Augusta, Maine - Governor Paul LePage and Maine Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Commissioner George Gervais announced Maine's first certified business-friendly communities this morning during a press conference at the State House in Augusta. These nine communities were selected from a group of 19 nominees and determined to uphold quality standards for business excellence.
Maine's first business-friendly communities are Augusta, Bath, Biddeford, Brewer, Bucksport, Guilford, Lincoln, Saco and Sanford.
Gov. LePage first announced the business-friendly certification program in March. The program is designed to recognize Maine communities for their commitment to job creation, reducing red tape and being "open for business."
The nominees were evaluated in several areas including customer service, business involvement and collaboration, input from the public, and licensing and permitting. Each community was evaluated on an individual basis by a panel of business experts which included Amy Downing, Maine State Chamber of Commerce; John Butera, Sr. Economic Advisor for Gov. LePage; Chris Steele, CWS Consulting Group; Chuck Graceffa, Pierce Atwood; George Gervais, Commissioner, DECD; Peter DelGreco, President Maine & Company; and Andrea Smith, Office of Community Development, DECD.
"I want to congratulate and thank the recipients for their continued commitment to business excellence. These nine communities have set an example for others to follow as we move Maine forward as a place where businesses and communities can thrive," said Gov. LePage.
DECD Commissioner Gervais promised his department's commitment to the program.
"DECD will gladly work with any Maine community that wants to earn this designation; we want every Maine city and town to be business-friendly. Several of the nominees who did not qualify are now working diligently to enhance their practices to meet business-friendly standards so that they may be certified in the future," said Commissioner Gervais.
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