Since Dana Connors grew to become CEO and president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce in 1994, the state has seen 4 recessions, a greater than doubling of the inflation fee, 5 governors, a quadrupling of the median residence worth and a sevenfold enhance in staff aged 65 and older.

Connors, 79, is about to retire early subsequent yr after 29 years heading the chamber, the key advocacy group for Maine companies. He began his profession as metropolis supervisor of his native Presque Isle, a place he held for 16 years. He was then Maine’s transportation commissioner for 11 years.

He was instrumental in launching a number of applications to advertise Maine companies, together with serving to begin Maine & Co., a nonprofit that helps companies relocate to Maine or broaden right here, and the Maine Know-how Institute, which helps fund startup and rising firms. Not too long ago, he served on the committee that helped develop insurance policies to stabilize Maine’s economic system from the COVID-19 pandemic’s results. 

Connors lately talked to the Bangor Each day Information about how the enterprise setting has modified since he took workplace and what challenges lie forward. The interview has been edited for readability and brevity.

What was the enterprise setting like while you grew to become head of the chamber in 1994?

Connors: The Nineteen Nineties have been an vital time. We started them with a Gulf Warfare recession. Iraq had invaded Kuwait inflicting international oil costs to virtually double. So the ’90s have been set in movement with some extent of concern. However the 10 years have been a time of great financial progress when it comes to jobs, decrease inflation and a few productiveness will increase. 

There was a really fast technological change happening and the dot-com digital economic system emerged. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 opened up competitors. Verizon and the Public Utilities Fee got here up with a program to supply web to all of our libraries and colleges. Then-Gov. Angus King had a program to supply laptops to seventh and eighth graders. The Maine Know-how Institute additionally was created and has grown into a really important participant in our economic system. 

The worldwide economic system was rising and we weren’t competing essentially with a state subsequent door. King introduced collectively the varied entities and created the Maine Worldwide Commerce Heart. So that you noticed some constructive issues actually take form.

Was there a workforce scarcity in Maine within the Nineteen Nineties?

Connors: We had some appreciable progress in our inhabitants and workforce within the ’80s due to girls, however within the ’90s, we began to see the inhabitants progress actually decelerate. We grew to become keenly conscious that we have been changing into an getting older inhabitants. Our births have been on the decline. We grew to become generally known as the oldest state primarily based upon median age within the mid ’90s. We grew to become conscious of the influence it will have on the workforce. In the present day, it’s grown bigger and tougher for Maine’s economic system.

How can workforce shortages be addressed now?

Connors: There are two issues that unite all folks in Maine no matter the place they stay and their politics: They need a robust economic system and so they need to deal with the wants of their folks, significantly their younger folks. They need them to succeed in their highest potential and have good, stable jobs. 

The important thing to that’s an training system that brings the enterprise group and educators collectively. I feel we’re in a superb place as a result of we acknowledge the worth of what training brings to the success of the person in addition to the economic system.

How did the COVID-19 pandemic have an effect on efforts to construct up the workforce?

Connors: We misplaced lots of people who could have tried to retire due to the pandemic for one purpose or one other, however we additionally misplaced folks due to childcare. Quite a few households have two working mother and father, and a type of would possibly want to remain residence. Our workforce problem grew to become even worse and at present there are only a few examples of the place employee scarcity just isn’t a excessive precedence that persons are attending to deal with.

However the good that got here from it’s that it introduced a rise in inhabitants, and never all in the identical inhabitants facilities however all through the state. Maine is called a protected place that’s dedicated to serving its folks.

We’ve additionally seen the position of the immigrant. The issue at present is it takes perpetually to get a piece allow. And till Congress does one thing we’re dropping folks and expertise. Nationally, between 2000 and 2050 some 83 p.c of our workforce progress will come from immigrants and immigrant households. It will not be that prime in Maine, nevertheless it does inform in regards to the position that the immigrant performs in our future.

You’ve advocated for a tech-driven economic system. Has that occurred in Maine?

Connors: I definitely suppose so. The aim of the Maine Know-how Institute is to put money into innovation for a greater economic system, to stimulate progress in tech-intensive firms and simply final week the Roux Institute’s Techstar Accelerator program had startups display their initiatives. Roux has been an amazing asset to our state. Final week, it partnered with MaineHealth and Northern Gentle Well being to put money into well being tech innovators. 

One factor that I learn lately and discover fascinating is that almost all of jobs that will likely be created within the subsequent 10 years don’t exist at present or people who exist will likely be reworked by know-how. If you happen to don’t consider within the worth of know-how, then you might be actually lacking out on the alternatives that include serving your economic system.

Are there any achievements you might be particularly pleased with throughout your 29 years on the chamber?

Connors: I’m pleased with strengthening the voice of the state chamber each in what we’ve got carried out but additionally in the best way we’ve carried out it. We’ve at all times positioned an accent on partnerships. Whenever you strategy a coverage, my principle is comply with the coverage and don’t get immersed within the politics of it. Some of the priceless issues is your relationships.

Do you may have any predictions for what the economic system and enterprise would possibly appear to be going into 2023?

Connors: I feel that it seems promising. There are plenty of investments happening. We’ve seen that on the Loring Commerce Centre, Sappi and the previous Nice Northern mill. Funding is the important thing ingredient to a rising economic system and expresses confidence. It’s a key to its survival. It’s a key to its success. 

There’s additionally a really particular attribute that comes from laborious work, experiencing setbacks, expertise and struggles. With it comes a pleasure that expresses itself within the type of super preservation, resilience and ingenuity. That’s a profile of Maine folks. That’s a profile of Maine’s enterprise group each within the Nineteen Nineties, now and sooner or later.

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