A debate: How to grow Maine's economy?

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by reloop

Here's an idea: Why don't we put more emphasis on growing these Alliances from smaller ones to bigger ones? IMHO, if Augusta spent more time working with these types of businesses vs. trying to divide the state in half, and other futile nonsense like spending money on programs that try to tell me what to feed my kids so they won't be fat, I think it would be a lot more productive.

I like small. We're concentrating on fixing our own obstacles. Bigger alliances would lead to wider spread problems. More alliances would lead to more accomplishments.

Even with consolidation, there are lots and lots of schools in Maine who still have to feed kids lunch every day. Other venues such as nursing homes and hospitals (or anywhere with food services for that matter) stand the potential to benefit from this. What better way to provide jobs?

The Farm To School program matches local farmers and schools.

Considering the increase in food pantry usage, there is a "demand" for food up here.

The pantry I'm most familiar with is able to buy food in bulk for .14 cents a pound.

It may not sound like a lot, but at least it would be a start and not the same old rehashing of things already proven not to work.

I think it is a lot. We can wait for big business to bring jobs to an environment that isn't job friendly or we can create our own jobs. We have one more meeting before we break until November to stay at home and work. I'm already looking forward to the first fall meeting.