| Northern New England is emerging from its | | | | learning as good? Some say it is better. have |
| economic recession steadily, no one is | | | | seen it and can tend to agree in many |
| breaking any speed records but all is not | | | | instances when we are discussing putting |
| down and out as predicted. Some industry | | | | American's back to work. Maine has been |
| sectors are blasting right along. New Nano | | | | making approximately 344 million in sales tax |
| and Bio tech are strong and people are | | | | revenues and about 53 million a year in gas |
| getting high paying jobs, while others in the | | | | taxes. Non-Maine residents contributed 9 |
| areas of VT, NH, ME are saying that summer | | | | Billion in revenue to Maine's economy in |
| vacation rentals are not doing looking so hot | | | | 2001. In winter of 2002-03 there was actually |
| as one property management consultant told | | | | a 4% increase in tourism, which is good and |
| us. Although from what we could tell it looks | | | | it appears to be beating out airline traffic |
| good. Another income property owner confirmed | | | | to other places as people can drive from the |
| this who owns properties along 95 all the way | | | | megalopolis for the weekend, day or week. But |
| into FL. ME is not great, NH is not as good | | | | we saw the same thing in Dolly Land in TN |
| either and a few have given up this year. In | | | | where people could drive for a |
| NH a 3 bedroom, private dock and hot tub with | | | | min-vacation.Average Housing price is up to |
| two boats was going for only $2,000 per week | | | | 148K now, which is 13.8% higher than |
| on a lake that was last year and this year | | | | previously. Hard work ethic is good in Maine |
| about $1800.00 some only $1200 per week; such | | | | and almost as good as the comments on the |
| a deal for a vacation. On the commercial side | | | | Western side of the country when discussing |
| we are seeing Grubb and Ellis, Prudential, CB | | | | those in Iowa and places like Fargo North |
| Richard Commercial etc. are inundated with | | | | Dakota. This years Outlook "The State of |
| properties and eager investors are looking to | | | | Maine Business 2005" had plenty of examples |
| buy anything producing 8-10% in returns, | | | | of small businesses, housing builders, |
| which a few years back would be poor value | | | | community banks, colleges, tourism success |
| and they would be uninterested. In MA, | | | | and other types of businesses doing well. We |
| BioTech is getting a little boost from VC but | | | | have to ask ourselves how and when will Maine |
| very little else is drawing in funds for | | | | be back to full speed in reality of the |
| expansion.Healthcare is good, but not great, | | | | whole?It looks as if it is happening now, and |
| complaining about all the ruthless and | | | | the time is clicking away as summer is |
| vindictive regulators who are storming them | | | | burning and they are making hay as the |
| as they say. In Maine many have gone back to | | | | snowbirds will leave in winter and tourism |
| school and as a matter of fact when we | | | | will be based on diehards and snowmobil'ers. |
| visited we found that many of those | | | | Well it looks as if we are bullish on a few |
| unemployed people have gone back to school or | | | | areas that are over 80,000 in population in |
| decided to stop looking. Talked with a lady | | | | Maine. There are many cities, which draw from |
| who ran a small business in one city whose | | | | over all population bases, which we can |
| husband had hurt his shoulder and was looking | | | | consider. We like Augusta and Portland right |
| for something else but not all that hard. The | | | | away and will be looking at others after a |
| idea of more people getting degrees in Maine | | | | complete economic recovery and in Summer of |
| was significant as it compares with Mass with | | | | 2005. If you wish to start a business in |
| only 1/3 the number of lettered degrees. In | | | | Maine we would recommend any large city on |
| one Technical School-College in Maine it was | | | | the 95 including Bangor, Waterville, Augusta, |
| found that 52.5% of all students were | | | | Auburn/Lewiston/Brunswick, Portland, and |
| non-traditional, meaning online and night | | | | Sanford/Springvale. Keep New England in your |
| school, which is a growing trend across | | | | thoughts.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank |
| America. Is this non-traditional type of | | | | forum board. |