EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS—

Gov. Baldacci talks about his one-stop-shop Veterans healthcare centers

1st district Congressional Candidate Pingree - experience makes a difference

Maine’s House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree talks candidly about the Legislature

MAINE INITIATIVES—

North Star Alliance helping Maine Built Boats create sustainable jobs

Maine’s Quality of Place - the state’s key resource- a new report shows the way forward 

MAINE  COMMUNITY NEWS—

Northern Irish Delegation visits to study ME’s creative economy

HEALTHCARE NEWS—

Dirigo Choice is now sustainable, for just 5 cents per beer

Gov. Baldacci talks about his one-stop-shop Veterans healthcare centers

Universal Health Care is Congressman Allen's plan

MAINE AS 'ONE COMMUNITY' NEWS—

Gov. Conference on energy efficiency announces new loans

ME's correctional system is undergoing consolidation- saving property taxes

MAINE'S INNOVATIVE ECONOMY—

Ethanol instead of gas- takes major step forward,

New lobster business helping sustain the industry

Pine Tree Zones bringing jobs to Maine

Wind power

Broadband news

MAINE ECONOMIC NEWS—

JOBS – Maine’s working hard creating high paying jobs

Railroads make a come back - Gov. Baldacci talks about the economic opportunities refurbished railroad lines will bring

Bridge repair & replacement will create thousands of jobs across Maine

Barclays Bank & other call centers are bringing jobs to Maine

MAINE VOICES—

Eric Mehert on the loss of our basic democratic rights                

ELECTION  YEAR NEWS— 

Sam Spencer on superdelegates

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Article by Ramona du Houx

The Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) announced that six manufacturing companies based in Southern Maine have recently received Pine Tree Development Zone certification. The Pine Tree Zone program is a performance-based tax incentive initiative to stimulate growth in targeted business sectors in order to strengthen the economy and create quality jobs for Maine people.

DECD Commissioner John Richardson said, "The Pine Tree Development Zones are one of our state’s great initiatives that help support Maine’s manufacturing. These companies are a great example and their expansion will considerably increase the state’s manufacturing capacity."

"The impact of the Pine Tree Zone incentive program on our economy and these growing companies is significant," said Brian Doyle, the business development specialist for the region. "The expansion of various manufacturing companies and the subsequent job creation is testimony to the program’s success." Doyle, in his role for DECD, worked closely with the manufacturing companies to help facilitate the application process and collaboration of local officials.

¨ The Kittery Point Yacht Yard, which manufactures custom and proprietary boats, is expanding at a new facility in order to triple the amount of space available for boat building and marine services.

¨ The Portland Shellfish Company, Inc. will be expanding their processing operations through the purchase and outfitting of an existing vacant lobster processing facility.

¨ Applicators Sales and Services, Inc. is increasing its window manufacturing operations, due to improved sales of their Paradigm windows in the Midwest and Florida.

¨ Eastman Industries will be expanding its commercial lawnmower manufacturing business. In 2006 the company purchased the Wisconsin-based Ingersoll Tractor Company and relocated the business to Maine.

¨ Fiber Materials, Inc. is a manufacturer of composite products for the aerospace industry, and they will use the tax incentives for facility upgrades, new equipment, and workforce training.

¨ David Saunders, Inc. will, in part, use the Pine Tree Zone benefits for upgrades in equipment and processes for their electronic manufacturing services.

There will be approximately 100 new jobs created from the certifications.