Today, Governor Mills marked one year since the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan took effect. Over that year, the Plan has begun investing nearly $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to help the state recover from the pandemic. These include investments to support small businesses, strengthen Maine’s workforce, and upgrade the state’s infrastructure.
When Paul LePage was governor, he repeatedly refused similar opportunities to invest Federal funds in Maine people. Over the course of his time in office, he forfeited a whopping $1.9 billion in Federal funds, including potential investments that would have expanded health care, improved infrastructure, and kept thousands of Maine families out of poverty.
According to the Maine Center for Economic Policy, while LePage’s rejection of federal funds “extended and amplified the [2009] recession’s painful impact,” Mills acceptance of the funds have helped “build a stronger economy and support Maine's recovery from the pandemic.”
As Maine celebrates one year since these record investments went into effect, Paul LePage must answer: would he have rejected these funds? Would he continue his policy of forfeiting federal funds if re-elected?
“The Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan is a tremendous investment in the people of Maine that will strengthen our economy and lead to long-term economic growth. It has also made clear that Paul LePage’s ideological rejection of federal funds was a complete disaster for our state,” said Drew Gattine, Chair of the Maine Democratic Party. “Because of the Jobs Plan and the leadership of Governor Mills, we’ve made record investments in our workforce, in our businesses, and in our infrastructure. LePage must answer whether he would refuse the opportunity to make those investments if he’s re-elected.”
Highlights of the record investments in Governor Mills’ Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan include:
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$139 million to support small businesses, including $20 million for a new small business grant program, $39 million to help lower monthly health insurance premiums, and $80 million to replenish the Maine Unemployment Trust fund and mitigate tax hikes for small businesses.
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More than $300 million in planned workforce investments, including $105 million for workforce programs at Maine schools, community colleges, and universities; $50 million for affordable and workforce housing, $20 million to expand Pre-K and child care infrastructure, and programs targeted directly at addressing pressing workforce needs in health care and clean energy fields.
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Critical infrastructure investments such as expanding broadband, enhancing state parks, accelerating weatherization and energy efficiency projects, and upgrading municipal stormwater and drinking water projects.