Taxes and Budget Both sides weigh in as Pine Tree Development Zone tax incentive program faces renewal “This program has been extended and redesigned many times, and yet, evaluations from the Legislature’s watchdog agency determined that the program is unable to show evidence of […] MaineBiz Posted March 3, 2023 Tags Taxes
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Despite recovery, there are still weaknesses in the economy A new report from the Maine Center for Economic Policy says indicators point to a near-full economic recovery two years after the start of the pandemic. But […] MaineBiz Posted October 13, 2022 Tags Economic Security, Economy, Job Quality, Jobs
Taxes and Budget Group urges $400M annual revenue boost to solve Maine poverty, equity issues The letter urges lawmakers to commit to raising $400 million in new revenue annually. While that figure would not meet all of Maine’s unmet needs, it would allow […] MaineBiz Posted February 26, 2021 Tags Budget
Taxes and Budget Mills' $111M 'Back to Work' bond proposal gets backing from business leaders “The governor is right that we cannot cut our way to prosperity,” said Garrett Martin, of the Maine Center for Economic Policy. “That was the approach her […] MaineBiz Posted February 25, 2021 Tags Budget
Maine’s Economy Maine renters are at lowest danger of getting evicted, national study shows MaineHousing, which has partnered on the state to administer $28.4 million in rental assistance, said in November that 14,000 Mainers had taken advantage of the program, which […] MaineBiz Posted December 31, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Housing
Jobs and Income Maine looks beyond the numbers in search of a fair employment playing field “Up until this crisis moment, I think there were good intentions, but people didn’t really know they didn’t know,” says Deb Breiting, cofounder of Maine Intercultural Communication […] MaineBiz Posted December 14, 2020 Tags Employment, Jobs, Racial Equity
Jobs and Income, Maine’s Economy Report: Policies boosting race equity in Maine would add jobs, income Maine policies that advance race equity and undo racism in employment would boost the state’s economy, adding millions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs, […] MaineBiz Posted November 12, 2020 Tags Economy, Inequality, Racial Equity
Jobs and Income Portland $18 emergency minimum wage kicks in Dec. 3 after referendum passes “Raising the minimum wage not only helps us workers — when we have extra money to spend, local economies also get a boost,” the group said. The […] MaineBiz Posted November 4, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Minimum Wage, Wages
Taxes and Budget Proposal to close state's $538M revenue shortfall includes call for more federal support Garrett Martin, executive director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, said that the proposal “is a good attempt to bridge the revenue gap in the current […] MaineBiz Posted September 11, 2020 Tags Budget, Coronavirus, Federal, Recession, Revenue
Maine’s Economy Committee to look at easing long-term COVID-19 economic impact on Maine Janet Mills announced Wednesday that she is convening an Economic Recovery Committee, with members drawn from across Maine industries, that will develop recommendations to mitigate the economic damage […] MaineBiz Posted May 7, 2020 Tags Coronavirus, Economy, Recession