Bi-State Summit

Advancing the Regional Economy

September 12, 2006

 

 

                   

Cathy Goodwin/Dick Ingram facilitators

 

 

Practical Issue : Structure is necessary for this to work

• Resources required for collaboration
• Multi sector sponsorship
• Identified staff/convener
• Bill by Cong Michaud for regional authority

 

What is a good model for this effort? European Union?

 

Legislative buy-in

 

Find one demonstration project -- e.g., harmonize turnpike toll structure

 

Identify redundant costs – eliminate them and reinvest savings in regional efforts

School administration, Safety

Consolidate services

 

Need to educate/support local facilities

 

 

Joint Development of Transportation infrastructure

 

Rail, Ferry, Air, Bike (young cohort)

 

Create a Maine/NH Port Authority?

Would manage Air, Water, Rail assets along border

Would by its nature involve all stakeholders

 

 

There is a “Jobs Disconnect”

 

College grads are leaving the region

Where do our kids go to school?

How can we get them back post grad?

 

Jobs in some sectors go wanting

Manufacturing is not finished as a vital sector of the economy

 

Partnership to develop financial services professionals, e.g., employers (banks for example) no longer offering “On the Job Training”

 

Common Issues and Assets

 

Housing Housing Housing

Local control (school myths) v. regional need

Aging population

Retaining young adult cohort – housing issue is critical

 

Community Colleges -- great opportunity for collaboration

Students live, work and stay here

Education resources to match work needs

 

Incubator at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

 

Regional Approach to water resources

Fresh water supply

Wastewater treatment

 

Website -- create central point for regional dialog

 

Should focus on privately owned, entrepreneurial businesses -- incubation vs. luring Tyco-type businesses

 

Boomer assets coming into region -- how do we capture and deploy locally?

 

Have we become too chic for our own good?

 

Data -- improving, but how can we use it better?

 

Youth work ethic

 

 

Challenges for businesses that work on both sides of the river

 

Incentives – e.g., taxes

 

Real barriers - i.e., different tax structures

 

Big vs. small – challenge to entrepreneur