Lawmakers should invest in the needs of Maine families

Instead of facing these crises head on, Mills is proposing that the state spend $4.6 million to establish the new Dirigo Business Incentive Program, which would give money away to wealthy corporations for their efforts to train and grow Maine’s workforce.

Once established, the Maine Center for Economic Policy calculates this program will cost the state an estimated $54.5 million in its first year. That’s more than $1 billion over the next 20 years that could otherwise be used to directly address Mainers’ urgent needs, and build our state’s future.

Click here to read the full op-ed, first published June 2, 2023 in the Bangor Daily News.