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Poll results

Sponsored by: OTELCO Inc.

Since March, Maine has experienced major upheavals in business as a result of COVID-19. Many of the changes, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors, have been crippling.

Yet other industries have seen surges in sales and in employment, as companies pivot to meet new pandemic-driven demands.

One example has been the growth of Abbott Diagnostics in southern Maine. In northern Maine, a second Puritan Medical Products plant is now in the works to manufacture COVID test swabs. With the new factories, Puritan expects to bring a total of 600 new jobs to Pittsfield.

Ultimately, could the changes in Maine business due to the pandemic be a net benefit for the state's economy?
Yes (40%, 123 VOTES)
No (60%, 182 VOTES)
Poll Description

Sponsored by: OTELCO Inc.

Since March, Maine has experienced major upheavals in business as a result of COVID-19. Many of the changes, particularly in the hospitality and tourism sectors, have been crippling.

Yet other industries have seen surges in sales and in employment, as companies pivot to meet new pandemic-driven demands.

One example has been the growth of Abbott Diagnostics in southern Maine. In northern Maine, a second Puritan Medical Products plant is now in the works to manufacture COVID test swabs. With the new factories, Puritan expects to bring a total of 600 new jobs to Pittsfield.

  • 305 Votes
  • 19 Comments
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19 Comments

  • October 14, 2020

    While there are a few bright spots, what are companies like Puritan going to do when COVID test swabs are no longer needed? We will probably have another large building to add to central & northern Maine's vacant building collection. In Maine and nationally we are going to be recovering from the overreaction to COVID-19 for years to come.

  • October 14, 2020

    Our hospitality businesses and all the businesses that supply them are in a financial crisis, and many will not survive. The growth of the COVID companies will go away when the pandemic is over. The answer is a big NO!

  • October 14, 2020

    I have been a Republican my whole life. I did not vote for Mills. But let’s give some credit where credit is due. When I see headlines from the national media ... “Covid-era economy in Maine ranked 11th best among 50 states ... As Virus Surges Elsewhere, Maine Cases Remain Low”; I think the Mill’s Administration is doing a good job with the extremely difficult Covid challenge. Don’t forget, families are leaving other States to find a safer/healthier environment in Maine.

    Regarding the possible “silver lining” of a net increase in jobs, YES; I think Maine could become a State with a net increase in jobs ... and good paying jobs that will keep our young from emigrating to other States. In addition to the growth in pharmaceutical jobs, companies from other industries are accepting the idea that employees can work remotely. Where better to set up your remote office than in beautiful and safer Maine.

    Yes, it will take time and there will be a lot of pain especially with some of the smaller companies ... but as long as the Governor and legislature in Augusta (which ever Party) listen to the business community and stay open to their ideas, it can happen.

  • October 13, 2020

    I can't believe there are some people who still blame Mills and think Covid-19 is not serious. These same people don't want the support from the federal government that they must pay for, but without it, we would all be worse. More is definitely needed or the economy will contract.

    We are in for a very rocky 4 months as we are getting very lax in controlling the spread, with 800-1200 Americans still dying every, single day. The third highest cause of death in the country.

    All this being said, people from all over the east have flocked to New England, because there is relative safety, they will move, and in the long term, we can actually reduce the population age with this trend, which is something that can definitely help. We won't recover completely in 1 or 2 years but overall in 5 we will be better off.

  • October 13, 2020

    Companies like Abbott and Puritan are in the medium to large size companies with more resources at its disposal. The smaller businesses, mom & pop, recent start-ups and so on not connected to the pandemic like the 2 you highlighted, are starving and may not survive. The PPP and EIDL monies have run out and congress and the president are in deadlock in an election year. I thought it being an election year would save us.