Every economic development strategy relies upon exports. Maine’s economy cannot support high-paying jobs by selling goods and services only to Mainers and the occasional tourist. Continued growth requires us to look outside our borders. Now, more than ever, it is essential that we look to the north.
By almost all measures, growth in Maine exports outstripped the growth in GDP over the last five years. While some of that growth can be attributed to the demand in our cherished water-bugs, much of it came from commodities that have nothing to do with seafood. The growth in Maine exports highlights a key win of the LePage administration and what should be an important priority for the Mills administration: port and rail infrastructure investment.