One hundred and four businesses located in Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Waldo counties were asked a series of questions to better understand their perception of opportunities and perceived barriers within their industry and the region where they do business. The results of these interviews are provided below (note that all interviewees did not respond to all questions).
- Organizational and Interviewee Background/General
When was the company founded?
Why did you start your company? Why here? Why Maine?
Companies
Advantageous Location23
Founder lived locally19
Spinoff from other companies10
Family Business6
Outside Assistance2
Suitable Workforce1
About how many people work for your company?
What does your organization do?
Companies% of Total
Agriculture/Food Industry1419
Boat-Building57
Bioscience/Healthcare1115
Construction46
Forestry/Wood Products68
Hospitality/Tourism1724
Manufacturing46
Transportation/Logistics1115
- Locational Aspects and Regional Assets
From a business standpoint, what is advantageous about our region?
Companies% of Total
Proximity to Higher Education23
Scenic Beauty/Location3448
Cost of Doing Business Here46
The Maine Lifestyle811
Emerging Growth in Maine710
High-Quality Workforce1116
Regulatory Climate46
From a business standpoint, what is disadvantageous about our region?
Companies% of Total
Energy Costs1114
Deficient Digital Infrastructure45
Remote Location1822
Harmful Regulatory Climate911
Low Population of Customers & Workers2328
Poor Roads and Transportation Infrastructure1316
Lack of Collaboration between Businesses3 4
What two things would you like to change regarding the business climate?
What opportunities exist for economic development in the region?
- Value Chain: Markets, Competitors, and Suppliers
What is your growth strategy and how do you think it compares to the industry? Does this reflect the growth potential of the primary industries you operate in?
Diversification—6 mentions
Budgeting for Growth—1 mention
Networking—3 mentions
Collaboration—1 mention
Quality/Identify Consumer Demand—18 mentions
Marketing—11 mentions
Innovation—1 mention
None—10 mentions
Where is your primary customer located?
Location of Customers / # Responses / % of TotalMaine / 40 / 62%
Tourism/Global / 13 / 20%
U.S., Outside Maine & New England / 8 / 12%
New England, Outside Maine / 3 / 5%
Federal Government / 1 / 1%
Canada / 0 / 0
What challenges arise because of your location?
How do your suppliers deliver their goods?
How do you transport your goods to market?
- Labor Market and Workforce
Where do you find your employees?
What is the biggest challenge your firm faces related to workers?
Where are your workers trained? What training, education, and employment requirements exist for your workers?
On the Job—53 companies
We only hire experience workers—7 companies
Colleges/Universities—6 companies
None—4 companies
Vocational Schools—3 companies
Off-Site Programs—1 company
Do you have partnerships with educational institutions or workforce development programs that train your workers? If so, what organizations or institutions?
No—28 companies
Yes—22 Companies
Entities mentioned: ADT in New Hampshire, EMTC, Husson, UMaine, EMDC Career Center, Skill Path with Fred Meyer, Coastal Counties Workforce, HCTC, Adult Ed, Job Corps, Beal College, Pennsylvania Medical School, EMMC, UNE, UConn, University of Arizona, the Maine Restaurant Association, Coca-Cola, IGA
- Innovative Activities
How important is research and development to your firm’s success?
Very Important—27 companies
Important—19 companies
Somewhat Important—10 companies
Not Important—17 Companies
How important are connections and networks through industry groups (trade associations), universities, or other organizations?
Although not displayed, the data indicate that the business owners and entrepreneurs surveyed almost unanimously view these entities as vital partners in the continuation of their businesses. Going forward, it would be wise to bring these players to the table and leverage their support into action on both the R&D side of business and fostering collaborative among firms.
What resources/assets do you feel would be potentially beneficial to your R&D activities, whether located in the region or outside?
External Financial Support—12 mentions
Entrepreneurship Advisory Infrastructure—7 mentions
Colleges/Education—4 mentions
Networking Opportunities—4 mentions
Unified Marketing—2 mentions
Digital Infrastructure—2 mentions
A boat-building school—1 mention
Property Management Systems—1 mention
East/West Highway—1 mention
Job Banks—1 mention
Employee Care—1 mention
Shipping port in Bucksport—1 mention
New Technology—1 mention
Quality Truck Drivers—1 mention
- Networks and Linkages
What partners in your industry and supporting institutions (trade groups, etc.) have you engaged or worked with in the past 12 months?
EMDC, Pine Tree Development Zone, State and Regional Chambers of Commerce, Regional Tourism Offices, Maine Arts, Maine Association of Nonprofits, Downeast Nonprofits, Downtown Ellsworth, the Maine Wine Guild, Maine Woods Consortium, Maine Woods Discovery, Youth Outdoor Network, North Forest Canoe Trail, rafting association, local snowmobile clubs, Maine state, Katahdin Woods and Water, Maine Winter Sports, MMTA, MBTA, DNS, International Association of Venue Managers, Maine Market Association, Innkeepers Association of Maine, Husson College, Maine Visitors Bureau, the National Business Aviation Association, Air Craft Owners and Pilots Association, MTI, Maine Transportation Association, Northeast Logging Association, Banair, the University of Maine, informal networking, Downtown Business Partnership, City of Bangor’s Arts and Beautification Committee, Greater Bangor CVB, BRLI, the University of Maine Innovation Center, the Climate Institute, St. Germain, Truck Loaders Association, ATA, Maine Built Boats, National Fisheries Institute, EMCC, the National Conference for Caterers, WHCA, Rotary Club, North Country Associates, Maine Wood Products Association, Maine Forest Products Council, the University of Pennsylvania, the Maine Health Information Network, NAWLA, NELMA, AALAS, Scientific Exchange, PCEDC, Foxcroft Academy, Maine State Florist and Grower’s Association, American Institute for Floral Designers, ACO, PCHC, St. Joseph’s Hospital, AmCor, MACSp
- Post Interview Comments and/or Observations
Is there anything pertaining to this project that you would like to add that we did not cover?
“Laws in the state such as with service animals. They have to let almost any animal stay in the hotel if the person says they are a service animal. There should be a license for it. She has talked to a lobbyist.”
“Business is not all about money for them. They try to do the right thing but find very difficult and doesn't make sense amount of money they have to spend for compliance, regulation, code enforcement, etc; This also slows the building process. Expected as a business to provide a lot but not appreciated and the cost of doing business is so high. He is still proud of what they have accomplished. His employees are like an extended family.”
“A lot of people in the region are afraid of their piece of the pie getting smaller. They don't support other businesses and don't seem to realize that the better off each business is will improve the entire area and all businesses. They don't see the big picture. She is constantly trying to promote the state of Maine all over the country. She promotes other activities in Bar Harbor and when she has gone to other businesses in Bar Harbor with her brochure or free tickets she has been told by business owners that they will not promote her business. She thinks they do not understand that the more friendly all of the businesses and people are that are in tourism, the better off all businesses will be. She is all about upgrading the tourist experience and giving them an excellent experience. She calls it the second happiest place on earth as they can't compete with Disney.”
“Your letter seemed doom and gloom and had insular thinking. Maybe you could talk to areas that have rebounded and rebranded themselves out of state. Travel to other parts of the country (Rochester, NY) and see how those areas have dealt with these problems and how they have reinvented themselves.”
“Connect business with similar interest and pooling resources.”
“Data is data so companies that can wade through would be helpful.”
“More woods related industry.”
“Got to find a balance between social programs and helping businesses. Where to get cheap energy? Need larger customer base. Taxes and electricity are too high for businesses. Over taxing of businesses. Stop putting it all on the shoulders of business. Welfare and Social Security needs to be reduced. Tough working environment for businesses in the state of Maine.”
“Need east west highway; need to help people who are laid off get back to work.”
“Coming from Bucksport, she feels that the mills won't reopen and that we need new industries.”
“Tourism season has shifted where June is not a good month but September and October are much better months. However, this leads to challenges with hiring and schools go back in August/September. There is a tremendous need to bring in foreign workers.”
“The logging industry needs help to stay viable. We need to attract young people to go into logging.”
“This is an interesting business and it's challenging to be one of the first doing it. It's not going to be widespread fast. Starting this business would be challenging anywhere but it would have been easier to start in a less expensive area.”
“Broadband and Internet...can’t get it at home need to come to town to do business I live 4 miles from my work.”
“Young people are leaving Maine. This makes it hard to hire and hard to innovate as older folks are not as interested in innovation. We need more businesses and jobs in the region so young people won't leave. The cost of living here is so high and the jobs and what people can make in the area is much less than the cost of living.”
“Convince them to get along in Augusta and at Federal level. There are so many mandates that businesses have to respond to. There is nothing positive coming out of Augusta. Legislature has no idea how to run a business or what it is like to run a business.”
“Having run two businesses in Dover-Foxcroft, the town double taxes you and they over estimate commercial property.”
“They are now trying to accommodatedrivers now which is something they did not do before. The East Coast is also expensive. There are a lot of tolls, the energy costs are high, diesel fuel is more expensive, and there is a lot of plowing. Pottle's also lost a lot of money when Great Northern Paper went bankrupt. Verso closed but they were still able to pay them unlike Great Northern. Most of their drivers are older which can cause higher medical bills. Insurance companies are now measuring the driver's necks and testing for sleep apnea.”
“Maine should find companies looking to start up in the U.S. Advertise what Maine has to offer and approach companies that have light weight (logistics).”
Are there any other people, firms, or organizations that you can think of that would be a good resource to speak with related to this project?
The Ellsworth American, Tom Sobell, David Vale, Daigle Oil, Pike, Dead River, RH Foster, The Collins Center for the Arts, Waterfront Concerts, Treeline Truck Service, Nautel, Puritan.
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