The 30 & 1000 Progress Report is updating the 30&1000 analysis and set new benchmarks for the percentage of 4-year degrees and R&D expenditures per employed worker that would be needed today for Maine to reach the current national average per capita income. Click here to read previous 30 & 1000 progress reports.
NEW REPORT: An Analysis of the Employment Patterns of Somali Immigrants to Lewiston from 2001 through 2006
In 2001, large numbers of Somali immigrants began moving to the Lewiston/Auburn area. While some came directly to Lewiston from Somalia, many others came from large cities in the United States. They came to Maine for the same reasons that many people move here: the quality of life and strong family values that make the state a good place to raise a family. The Lewiston/Auburn community has experienced some growing pains while taking in this new population. Employment has been one of the key issues. Lewiston Migrant Report (PDF 310KB) Released April 2008.
Place and Prosperity
In its 2006 report “Charting Maine’s Future: An Action Plan for Promoting Sustainable Prosperity and Quality Places,” the Brookings Institution asserts that Maine’s quality places are scarce and valuable assets in today’s economy. At the request of the Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place, staff at the State Planning Office investigated the intellectual underpinnings of that claim. They also considered why and how Maine might consider “Quality of Place” as a new framework for economic development. This paper summarizes their findings and conclusions.
"Place and Prosperity" (PDF 180K) Released June 2007.
Governor’s Council on Maine’s Quality of Place website
Tourism and the Maine Economy
Money from millions of annual tourist ripples throughout Maine’s economy, generating jobs, income, and tax revenue. Learn more about the importance of tourism to the Maine economy.
LD 1 PROGRESS REPORT 2007
Each year the Maine State Planning Office reports on the progress made by the State, counties, municipalities, and schools toward the tax burden reduction goals established in 2005. In that year, a bill call “LD 1” set the goal of reducing Maine’s state and local tax burden ranking to the middle one-third of state by 2015. This year’s progress report, as well as background data and the latest tax burden report from Maine Revenue Services, are available on SPO's LD 1 website
2008 Report on Poverty
"Each year since 1998, the Maine State Planning Office has reported on the subject of poverty in Maine. The 2008 report (PDF 793kB) contains indicators updated through December 2007. Released February 2008.
