Resolve, Directing the Department of Economic and Community Development To Facilitate the Creation of a Strategic Economic Plan
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1506
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: HUBBELL, DOW, GIDEON, MASTRACCIO, STEWART, GUERIN, HERBIG, JACKSON, LUCHINI, POULIOT

Legislative Document
No. 1506
H.P. 1098
House of Representatives, April 4, 2019
Resolve, Directing the Department of Economic and Community 
Development To Facilitate the Creation of a Strategic Economic 
Plan
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and 
Business suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HUBBELL of Bar Harbor.
Cosponsored by Senator DOW of Lincoln and
Representatives: Speaker GIDEON of Freeport, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, STEWART of 
Presque Isle, Senators: GUERIN of Penobscot, HERBIG of Waldo, President JACKSON of 
Aroostook, LUCHINI of Hancock, POULIOT of Kennebec.
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation must take effect before the end of the 90-day period so that 
the Department of Economic and Community Development may timely make its report to 
the Legislature; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1.  Strategic economic plan.  Resolved:  That the Department of Economic 
and Community Development, in collaboration with public and private constituents, shall 
facilitate the creation of a 10-year strategic economic plan, referred to in this section as 
"the strategic plan," that recommends breakthrough strategies for increased economic 
prosperity for all citizens of the State in all regions, ultimately measured by increased 
household income, a growing workforce and sustainable business development.
The strategic plan must extend broadly from the Maine Innovation Economy 
Advisory Board's 2017 Maine innovation economy action plan created pursuant to the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 10, section 949 and seek to leverage private and federal 
investment, particularly in areas of scientific research and commercialization, with the 
intent of increasing the total value of private and federal investment to 3% of the State's 
gross domestic product and returning quantifiable public benefits from the investment.
The strategic plan must include sufficient assignments of accountably to ensure 
execution of the plan with sufficient metrics for effective management.
The strategic plan must include an analysis of gaps in funding and policy and 
recommendations that ensure dependable continuity of access to capital across business 
start-up stages from equity investments; seed capital tax credits; start-up grants; and 
direct, revolving and commercial loans with clear benchmarks, rigorous accountability, 
public transparency and risk mitigation that protect public benefits.
Following a comprehensive assessment and trend analysis of the State's research and 
development and business and commercial assets, the Department of Economic and 
Community Development shall ensure that the strategic plan includes consideration of 
but is not limited to directing policy supports that suit economic development in the 
emerging sectors of:  life sciences and biomedical technology; environmental and 
renewable energy technology; information technology; advanced technologies for 
forestry and agriculture; aquaculture and marine technology; composites and advanced 
materials; and precision manufacturing.
The Department of Economic and Community Development shall establish a steering 
committee composed of representatives from the Department of Economic and 
Community Development, the Finance Authority of Maine, the Maine Development 
Foundation, the Department of Labor and the State Economist, which shall guide the 
development of the strategic plan.
The Department of Economic and Community Development shall establish a work 
team, which shall develop the content of the strategic plan.  The work team must include, 
but is not limited to, the members of the steering committee and representatives from a 
state business organization, the Maine Technology Institute, a venture capital fund 
operating in the State, the office of the President of the University of Maine and a state 
building and trades organization.
The content of the strategic plan must be informed by the work team and developed 
in consultation with individuals and agencies, including, but not limited to, those with 
qualifications and experience related to:  scientific research leading to creation of 
intellectual property, entrepreneurship and successful development of start-up and spin-
off businesses; evaluating and underwriting successful business start-ups; technology 
transfer and capitalization of intellectual property; evaluating or completing successful 
projects funded in partnership with institutions such as the National Science Foundation, 
the United States Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of 
Health and National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the Maine Experimental 
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 5, section 13110, federal small business innovation research and small business 
technology transfer programs, national research laboratories and the Maine Technology 
Institute's technology asset fund.
The strategic plan must also be informed by input from, without limitation, the 
Finance Authority of Maine, the Maine Technology Institute, the Governor's office of 
innovation and the future, the Department of Economic and Community Development, 
the Maine Innovation Economy Advisory Board, the office of the President of the 
University of Maine, the office of the Chancellor of the University of Maine System, a 
venture capital fund operating in the State, organizations in the State dedicated to 
entrepreneurship, an organization in the State dedicated to biomedical research excellence 
and the State's congressional delegation.
By December 31, 2019, the Department of Economic and Community Development 
shall provide a report on the strategic plan to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, 
Development, Economic Advancement and Business.  The joint standing committees 
may report out legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th 
Legislature.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Department of Economic and Community Development to 
facilitate the creation of a 10-year strategic economic plan that recommends breakthrough 
strategies for increased economic prosperity for all citizens of the State in all regions, 
ultimately measured by increased household income, a growing workforce and 
sustainable business development.
The resolve directs the department to provide a report on the strategic plan to the 
Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs and the Joint Standing 
Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business by 
December 31, 2019.  The joint standing committees are authorized to report out 
legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.