FocusMaine results report shows growth in targeted industries, even through pandemic

Courtesy / The Island Institute Over the past three years, Maine’s aquaculture sector grew by 70 jobs and is poised for long-term growth, according to a new report from FocusMaine.

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By Staff

Despite the pandemic, three Maine industries are poised for continued growth and job creation, according to a report released this week by FocusMaine.

FocusMaine is a private sector-led initiative that partners with other Maine organizations to spur business growth.

The report looks back on three years of efforts to grow the agriculture and food production, aquaculture, and life sciences industries. The three industries are well-positioned to tap global trends and grow quality jobs, according to FocusMaine.

Maine’s food, beverage and aquaculture businesses, both large and small, have demonstrated their resilience and creativity, developing innovative products, and opening new sales channels, FocusMaine’s president, Kimberly Hamilton, said in a news release.

The state’s life sciences community has put Maine on the national map by helping to solve research and supply chain problems and speeding virus detection and vaccine development.

“At this time, when Maine needs multiple pandemic recovery efforts, FocusMaine remains committed to our mission to accelerate job growth in fast-growing markets where Maine has competitive advantages and to retain and attract a workforce for the future,” said Andrea Cianchette Maker, partner at Pierce Atwood LLP and co-chair of FocusMaine.

In October, Focus Maine received a $5.18 million grant from the Harold Alfond Foundation "to spur job growth across the state in sectors that hold tremendous economic potential: the life sciences, agriculture, and aquaculture," the nonprofit said at the time.

Focus Maine was founded in 2014.

Highlights of the results

Within the agriculture and food production, aquaculture, and life sciences industries, FocusMaine's activities included the following, according to the report.

• Served 80 agriculture and food production companies throughout the state.

• Invested over $2 million in business support services and program partners to strengthen the food economy.

• Introduced more than 60 investors to food and beverage entrepreneurs.

• Catalyzed more than 190 jobs in Maine’s food and beverage sector, and helped propel sector growth.

• Provided 16 startup aquaculture companies with mentoring and business training.

• Built a pipeline of more than 80 international aquaculture companies interested in expansion to Maine.

• Created 70 jobs in the aquaculture sector and laid the groundwork for longer-term sector growth.

• Grew the roster of life sciences companies interested in exploring relocation to Maine, including more than 40 companies in active exploration.

• Joined with other organizations that are working to grow Maine’s bioscience workforce and industry, such as the Biosciences Industry of Maine, Northeastern’s Roux Institute, and an Economic Development Administration-funded Maine Bioscience Cluster project led by Maine Center for Entrepreneurs.

• Engaged more than 1,600 future job seekers and 80 employers in an internship program designed to strengthen the connection with Maine employers and with the state of Maine.

To view the report, click here.