The Maine Economy (Portland, Bangor, Augusta: employment, colleges, wage)

[dramamama6685]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Wasn't there a time when it was called public Service. Local busines owners and such would get involved albeit to help their business get exposure but to also get invloved and serve.

Now its about power and money. I'd like to see what the average net worth of the rookie congressmen is compared to the average net worth of the seasoned congressmen!

Could we have either salary. I'm all too sure that it's better than what we're getting in the private sector!

[mollysmiles]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

85% of all businesses is SMALL business,, folks like you and i, striving for the american dream, willing to work hard, for a just reward, and if someone works 80 hrs a week, then they should be rewarded more than someone working 30 or not working at all.
i've worked with so many ordinary folks, that want to take a risk,, they have an idea od a service or buy a small business, for many reasons,,,not to work for someone else, to open more doors, to self-sufficiency, and hopefully get rewarded, and someday build enough equity to sell and retire,
im as conservative as they come, i do believe in the incentive reward , system of capitalism, use to be called "profit motive" in college,,the word "profit" has now become a bad word.
yes, are there businesses like enron, and big oil, that operate below board,,,of course,, but that shouldnt reflect, all "business" again,,85% of all business is a small business, with a few employees,,trying to work hard and grow,,
and lets not bastardize most businesses,,,thats where most of us work, and where most of us get health insurance.
the more folks either working for the government,,or on government welfare, the more the rest of us get tax-raped....and buy less goods and services..
i hear all the time, how maine isnt business friendly, and highly over-regulated,,,not a business friendly state,,,we need businesses to come to maine,,for a higher standard of living for its residents (better jobs)
i love this state and wince, every time i hear,,we are one of the highest over-taxed states,,,or highest per capita on welfare..

I love this post, very well put....and would rep you but I "have to spread it around" (my momma warned me about doing that.....)

[DavidoftheNorth]

Bangor International Airport has watched its passenger numbers tumble so far this year, a result of stiff competition from new low-cost carriers servicing nearby airports.

In May alone, BIA experienced a 16.2% drop in traffic -- from 118,389 passengers in May 2006 to 112,154 this year -- and Delta Air Lines, the airport’s largest carrier, saw a 33% decline in business at the airport, according to the Bangor Daily News. Meanwhile, Portland International Jetport, which welcomed low-cost airlines JetBlue and AirTran in the past year, experienced a record number of passenger boardings in May -- 135,375 -- a 32% increase since May 2006, the paper said.

To address the falling passenger numbers, BIA is looking at how to better promote the airport to the region and partnering with groups that promote the state, like area chambers of commerce and visitors’ bureaus, BIA Director Rebecca Hupp told the newspaper.
source: Mainebiz Daily

[flycessna]

I am glad to hear that the jetport is doing well. I wonder if the problem is that the area Bangor's airport services is not populated enough. Even the jetport down here has trouble competing with manchester. Southwest still see's no need to come here as long as their planes are being filled in manchester. I don't see these low cost airlines being too successfull also. Its nice to have them here but they don't stay long. Also prices have gone through the roof which probably has more of an effect on a state like Maine.

[DavidoftheNorth]

Maine's departed textile industry alive in Hallowell
By Ardeana Hamlin
Tuesday, July 10, 2007 - Bangor Daily News


"The spirit of Maine textile manufacturing is alive and well and living in Hallowell where its song is the clickety-clackety, rackety-clickety rhythm of its power looms. Claudia Brahms and Noel Mount, owners of Brahms Mount Textiles, are the embodiment of that spirit..." more: Maine's departed textile industry alive in Hallowell


Gotta put up something good, once in a while!

[DavidoftheNorth]

Tuesday, July 17, 2007


The state finished the 2007 fiscal year with a surplus of $19.1 million, most of which will be used to make MaineCare payments to hospitals.

The state budget office yesterday said it would pay nearly $17.8 million of the total surplus to hospitals, as part of Gov. John Baldacci's agreement last October to make such payments. Of the remaining surplus funds, nearly $345,000 will be added to the state's Emergency Contingency Account, and $1 million will go to the Finance Authority of Maine's Loan Insurance Reserve, according to a press release.

The state's Highway Fund also ended with a surplus of almost $1.7 million, most of which will be used to fund highway and bridge projects, the release said. The state also ended the fiscal year with $156.1 million in reserve funds.
Mainebiz Daily

[DavidoftheNorth]

Wednesday, July 18, 2007


The day after American Airlines announced it was pulling out from Bangor International Airport, airport officials welcomed the arrival of a new low-cost carrier.

Allegiant Air, based in Las Vegas, will begin service between Orlando and Bangor beginning Nov. 7, BIA Director Rebecca Hupp told Mainebiz this morning. The airline will offer service twice weekly, on Wednesday and Saturday, on 150-seat jet aircraft.

The news comes a day after American Airlines said it was pulling its regional affiliate, American Eagle, out of the airport by Nov. 5. American Eagle's service from Bangor to New York and Boston has not been profitable for eight years, according to a press release. Although 89 American Airlines employees will lose their jobs at the airport, they will be offered positions at other locations, the airline said.

Passenger numbers at BIA have fallen 4.7% so far this year, according to a press release from the airport.

source: Mainebiz Daily

[Mark S.]

David,

Just wanted to extend my thanks to you for continuing to post all of these updates. Very useful info!

[DavidoftheNorth]

Today's [Mainebiz] headlines

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

150 paper workers laid off in Baileyville
Domtar Corp. today said it would permanently shut down its paper machine at its Woodland mill in Baileyville, eliminating 150 jobs.

The shutdown of the mill’s only paper machine comes after Montreal-based Domtar, citing poor market conditions, temporarily idled the machine three times this year. It never was restarted after the third idling on June 25. Scott Beal, Domtar’s spokesman at the Woodland mill, said the market for the uncoated freesheet paper produced in Baileyville has declined 20% since 1999, and that he doesn’t expect that demand to come back. “[The shutdown of the paper machine] is a reaction to the basic forces of supply and demand,” Beal told Mainebiz this morning.

The shutdown of the Woodland paper machine is part of larger cost-cutting measures. Domtar today said it would also shut down its mill in Gatineau, Quebec, a converting center in Ottawa, Ontario, and another paper machine at its mill in Port Edwards, Wis.

The pulp operations at the Baileyville mill, which employs roughly 450 people, will not be affected.

*****************


By the numbers



While June is usually a hot home-selling period, this year the number of single-family homes sold in Maine that month represented a 16.8% decrease from June 2006. But prices for those homes sold keeps going up. Here's a list of the five counties that saw the biggest decrease in sales of single-family homes during the first six months of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006. (MSP: median sales price).



# units sold
2006
# units sold
2007
% change
MSP
2006
MSP
2007
% change

Sagadahoc County 217
155
-28.6%
$198,000
$205,000
3.5%

Franklin County 163
127
-22.1%
$125,000
$136,000
8.8%

Waldo County 179
142
-20.7%
$153,000
$151,875
-0.7%

Oxford County 299
238
-20.4%
$148,000
$148,250
0.2%

Hancock County 274
222
-19.0%
$199,000
$212,750
6.9%

Source: Maine Real Estate Information System Inc.





overall source: Mainebiz Daily

[moughie]

Thanks to all the members for this fascinating thread. Very stimulating to read!

I nominate all of you participants to take over in Augusta- heck, maybe even take over in DC!!!

Long live government for the people, by the people.