Photo / Renee Cordes
Gov. Janet Mills listens as moderator Jack Lufkin, president of the Portland Community Chamber of Commerce, poses a question at this morning's Eggs & Issues forum in Portland.
June 5, 2019
Mills' $239M bond proposal focuses on workforce, infrastructure, energy
Courtesy / Office of Governor
Gov. Janet Mills announces a $239 million bond package proposal Tuesday as her cabinet stands behind her.
By Staff
A proposed bond package unveiled by Gov. Janet Mills Tuesday targets expanding Maine's economy by building a skilled workforce, repairing infrastructure and focusing on the environment and renewable energy.
The bonds, which total $239 million over several years, were announced by Mills at a news conference Tuesday. Some $190 million of the proposal would go before the state's voters in a November referendum, pending approval by the Legislature. Mills also released a document detailing the proposals.
“This bond package proposes reasonable targeted investments to address critical challenges,” she said. "With these investments, Maine will expand broadband to more rural areas, build a more skilled workforce, repair our roads and bridges, and welcome clean energy projects to create jobs and fight climate change. Along with the proposed budget, this investment strategy will tackle our challenges head on, continuing to diversify our economy and make Maine the best place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family.”
The areas targeted are:
- Economic development: $50 million invested in expanding access to broadband, supporting research and development to spur innovation and diversify the economy and bolstering fishing and farming infrastructure.
- Workforce development: $19 million to expand education and training in the trades, bolster career and technical education and to increase access to quality child care services, the lack of which holds many people back from entering the workforce.
- Environmental protection and clean energy development: $65 million to replenish the Land for Maine’s Future program, improve wastewater treatment, and usher in renewable energy projects at the municipal level.
- Rebuild transportation infrastructure: $105 million for roads, bridges, ports, rail and air transportation, as well as restoration of a commercial fishing wharf to support research in the Gulf of Maine and marine-based jobs.
Quality childcare 'vital to a healthy workforce'
Speaking at a Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday morning, Mills said that increasing access to quality childcare is "vital to encouraging a healthy workforce" by helping hardworking parents in Maine to keep their jobs and encourage families from elsewhere to locate here.
She also underscored the importance of investment in research and development, which is also addressed in the bond proposal, calling it an "important piece for our universities, for higher education, and for private enterprises."
During an onstage question-and-answer session that followed her presentation, she also mentioned plans to invest in short-term training programs including for welding, adding, "We're focusing on trade and professional workforce development across the state."
More than 550 people had registered for the event, which Chamber CEO Quincy Hentzel probably drew the biggest crowd ever for an Eggs & Issues breakfast forum.
The first part of the bond package — $105 million in transportation funding, $65 million in funding to support the environment and clean energy and $20 million in economic development funding — would be be on the November ballot as a referendum question if it is approved by the Legislature.
Last week, state Treasurer Henry Beck said that Maine's "Aa2" rating from Moody’s Investors Service and a "AA" rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings have been affirmed by the organizations, which provide global credit benchmarks.
Mills said Wednesday that the ratings from Moody's and S&P demonstrate both the continued strength of Maine's economies "and the challenges that hold us back," including demographics and a workforce shortage, and said she looks forward to working with legislators on the bond proposal in coming months.
She also appealed to members of the business community to be the government's "eyes and ears" as Heather Johnson, Maine's Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, works on crafting a 10-year economic development plan for the state.
"We don't have all the answers .. We need to know what you're seeing and hearing," she said.
Editor's Note: Mainebiz Senior Writer Renee Cordes contributed to this report.
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