To recover from the global pandemic and recession, respond to climate and addiction crises, reckon with centuries of injustice and ensure that we make our state an even better place to earn a living and raise a family, Maine’s executive and legislative branches must:

• bring together business, labor and community leaders from across the state and political spectrum to engage in visioning;

• provide expertise and resources to cities, towns and regional planning and economic development groups to support local and regional planning;

• incentivize innovation and make smart, strategic investments in physical and human capital; and,

• maintain bipartisan commitments across administrations and legislatures to implement plans to solve Maine’s toughest challenges.

Under the leadership of Governor Mills, Director Hannah Pingree and the Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, Commissioner Heather Johnson and the Department of Economic and Community Development, and the Economic Recovery Committee, we have for the first time in many years an economic development strategy for Maine.

The development of this strategy is a necessary first step. The next step requires ensuring that the state has the infrastructure in place to implement it. The 186 members of the Maine Legislature must play an active role in building state plans and aligning state policies and budget with our priorities.

There is a limit to how much progress can be made without participation from cities and towns. Change comes from the bottom up and not the top down. The state has the greatest impact when incentivizing innovation at the local level. That is why I have introduced legislation, “An Act To Reestablish the State Planning Office,” to recreate and reimagine the infrastructure needed at the state level to better equip municipalities, counties, economic development corporations and regional planning authorities with planning expertise.

Two of my other related bills, “An Act To Create a Municipal Grant Program To Promote Sustainable Economic Development” and “An Act To Create a Grant Program To Promote Innovation in Municipal Carbon Reduction Initiatives” would encourage competition among municipalities and fund strategic local initiatives that tie directly back to goals outlined in state plans.

In addition to reinventing state government infrastructure to support and encourage local and regional innovation, we need to invest in Maine’s physical infrastructure, which is the backbone of our economy. That is why I have introduced two smart and strategic capital bond proposals that will generate a return on public investment by supporting tourism, trade, Maine businesses and jobs.

The first, “An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue to Upgrade Customs Facilities at the Portland International Jetport and the Bangor International Airport to Promote International Tourism and Commerce,” would:

• construct a Federal Inspection Facility at the Jetport to allow for international commercial passenger air service to destinations in Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean; and,

•construct a temperature-controlled, Customs-bonded warehouse at the Bangor Airport to lower costs for Maine businesses that export products, and allow Maine’s closest airport to Europe to compete for international commercial air cargo traffic and warehousing.

The second, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for the Construction of a Convention Center in Portland,” would bond:

• $100 million to build a convention center in Maine’s largest metropolitan area;

• $3 million to renovate the Augusta Civic Center in our state’s capital city, and,

• $12 million for a competitive grant program to make capital improvements to city, county and University of Maine System-owned venues.

Some of these venues include facilities like the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor and the Colisee in Lewiston, and event spaces at the UMaine campuses at Farmington, Fort Kent and Machias. Each location contributes to Maine’s local and regional economies.

As your State Representative and a member of the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee, I am working diligently with colleagues across the aisle and with stakeholders in the public, private and nonprofit sectors to focus decision-makers in Augusta on visioning, strategizing and planning for Maine’s future—and avoid engaging in shortsighted partisan bickering—so we can move the needle on policies and investments that will improve life for Mainers.

Thank you for the honor, privilege and opportunity to work on your behalf in the Representatives.

Maine House of Rep. Kyle Bailey, D-Gorham, is serving his first term in the Maine House of Representatives. He owns his own business and is a member of the Gorham Business Exchange. You can reach him by emailing kyle.bailey@legislature.maine.gov or calling (207) 939-8600. For immediate assistance, please send a text message.