • What are the connections between Maine’s economic competitiveness, our environment and quality of life, government fragmentation, and unplanned growth and sprawl?• Can Maine people work together on new approaches and a new spirit of cooperation and creativity to move the state forward toward a more hopeful future?
Come and share your ideas in a Regional Town Meeting
- Northern Maine: Caribou, Houlton, Fort Kent, Caribou Regional Technology Center, Fort Kent & Houlton High Schools April 25, 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Downeast: Eastport, Institute on Key Street April 25, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
- Northern Central Maine: Dover-Foxcroft, Penquis Higher Education Center April 25, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
- Western Mountains: Farmington, UMF Olsen Student Center April 26, 7:30 - 9:00 am Central Maine: Waterville, Colby College, Roberts Union April 26, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
- Mid-Coast: Camden, Camden Opera House April 26, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
- Greater Portland: Scarborough, Scarborough Public Library April 27, 7:30 – 9:00 am
- Southern Mid-Coast: Brunswick, Curtis Memorial Library April 27, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
- Western York: Alfred, Conant Chapel April 27, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
>CLICK HERE<>
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alan Caron, President
(207) 847.9275 x307
acaron@growsmartmaine.org
