Maine’s economy continues to struggle to recover. We need to encourage economic growth now. That is why the Maine Legislature recently passed a bond package that, if approved by voters, will jumpstart Maine’s economy.

Last month, Democratic and Republican lawmakers met with Gov. Paul LePage to reach an agreement on a comprehensive $149.5 million jobs bond package. The bonds would inject millions of dollars to improve the safety of our roads, bridges, ports and working waterfronts and make vital investments in Maine’s universities, community colleges and armories.

The bonds will be split into five referendum questions on the ballot for Nov. 5, 2013.

This bipartisan agreement is just what Maine needs to stimulate its economy.

I am pleased that the plan includes bond proposals for a $100 million investment into our roads, bridges and working waterfronts. Having safer roads will help prevent accidents and keep our vehicles in better condition longer. Maine businesses, both large and small, rely on our roads and bridges to move their products across the state. Workers depend on them to get to and from their jobs.

This bond package will be highly beneficial to our state. An analysis done by Moody’s Analytics estimates that for every dollar spent on infrastructure, $1.44 is generated in economic output. Another analysis, done by the University of Massachusetts Political Economy Research Institute, suggests that each $1 million in infrastructure creates more than 15 jobs.

Along with my colleagues, I am eager to get our road projects under way and improve Maine’s infrastructure. I was proud to be a part of the bipartisan effort because it is time to send out a package that reflects the values and concerns of the Maine people.

Our students are the future of this state and in the package, investment for higher education includes $15.5 million for upgrades at community colleges across the state, $15.5 million for the University of Maine System and $4.5 million for the Maine Maritime Academy to build a new science facility.

These investments will help Maine develop its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. According to the Maine Department of Labor, one in seven new Maine jobs will be STEM-related in the next decade. Wages associated with STEM jobs are 58 percent higher than wages for other Maine jobs. We need to fund programs that will help students enter growing fields with well-paid jobs.

The package also supports the men and women who volunteer to protect our state and nation. Service members of the Army National Guard work hard for Maine and they deserve high-quality facilities for training. Our armories are inadequate, some lacking insulation, and this funding would improve their facilities and save cost in the long run.

In January we will work on investments in research and development, but for now this is a great start.

We need to take advantage of the current low interest rates and invest in our state as soon as possible. To improve our economy and build for our future, we cannot concentrate on just one area of investment – we need to look at the big picture. A well-paved road will still lead nowhere if we don’t also invest in other critical areas like higher education and workforce needs.

Rep. William Noon, a Democrat, is serving his first term in the Maine Legislature and represents Acton and parts of Sanford and Lebanon.