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Invest in Rural

Rural Economic Development

Slow population growth, workforce shortages, limited business investment, and declining traditional industries in rural counties. Infrastructure gaps deter employers. Economic opportunity is uneven across regions.

Grow rural opportunity through targeted business recruitment, broadband expansion, workforce housing, and technical training. Create a Central Maine Economic Development Zone to coordinate infrastructure investment, incentives, and workforce development — then expand this regional growth model statewide.

Bob's Plan

Action Plan for Rural Maine

Bold action is needed to build a bright future for Maine

  • Cap Property Tax Increases for Year-Round Residents. Create a homestead stabilization system so full-time Mainers aren't taxed out of their homes by luxury and seasonal property sales.

  • Make Second-Home and Absentee Owners Pay Their Fair Share. Reform the tax structure so seasonal ownership contributes proportionally to the pressure it places on local housing, infrastructure, and services.

  • Build Workforce Housing That Fits Rural Communities by fast-tracking small-scale projects: Main Street apartments, ADUs, and village infills.

  • Protect Rural Hospitals and Expand Access to Care by stabilizing funding for community health centers, strengthening EMS and emergency services, and expanding telehealth.

  • Invest in Broadband, Roads, and Infrastructure to unlock jobs, healthcare, and education for rural families.

  • Grow Year-Round Careers, Not Just Seasonal Jobs. Support forestry, manufacturing, agriculture, small business, and trades - an economy that lets people build viable lives.

  • Revitalize Downtowns and Village Centers. Encourage adaptive reuse of vacant buildings, historic district creation, and public-private partnerships that bring investment back to Main Street.

  • Protect Democracy and Local Control. Ensure transparent government, accessible elections, campaign finance rules that block big money influences, and state policies that reflect rural needs — not just urban priorities.

  • Lower energy and grocery costs. Increase utility pricing transparency, support local agriculture and regional food systems, and pursue energy policies that reduce the load on rural families.

  • Expand Career and Technical Education and Apprenticeships. Connect students directly to high-demand careers — electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, logging equipment operators, nurses, teachers, first responders — with affordable training pathways and workforce housing support.