PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: What does “business friendly” mean? I have had some fascinating conversations with advocates, business owners, developers and legislators in recent months about what the term means. Everyone seems to have different thoughts on the term, and maybe that is why business friendly — or unfriendly — is so hard to define.

As I search the Internet and read different articles about being business friendly, there is one thing that most folks tend to agree on: Businesses, large but mostly small- and micro-sized, are the primary employers of Mainers, and it is these businesses that are the engine of our economy. Because of this, it is in everyone’s interest to ensure a growing and robust business sector.

When I say “everyone’s interest,” I mean just that. Business owners have the responsibility to run a sound business; employees have the responsibility to put in an honest day’s work; municipalities have a responsibility to enforce regulations fairly and responsibly, and legislators have a responsibility to do whatever they can reasonably do to encourage statewide business attraction. When any of these stakeholders have an agenda other than doing the best they can, the wheel starts to break down.

Add things like infrastructure, highspeed Internet access, access to higher education, safety of place, and quality of work force to the above paragraph, and it becomes obvious that providing all the wickets that encompass a state or local community being “business friendly” can be difficult.

Difficult, but not impossible by any stretch. I have personally met dozens of smart folks with great ideas. Most even talk about collaboration and working together. So why, with all these smart people, does Maine still lag behind other states in vital economic measures — health care costs, energy costs, taxation, environmental and regulatory?

I can’t give you a scientific answer to my latter question. But I will give a real-life example that I believe speaks to the root of the problem: working together.

Last week, I was at the ribbon cutting for a new Topsham business. As the owner of the franchise store spoke about opening this particular location, something caught my attention. He said that out of the 33 stores he and his partners owned, this store was the only one that town officials actually got involved with and helped solve problems. He further stated, that as a developer, the best they can usually hope for is officials just to get out of their way.

Those two statements spoke volumes to me. First, only 1 in 33 towns took the time to actually get involved with the development of an area business — a mere 3 percent. Second, the best thing they can usually hope for is folks just to get out of their way. That doesn’t sound like working together, does it? That doesn’t sound like building a progressive community, does it? That doesn’t sound very welcoming at all, does it? Heck, I’d trade my grandma in for a new one if she was only nice to me 3 percent of the time. Is it any wonder businesses go to where they are wanted?

Kudos to Topsham, a Maine-certified Business Friendly Community, for going above and beyond and actually helping its newest business out — they get it. My understanding is the Town Planner’s office actually came up with the solution that allowed building and modeling to go forward. Good job, Rich and team.

So, the solution to fixing whether a place is business friendly or not, in my humble opinion, is working together for the greater good regardless of who is right or who gets the credit. My board of directors and I enjoy working with the town of Topsham because they’ve got this concept down pat.

I look forward to writing articles about the same business-friendly attitude in the chamber’s other 15 towns soon. If you have a business success story, please email me at president@midcoastmaine.com, I’d like to help share the good news throughout Midcoast Maine.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Tonight, July 24, Coastal Performance Training Center, 14 Thomas Point Road, Brunswick, hosts Chamber After Hours from 5 to 7 p.m. This is the place to be for regional business networking and to tour this amazing, state-ofthe art center. Refreshments are provided by several local restaurants, including cash bar. Stay for the grand opening, 7 to 10 p.m., featuring the Nikki Hunt Band and a live remote by 92 Moose. The event is free to attend and registration is requested.

Come for a sneak peek of Topsham’s newest and most exciting new neighborhood, Mallett Woods. Offered by developer Dan Catlin and RE/MAX Riverside, Mallett Woods will offer 47 new family homes. View Phase 1 for a ribbon cutting, July 30, 5 p.m. The event is free to attend and registration is requested.

Janine Bisaillon-Cary, president of the Maine International Trade Center, is the speaker at the Aug. 14, Chamber Regional Luncheon. It is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bath Golf Club, Whiskeag Road, Bath. Lunch buffet and networking are included in the event. Please register and pay online.

Please go to the chamber’s website (www.midcoastmaine.com), scrolling calendar to register for all of these events. For some the seating is limited. Don’t miss out.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: Discover more about chamber members at www.midcoastmaine.com or download MyChamber- App for use on your mobile phone or tablet.

The chamber proudly serves 760 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.

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