Sample Project Propsal

							       Maine Center for Economic Policy


 Spreading Prosperity to All of Maine:
 A Lead Sector Strategy for Maine’s Rim Counties

Project Directors: Lisa Pohlmann
                   David Vail

Publication:      February-March 2007
          Why a Rim County Focus?
        Chronic and Growing Disparities


       Growing Regional Disparity: 1992-2003
                  6 Rim Counties 7 Coastal Counties 3 Central Counties
Growth in real per
 capita income           22%           48%             27%
      [2003 Level       $24,000      $32,000         $27,700]

Growth in Population      -4%          13%              2%
     A Failure of Vision and Commitment

Charles Colgan and Richard Barringer:
There has been nothing resembling a consistent,
  comprehensive rural development strategy that
  integrates the many program fragments; that
  transcends political parties, gubernatorial
  administrations, and legislative sessions; and
  that makes the whole more than the sum of its
  parts.
    Exciting Rural Tourism Initiatives
                 A Sample

•   Maine Nature Tourism Initiative
•   4 Major Resort Plans
•   Maine Mountain Heritage Network
•   Maine Winter Sports Centers
•   Maine Huts and Trails
•   UM’s Center for Tourism Research &
       Outreach
             Tourism Aspirations:
            World-Class Destinations
The goal of Maine’s Nature Tourism
 Initiative is to provide Maine visitors with
 accurate and comprehensive information
 on opportunities to experience the state’s
 world class natural, historical and cultural
 resources.

   Maine State Planning Office (2004) for the Governor’s Steering
           Committee on Natural Resource-based Industries
Getting to World-Class: A “Big Push”

• A Great Maine Woods Recreation Network
  – “Twin parks” with Bangor as hub
• A Maine Woods National Heritage Area

• World-class service quality – supporting
  quality jobs
  Connecting to the Brookings Proposals:
         Charting Maine’s Future
• The Maine Quality Places Fund ($190m/10 yrs.)
  – Note: Green Infrastructure Coalition bond propsal


• Maine Innovation Jobs Fund ($200m)
  – Maine Cluster Development Fund ($20m)
  – Innovation Clusters ($180m)
     • Tourism possibilities: Certified ecotourism; culture and
           heritage networks