Stemming from work in the Economic Recovery Committee, here is a package of economic development bonds that I am proposing in discussion with colleagues for a special legislative session.
If the legislature could agree promptly, these could be put before the voters in November and potentially be in place to benefit the economy in 2021.
| Broadband | ||||||
| Broadband Internet service in unserved and underserved areas through ConnectME Authority grants to partnerships between private, municipal and nongovernmental service providers | Connect Maine | ERC; LD 295 Berry; LD 354 Herbig | ||||
| Transportation | ||||||
| Reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities or equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails | DOT | ERC, LD 1604 | ||||
| Capital for businesses and leverage for R&D | ||||||
| Innovation Capital: grants to innovation sector enterprises to alleviate immediate access to capital issues | MTI, FAME | ERC | ||||
| Research, development and commercialization in support of technological innovation leading to commercialization in the targeted sectors of life sciences and biomedical technology, environmental and renewable energy technology, information technology, advanced technologies for forestry and agriculture, aquaculture and marine technology, composites and advanced materials and precision manufacturing | DECD | LD 111 Hubbell, | ||||
| Research, development, commercialization and clinical infrastructure assets in Maine to improve outcomes for Maine families suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia and other diseases of aging | MTI | LD 455 Luchini | ||||
| Facilitate the growth of the commercial fishing and aquaculture sectors of the State’s marine economy through research and development and workforce development | DMR, MTI, DECD | LD 1705, Jackson | ||||
| Add reserves to Commercial Loan Insurance program to stablize foreclosures | FAME | |||||
| Fund Regional Economic Development Revolving Loan Program | FAME | |||||
| Tax credit for for employee stock ownership plans, eligible worker-owned cooperatives, consumer cooperatives and affordable housing cooperatives | LD 1520 Libby | |||||
| Housing | ||||||
| Construction of new energy-efficient affordable homes for low-income seniors, the adaptive reuse of structures for homes for low-income seniors and the repair and weatherization of existing homes for low-income seniors |
Maine State Housing Authority
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LD 1205 Eves (2015) | ||||
| Build housing for persons who are homeless | LD 48 Brennan | |||||
| School buildings and equipment | ||||||
| Solar arrays, high-efficiency ductless heat pumps and high-efficiency modern wood heating systems for buildings and property owned by municipalities and school administrative units | Efficiency Maine Trust | LD 1119 Luchini | ||||
| Recapitalize the School Revolving Renovation Fund for the purpose of providing funds to public schools for renovation and capital repairs | DoE, Maine Municipal Bond Bank | LD 148 Millett; LD 469 Farnsworth | ||||
| Capital improvements to and purchase equipment for career and technical education centers and regions | DoE | LD 859 R. Fecteau | ||||
| Workforce and training | ||||||
| Workforce retraining and targeted match-making programs through Maine’s Community College System, Maine Quality Centers, other institutions of higher learning, the Maine Industry Workforce Partnership program and registered apprenticeship programs. | ERC | |||||
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Food systems
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| Create Maine Food System Investment Program under the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to strengthen the food system, including the agriculture, seafood and fisheries and other food sectors and the supply chain, to increase access to new markets and opportunities for producers, processors, small businesses and consumers in the State in the producing, processing, packaging, distribution, marketing, sale and consumption of food products. | DACF, FAME | ERC working group; LD 1531 Talbot-Ross; LD 400 Hickman | ||||