Maine's Economic Development Strategy

The Governor’s 10-year economic development strategy, launched in 2019, aims to grow and diversify Maine’s economy. It was created with input from over 1,500 people through public meetings and working groups. In 2024, a refreshed version called “The 2024 Reset” was introduced to adapt to economic changes and progress. The plan, led by the Department of Economic and Community Development, promotes collaboration across public, private, non-profit, and educational sectors. The Economic Development Strategy is a dynamic roadmap with a key core message: there is a place for everyone in advancing Maine’s prosperity.

Strategic Goals for Maine’s Economy

Our Vision: By 2030, Maine will be an international leader with a vibrant, sustainable, environmentally responsible economy. All across the state, the people of Maine will have access to an unmatched quality of life and good-paying jobs.

10% Growth In Real Wages In Ten Years

10% Increase In The Value Of What We Sell Per Worker In Ten Years

75,000 People Added To Maine’s Talent Pool In Ten Years

Seven Strategies to Achieve Prosperity for All

To achieve our goals, Maine’s economic development plan is centered on seven strategies. Click on each strategy below to learn more, see the specific action items contained within, and find out how you can get involved:

Strategy A: Grow Local Talent

Expand educational and career opportunities to build a skilled local workforce.

Action A1: Continue Free Community College

Continue and expand the free community college initiative to ensure young people have accessible pathways to higher education.

Learn more: Free Community College

Action A2: Develop a Statewide Career Portal

Create a comprehensive online platform that connects talent with resources that lead to good careers.

Action A3: Expand and Promote Registered Apprenticeships

Increase the number of apprenticeship programs to offer more hands-on training opportunities that lead to higher wages and long-term career retention.

Learn more: Maine Apprenticeship Program

Action A4: Strengthen Career Pathways

Establish clear career pathways through partnerships between schools, technical centers, and employers to help students and workers navigate toward high-demand sectors.

Action A5: Increase Equitable Workforce Participation

Remove barriers for marginalized groups by providing support and upskilling opportunities to boost workforce participation.

Learn more about one aspect of this work, the inclusion of people with disabilities in the workforce: Bureau of Rehabilitation Services

Action A6: Expand the Maine Career Exploration Program

Provide experiential learning opportunities for students through partnerships that engage youth in key industries and retain local talent in the state.

Learn more: Maine Career Exploration Program

Action A7: Sustain Adult Education Workforce Programming

Expand adult education programs to offer more workforce certifications and credentials that help adult learners advance in high-demand career fields.

Learn more: Maine Adult Education Classes

Action A8: Support Internationally Trained Professionals

Assist skilled immigrants by improving credential recognition and aligning their qualifications with career opportunities in Maine’s workforce.

Learn more: New Mainers Resource Center

Strategy B: Attract New Talent

Promote Maine's lifestyle and career benefits to attract new workers and students to the state.

Action B1: Build Maine’s Talent Attraction Campaigns

Promote Maine’s quality of life, career opportunities, and educational benefits to attract new workers and residents to the state.

Action B2: Highlight Career Pathways for New Mainers

Establish an Office of New Americans to streamline skill development and credentialing processes, enabling immigrants to access quality jobs.

Learn more: Maine Office of New Americans

Action B3: Match New England Students with Maine Employers

Create initiatives to connect higher education graduates from neighboring states with job opportunities in Maine, encouraging them to join the local workforce.

Action B4: Recognize Out-of-State Certifications

Identify ways to attract out-of-state and international professional licenses by improving communications and licensing processes.

Action B5: Strengthen Maine’s Higher Education Brand Awareness

Promote Maine’s community colleges, colleges, and universities as attractive options for students, boosting enrollment and retaining graduates in the local workforce.

Strategy C: Promote Innovation

Foster research, development, and entrepreneurship to drive innovation and economic growth.

Action C1: Develop an Innovation Talent Pipeline

Establish a talent pipeline to promote STEM education and entrepreneurship from PK-12 through workforce development.

Learn more about one aspect of this work: The University of Maine Research Learning Experience

Action C2: Invest in Research & Development

Benchmark and adapt successful funding strategies to stabilize early-stage R&D funding in Maine.

Learn more: Maine Technology Institute; Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board

Action C3: Capitalize on the “Made in Maine” Brand

Promote Maine-made products by strengthening domestic trade and export opportunities.

Learn more: Maine Made; Domestic Trade Program

Action C4: Leverage Maine’s Natural Resources

Focus on developing businesses that utilize Maine’s natural resources for economic growth and sustainability.

Example Initiatives: Maine Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub; Maine’s Blue Economy

Action C5: Support New Companies

Enhance support for innovative startups by providing targeted assistance and fostering collaboration with existing businesses to accelerate their growth and commercialization.

Learn more about funding support and business assistance: Office of Business Development; Maine Funding Network

Action C6: Ensure Equitable Access to Entrepreneurship

Improve access to capital for all entrepreneurs in Maine, particularly those facing systemic barriers, to ensure equitable opportunities for business success.

Action C7: Coordinate Statewide Business Assistance

Streamline access to statewide business assistance through coordinated support services that simplify resource navigation.

Connect to your regional Economic Recovery and Innovation Hub:

Strategy D: Build Connections

Expand broadband infrastructure to ensure all residents have access to high-speed internet and digital tools.

To learn more and connect, visit the Maine Connectivity Authority’s website.

Action D1: Foster Collaboration at All Levels to Maximize Impact: Maximize the impact of federal funds by combining them with private investment and public partnerships to address urgent connectivity needs.
Action D2: Deploy Diverse Technologies to Reach All Corners of the State: Test and evaluate new technologies to connect remote areas, ensuring all parts of Maine have access to high-speed internet.
Action D3: Support Digital Inclusion: Ensure everyone, especially disadvantaged populations, can fully participate in the digital economy through affordable access, training, and support.
Action D4: Create Pathways for Digital Education: Provide digital skills and internet safety education to help all Mainers take advantage of their internet connections.
Action D5: Increase Device Accessibility: Ensure residents have access to internet-connected devices, technical support, and community institutions' programming and upgrades.
Action D6: Highlight Stories of Broadband Impact and Success: Share the positive impacts of expanded broadband on individuals and businesses to emphasize the benefits of this investment.
Action D7: Strengthen our Internet Infrastructure: Develop the state's middle-mile internet infrastructure to support businesses, institutions, and public services.
Action D8: Reduce Barriers to Deployment: Address workforce, utility, and financing barriers to accelerate broadband expansion across the state.

Strategy E: Provide Supporting Infrastructure

Invest in childcare, transportation, and housing to support workers and strengthen communities.

Action E1: Invest in Quality Childcare

Increase access to affordable, quality childcare, especially in rural areas, by promoting public Pre-K, incentivizing employer-based childcare solutions, and supporting the salaries of child care workers.

Learn more: Maine Children's Cabinet

Action E2: Boost Mental Health Supports for Young People

Enhance behavioral and mental health services for students in PK-12 and higher education to ensure their well-being and success.

Action E3: Expand the Workforce Transportation Program

Broaden the transportation program to help employers address commuting challenges and support worker mobility.

Learn more: Workforce Transportation Pilot

Action E4: Meet Transportation Needs

Expand ridesharing initiatives to reduce barriers to commuting, cutting both costs and emissions.

Learn more: GO MAINE

Action E5: Activate a Housing Strategy

Develop and execute a comprehensive housing strategy to meet the needs of Maine’s growing population.

Learn more: Housing Opportunity Program

Action E6: Provide Regulatory Assistance

Provide robust assistance to municipalities to help implement regulatory and zoning changes aimed at addressing Maine’s housing shortage.

Learn more: Housing Opportunity Program

Action E7: Strengthen Collaboration with the Nonprofit Sector

Create tools to connect nonprofits with community and business leaders to make it easier for them to collaborate on shared missions.

Strategy F: Maintain a Stable Business Environment

Simplify business regulations and grow renewable energy to create a more competitive and sustainable business climate.

Action F1: Simplify and Streamline Permitting

Simplify and expedite permitting to make it easier for businesses to navigate regulations while protecting Maine’s natural resources.

Learn more: Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Assistance

Action F2: Increase Renewable Energy Production

Expedite the transition to a 100% clean electricity economy, lowering costs for Maine people and businesses.

Learn more: Maine Energy Plan

Action F3: Enhance Technical Assistance and Improve Resource Awareness

Continue to enhance technical assistance for towns, municipalities, and other regional entities so that they can regulate with efficiency, transparency, and predictability.

Strategy G: Promote Hubs of Excellence

Support local economic hubs to strengthen communities and drive growth in key sectors.

Action G1: Help Communities Identify Hubs of Excellence

Share successful models of hubs of excellence, both within Maine and nationally, with communities and institutions looking to build economic momentum..

Action G2: Increase Connections to Nonprofit and Academic Expertise

Facilitate connections between educational institutions, nonprofits, and hubs to promote innovation and skill development.

Action G3: Invest in Placemaking

Continue reinvesting in Maine’s downtowns through programs like Maine DOT’s Village Partnership Initiative.

Learn more: Village Partnership Initiative

Action G4: Build upon Pilot Hub Models