Economic Policy Commons^™

The Economic Impacts Of The Horizon Wind Energy Project, Charles Colgan

Economic Impact Analysis

Horizon Wind Energy proposes to build 800MW of electric generation in Aroostook County, Maine. This report examines the economic impacts from the construction and the operational employment associated with the proposed project.

The economic impact analysis was conducted using an econometric model of the Maine economy maintained by the USM Center for Business and Economic Analysis and developed by Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) of Amherst, Massachusetts. The REMI model is a widely used economic forecasting and impact estimation model which has been used by CBER for more than 15 years. It has been used by the State Planning Office …

The Creative Economy In Small Places: Eight Cases And A Developmental Model, Jennifer L. Hutchins

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

Eight case studies across New England offer understanding of the role of the creative economy in the community and economic development of rural towns and small cities. The cases include Providence and Pawtucket, RI; Burlington, VT; and Portland, Bangor, Norway, Dover-Foxcroft, and the St. John Valley, ME. Ten elements or “building blocks” are observed to be important, leading to an explanatory model for the development of the creative economy in small communities. These elements include creative people, education centers, cultural and natural amenities, business engagement, infrastructure, leadership, networks, strategies, time, and money. The creative economy in the eight communities has …

Maine’S Technology Sectors And Clusters: Status And Strategy, Charles Colgan, Marianne Clark, Charles Lawton, James Damicis

Industry Studies

The concept of “clusters” has been a key idea in economic development in Maine and other states for more than a decade. In 2002, the Maine Science & Technology Foundation (MSTF) released a study of the cluster characteristics of the seven technology sectors that were designated as the focus of attention for Maine’s research and development support programs.

This study is a step towards implementing the Brookings Institution’s recommendations for an aggressive effort to build and expand clusters. It updates and expands the 2002 MSTF cluster report and also builds upon the work of Porter and others to identify distinctive …