FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG MAINE ECONOMY

FOCUSMAINE IS A PRIVATE SECTOR-LED INITIATIVE TO ACCELERATE THE CREATION OF QUALITY JOBS IN MAINE BY INVESTING IN THREE OF MAINE'S MOST GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE AND HIGH-GROWTH FIELDS: AGRICULTURE, AQUACULTURE, AND BIOPHARMACEUTICALS. WE FOCUS ON TRADED JOBS, WHICH ARE CREATED BY SELLING MAINE'S GOODS AND SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND WHICH HAVE A JOB MULTIPLIER EFFECT IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY.[CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O]AGRICULTURE AND AQUACULTURE - FOCUSMAINE SUPPORTS AND SCALES SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES IN PRODUCTION, SALES & MARKETING, AND FINANCE AND PLANNING WHILE BUILDING A NATIONAL REPUTATION AND AFFINITY FOR HIGH-QUALITY MAINE FOOD. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS BUSINESS GROWTH PLANS BY STAGE AND NEEDS AND HELPS MAINE BUSINESSES SELL MORE OF THEIR FOOD PRODUCTS OUTSIDE OF THE STATE. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS ALSO A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THIS EFFORT.BIOPHARMACEUTICALS - OUR ROLE IS TO ESTABLISH MAINE AS THE PREFERRED DEVELOPMENT AND MANUFACTURING PARTNER TO THE WORLD'S LEADING LIFE SCIENCES R&D CENTER IN BOSTON/CAMBRIDGE. THIS STRATEGY FOCUSES ON BUILDING AN ATTRACTION PIPELINE OF BIOPHARMA AND LAB COMPANIES INTERESTED IN CALLING MAINE HOME AND ON BUILDING THE WORKFORCE THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT INDUSTRY EXPANSION.SKILLS & TALENT - FOCUSMAINE HELPS OUR SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES ATTRACT, TRAIN AND RETAIN THE TALENT THEY NEED TODAY AND BUILD THE TALENT PIPELINE THEY NEED FOR TOMORROW. THE FOCUSMAINE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS A CORNERSTONE OF THIS EFFORT, CONNECTING HUNDREDS OF CAREER-READY PROFESSIONALS WITH JOBS AND WITH DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.