LePage: S. Portland no longer 'business friendly'
Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has stripped South Portland of its “business friendly” designation as a result of the city’s recently enacted ban on exporting tar sands oil.
Doug Ray, spokesman for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, confirmed with the Bangor Daily News on Friday that the “business friendly” status was revoked. In a statement to the newspaper, he said “the administration is very disappointed and finds it hard to believe that local elected leaders in South Portland would then turn around and pass an ordinance that is clearly anti-business, anti-growth and anti-jobs.”
LePage first introduced the “business friendly” designation for municipalities in 2011 — a designation that gives approved municipalities an “Open for Business Sign” and preferential treatment when applying for federal Community Development Block Grant funds. There are currently 31 municipalities that have been given the designation.
South Portland is currently facing a federal lawsuit from Portland Pipe Line Corp., which is challenging a city ordinance passed last year that prohibits the loading of crude oil — and as a result, tar sands oil — onto marine vessels.
Source: Bangor Daily News
Read more
South Portland enacts crude oil ban
Portland Pipe Line sues South Portland
S. Portland wants oil pipeline lawsuit dismissed
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments