Eastport Economic Development Forum

The following notes are from the meeting of the Eastport Economic Development Forum that took place on Wednesday May 28th, 1997. These are the raw notes. An open meeting which all are encouraged to attend will take place on Wednesday June 4th at 6pm in the Shead High School band room. This meeting will attempt to organize these raw thoughts and any others which people come up with into a Discussion Paper to be presented at the next regular meeting on the forum on June 24th. Space for this information is provided free of charge as a community service by macnaughtongroup.com. Public comment may be directed to friends@macnaughtongroup.com and will be posted here.

Eastport Economic Development Forum

Meeting of May 28, 1997

Janet Toth, Organizer

Ron Beard, Facilitator

George Finch, Introductory Remarks

Stated Purpose & Intended Outcome of the Meeting

• To learn what people think makes economic development successful.
• To learn what people think should happen to create a plan for further economic development

Meeting Notes

(As taken by Ron Beard. These notes have been slightly organized and sentences made more complete. However, nothing has been left out.)

First Page Notes Labeled "Next Steps"

• Identify needs and set obtainable objectives. For instance type of business or industry tied to mixed economy.
• Identify our assets and our liabilities. The variety of assets. Are there restrictions or lack of infrastructure that keeps firms from locating here.
• Educate people about basic business planning and other skills of the future.
• Speed information about available programs, etc.
• See Eastport as part of the regional economy.
• Ensure that enforcement of local law, especially zoning, is consistent.
• Everyone develops knowledge of local assets and liabilities and uses it to describe the region.
• Move beyond talk to make a plan happen.
• Deal with disagreements on aspects of a plan.

Second Page of Notes

• There should be a mixed economy combining service, information technology, light industry and tourism businesses with an emphasis selling to the national and global economy not just locally.
• We need to recycle our money and bring in new money.
• The unemployment rate needs to go down from the present level.
• Young people need to be able to stay in the town and have things that interest them here.
• Young people need to know there is a future for them in Eastport.
• We need to keep the area beautiful, quiet and clean.
• The mixed economy should have reduced barriers between the sectors so the pieces can interact efficiently.
• Work on renewing the resources we have.
• Keep this as a community where people both live and work.
• Understand what resources we have, natural and other, and take advantage of them without (over) exploiting them.

Third Page of Notes

• How do we find a balance between the two statements: "This place is great because it is the way Maine used to be." "This place is 30 years behind the times."
• Recognize people as resources, both those that are here and those that may come.
• We need to attract dollars, remember the revolving loan fund at 5% interest, and put existing money to work here.
• High interest rates are a problem. Washington County has high unemployment and high interest rates. Which is a formula to discourage growth. Lower interest rates tends to draw businesses and increase growth.
• Success equals controlled or planned development with the desired end product or desired community changes clearly defined.
• We should learn from the mistakes of other communities.
• We should not try to explore whether things that have happened in the past will be proper lessons for the future. For example attracting large industries may be less effective than smaller scale individual income opportunities. We should remember the increasing numbers of people using computers and the Internet to make a living.
• How do we address the statement: "We’d love to move here but there’s no way to support ourselves."
• How can we facilitate healthy, well paying jobs and income opportunities.

Fourth Page of Notes

• Determine and form consensus about aspirations for the long run.
• Create a focus at each stage or step in the process.
• Assumption: Growth is part of aspiration and growth will mean change.
• Explore alternatives and consequences.
• Network within community and aspire higher within the region.
• Work with students on basic skills and business skills, etc.
• Use "Business Plan" concept as a community plan.
• Understand market for the business.
• Stress basic educational skills and employability.
• Recognize it (business planning?) is not too complicated and though it is hard work it gives a path to follow.
• Use the resources of various state and federal agencies, the Internet, and others.
• If development appears too aggressive a concept we can at least pursue stabilization.
• Not everything will be successful but we must keep trying and learn.
• There is no one quick fix.
• There must be short range and long range aspects to a plan.
• We are not alone in facing the problem of economic development. We must learn from others.
• We need to think of Eastport as part of a region (which includes the Canadian side of the Bay)
• Explore the "asset" of being near the Canadian border, bearing in mind the problem of fluctuating currency rates.
• Take advantage of Canadian advertising that encourages people to pass through our region.
• Take advantage of the State’s marketing plan for trade.
• City as a partner in various short and long term [goals? actions?]
• We aren’t always in control of the local economy.
• Mixture of short term actions "can’t do nothing [anything?]"
• We can’t wait for something to happen.
• Use taxation and job training, other assets.
• Piece together an understanding of the State and Federal resources and technical assistance available.
• Maintain a voice in Augusta promoting Eastport and the region not just by talking to legislators but also through the media.

Page Six Notes

• People bring skills back with them when they return and we can attract others who will bring skills with them.
• First class educational institutions are needed.
• Augment the Marine Technology Center and help market it. There is great market potential for a summer avocational course.
• Think of cultural tourism based upon history, the arts, local craftspeople. There was a well known art school here in the past.
• Computer education for adults – "distance education".
• Elder hostel concept: They came because of who we are and where we are.
• Mix of resources includes school facilities, lodging, meals, history, marine resources, people. We can match tourism with these resources.
• Explore unused aspects of the airport and other facilities of the City infrastructure.

Page Seven Notes

• We all have a right to be here and we must respect the full range of people in town. Public discussion needs to affirm this idea, especially as we look at developing and maintaining a mixed economy. We must be wary of any plan that appears to exclude anyone.
• How do we get all types of people to participate and feel included. Perhaps meetings must be scheduled at different times and we need to go out and contact people to encourage them to attend.
• Education needs to help provide skills for current and future economy.
• We must recognize that the schools are major employers in this town.
• Help people understand that this is important work and it will take time.
• Connect a planning process to people’s lives and issues.
• Ask children and young adults to be involved in the future and work with the schools.
• Make decisions about priorities and expenditures.
• "Snowball effect."
• Practical economics for kids [typists note: discuss National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship]
• Entry level experience in work for young people. Some tourism jobs employ young people.

Page Eight Notes

• Where does the local government / municipal government fit?
• Action on some project
• Commitment to continue process.
• Add people to process.
• Is there another meeting?
• Is there a process and someone to steer it?
• This meeting was to begin the process and to gather people’s views.
• Existing work: City Council, School Board, Port Authority
• Draft discussion paper, an outline of process.
• Define concepts (draft)
• Time line
• Who is involved?
• Goals of the planning process.
• Circulation of the list of attendees and copies of the raw notes by mail or pickup is available through Thomas A. MacNaughton 853-6049.
• A meeting will be held on Wednesday June 4^th at 6pm in the High School band room to organize material for a Discussion Paper to be presented at the Tuesday June 24^th meeting. Time and place to be announced.