02/19/16 Andrea Maker - Focus Maine

Posted by Julie L'Heureux 
 
Justin LaMontagne introduced Andrea Cianchette-Maker, an attorney at Pierce Atwood who spoke about the “Focus Maine” program, a collaborative business leadership coalition with a purpose of accelerating the creation of jobs. Focus Maine was an idea she wanted to develop to improve Maine’s economy. A team was recruited to keep the focus on private sector leadership. They looked at the intersection between global markets and Maine’s economy where higher level jobs could be attracted to the state.  Although the potential for attracting new employment is optimistic, the target for Focus Maine is to create 10,000 jobs over a three-year period. Three business sectors were prioritized:
  1. Agriculture – Maine has abundant water and available land and the potential for producing high quality food. Young farmers are coming to Maine. In fact, food processing is a profitable business. For example, Crown of Maine Organic Cooperative (COMAC) is processing root vegetables as is Pineland Farms with potatoes.
  2. Aquaculture – A 3,200-mile coastline and plenty of cold water can support aquaculture and recruit acquaculturists to grow salmon and mollusks, because natural free-range seafood is rare. Fish protein demand is growing.
  3. Biopharmaceuticals – a little higher risk sector, but an emerging business where mammalian rather than synthetic additives are used to make pharmaceuticals efficiently. Boston pharmaceutical companies will be recruited to support this sector, because they will be close to the manufacturing producers in Maine. Also, Maine’s good quality of life will attract pharma manufacturing professionals while providing for an easy commute to the Boston companies. There is no bio-pharma culture in Maine at this time.
A pitch program is being developed to interest more people in the initiatives supported by Focus Maine. Eventually, the leadership team will identify a capacity to identify all growth sectors. They also realize the essential need to attract and retain knowledgeable workers. Contact Andrea Ciancette-Maker at: amaker@pierceatwood.com for more information about Focus Maine.
 
 
 
 
(Photo: President Bowen presenting a certificate of appreciation to speaker, Andrea Cianchette-Maker.)