A few years ago, I had the great fortune of meeting Tara Benson at a Gorham Swim boosters meeting. She immediately offered to help out and get to know her new community. I got to know her, her kiddos, and her husband over the next few years as our kids swam together. While not from Maine, Tara and Bill chose to relocate to Gorham after Bill served in the U.S. Army for 24 years and spent over 42 months deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. For many veterans, Maine may not be the first place they consider to retire or relocate after coming home, but through a program called Boots2Roots, Colonel Benson is trying to change that.
Here in Maine, we cherish our service members and want to be a welcoming place for retired military members from across the country. An important aspect of encouraging retired military folks to start their second careers in Maine is to ensure that they have meaningful work and an engaged support system. This is a focus of Boots2Roots.
In an article in Mainebiz, Bill Benson recounts his decision to join Boots2Roots after selling his Gorham based business, New England Treads. For Benson, Boots2Roots provides an alternative to handouts for veterans by connecting recently retired military service members to prosperous businesses in Maine. Veterans from all over the country share an unparalleled work ethic. Retired military members also bring incredibly rich work experience to the table. Boots2Roots recognizes this and works to connect these talented new Mainers to meaningful work in the state. Their partners include Bath Iron Works, Dead River Company, MEMIC and Fiber Materials Inc.
While Boots2Roots was just recently founded in 2016, it boasted a substantial return on investment of $270,000 per hired vet for Maine in the first year of relocation alone. I strongly believe in the mission of this organization and have great hope that it will help bring hardworking and dedicated retired service people to our state. In an effort to support this organization, during the second session of the 129th Legislature, I am introducing “An Act to Provide Support Services for Military Members Transitioning to Civilian Life in Maine.” This bill will appropriate $250,000 per year for a few years to assist Boots2Roots as they get off the ground. This is a wonderful opportunity to increase our workforce with hardworking and dedicated individuals while providing assistance to those who have put their lives on the line for our country.
Bill is a perfect example of a retired service member who joined his new Maine community, ready and willing to serve. He is not only a successful business person who set roots here and provided jobs to Mainers for several years, but is also a dedicated member of the community through his work on the school board. Like so many retired service members, Bill’s desire for service extends beyond his time in the military and is now benefiting Mainers here in Gorham by cultivating community partnerships. I am really looking forward to working on this bill with Bill and the Boots2Roots organization and watching them grow.
As always, I encourage my constituents in House District 26 to contact me with their ideas, questions and concerns. The best way for me to serve our community’s needs is by hearing from you.
Rep. Maureen “Mo” Terry is serving her second term in the Maine House of Representatives. She is a chef and small business owner with more than 25 years of experience in the food service industry. She serves on the Taxation Committee.
(207) 712- 9735 } (800) 423-2900 | maureen.terry@legislature.maine.gov