Governor Janet Mills delivered brief remarks at a ribbon cutting ceremony and toured the new global headquarters of WEX, Inc. Friday. Senator Susan Collins, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Heather Johnson, members of the Portland City Council, and other guests were also in attendance.
“While I am sure much will be said about this beautiful new building we are in which is now WEX’s global headquarters - a mark of pride for Portland and the greater Portland community and an unquestionable boon to the local economy here - I also want to focus on how proud I am of WEX’s initiatives to educate and hire young Mainers,” said Governor Mills. “This is a top priority of this Administration – bringing people back to Maine, welcoming new people to Maine, encouraging folks to come here and settle and raise their families and find good-paying jobs as they can right here at WEX.”
According to WEX, the new building, located in downtown Portland, will be home to at least 450 employees. WEX, a payment processing technology firm, employs approximately 1,000 in South Portland and continues to expand.
“WEX is certainly a pivotal part of this community and of our state,” added Governor Mills. “Maine is proud that in your growth, you have not forgotten the importance of your employees, the importance of training, the importance of bringing people up within the company, the importance of our communities and of our state as a whole.”
Governor Mills’ full remarks as delivered are below.
Good morning.
Congratulations, I want to make sure I introduce Heather Johnson over here, and if you don’t collect anybody else’s cards - do you have cards yet? Brand new cabinet. Be sure and get the business card of the new Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, she’s going to be a real fast starter here, and she’s already kicking butt. She knows a lot about broadband by the way, and has a great history in the private and public sector, so we’re delighted to have her here and introduce her to you.
I am pleased to be the Governor because, for one reason, they don’t get to call me “General Mills” anymore at the conferences I go to, I was beginning to feel like a box of Wheaties.
But, it is a pleasure to be here on International Women’s Day, the powerhouse here of the federal government, the private sector, I am so excited to be on the state with these two powerful women and a couple guys. Going to do more.
Thank you for the introduction Melissa. I am honored to join all of you and Councilman Costa speaking along with the WEX Board in celebrating this momentous occasion, and along with so many city officials.
While I am sure much will be said about this beautiful new building we are in which is now Wex’s global headquarters - a mark of pride for Portland and the greater Portland community and an unquestionable boon to the local economy here - I also want to focus on how proud I am of WEX’s initiatives to educate and hire young Mainers.
This is a top priority of this Administration – bringing people back to Maine, welcoming new people to Maine, encouraging folks to come here and settle and raise their families and find good-paying jobs as they can right here at WEX.
So, you may have heard that is a priority of our Administration.
Fewer than half of Maine adults hold a postsecondary credential right now– fewer than half - that is either a college degree or any professional certification. Yet two out of three jobs in today’s economy require some sort of credentials.
This imbalance is why we have – at the same time —employers saying they can’t find workers, and workers saying that they are stuck in dead-end jobs. We have got to make those two come together.
Education and training are the key to solving this problem and to helping Maine people achieve their full potential.
That is why I was excited to hear about WEX’s internship program which educates people, trains students from both Maine and away to excel in corporate technology and product development.
Just last year I read that over 3,800 applicants applied to the WEX Internship program – 3,800. And of that very competitive pool, WEX hired 32 people from Maine and 18 people from out of state.
And, WEX continues to grow, announcing last fall a plan to hire another 175 people. Those are good-paying, skilled jobs ready for Maine’s qualified workers. I am so excited about that.
This year WEX also unveiled the WEX Junior Associate Program and allowed students from eight Southern Maine Middle and Senior High Schools to shadow WEX employees, which is an incredible chance to learn the ropes. Students can learn about the real opportunities in emerging fields and get a real foot in the door, literally, at a globally competitive company. I think that is so exciting.
WEX has also expanded efforts to broaden interest among high school students in STEM fields and it continues to partner with Maine colleges and universities strengthening the readiness of our graduates for high-tech careers.
As Governor I promise to do my part to ensure that state government supports the growth and success of employers like WEX, and these public/private partnerships that they are forming which also play a key role in addressing Maine’s workforce shortage.
Businesses like WEX that invest in their employees not only help attract new families to our state, but they also have a competitive advantage in our ever-changing economy.
WEX is certainly a pivotal part of this community and of our state. Maine is proud that in your growth, you have not forgotten the importance of your employees, the importance of training, the importance of bringing people up within the company, the importance of our communities and of our state as a whole.
The singer David Allan Coe once said, “It is not the beauty of a building that you should look at, it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.”
I hope we look back on today as a celebration of that strong foundation that you are building on this company’s investments in Maine workers, Maine students, Maine graduates and Maine people with success that will stand the test of time.
Thank you so much for inviting me, it is a pleasure to be here and join such distinguished company as of all of you. I look forward to the tour.
Thank you.