WHEREAS, it is critical that all Maine students are afforded the opportunity to receive a quality education in our public schools; and

WHEREAS, a strong and effective public school system is essential for Maine's workforce and ensures that we continue to make social, technological, and scientific advancements; and

From day one, my Administration has been guided by the belief that to grow our economy, we have to invest in our greatest asset: the people of Maine.

Recently, we got some new data that shows that our strategy is working.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

The United States Bureau of Economic Analysis released data recently that shows that Maine is leading New England in economic growth and that we’ve experienced stronger growth in recent years than even larger states like New York and California.

Before I took office, Maine was frequently at the bottom of the list of states regarding economic growth.

This improvement didn’t happen by accident. For the last five years now, my Administration has been making investments in Maine people – investments that have helped create robust economic growth.

In my first year in office, I released a strategic economic development plan – the first one in decades –  to improve the lives of Maine people and families, to support business, to create good-paying jobs, and to build an economy that is poised for future prosperity.

Just a few months later, of course, the pandemic brought the global economy to a halt. During that very rough time, I brought together economists, and business leaders, and citizens to recommend ways that we could sustain our economy in the short term and strengthen it in the long term to make us less vulnerable to future crises.

Based on those expert recommendations by hundreds of people and experts, we created and released the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. That plan had three goals: first to achieve immediate economic recovery from the pandemic; second, achieving long-term economic growth for our state; and thirdly, to revitalize our infrastructure.

Then, when Maine was fortunate to receive nearly $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan funds from President Biden and Congress, we were ready. More quickly than most states in the nation, we deployed those federal funds across the state of Maine to put our Jobs & Recovery Plan into action.

Since the Jobs & Recovery Plan went into law October 18, 2021, we’ve delivered $175 million to thousands of Maine businesses, we’ve created workforce opportunities for 25,000 people, and invested in more than 400 infrastructure projects statewide to bolster broadband, childcare, energy efficiency and weatherization, and housing.

These are all critical things we need to support our people and to bolster our economy.

Now, don’t get me wrong — we still have challenges, including a lack of affordable housing. And we are working on all of that right now, but this recent federal GDP data is really an encouraging sign that our investments in Maine people are working.

I am excited about the direction we are heading. Small businesses are expanding their operations; people are moving here to work and raise their families; graduates are staying in Maine to pursue rewarding, life-long careers here at home — our economy, and our state, are getting stronger every day.

We’ll continue to work hard to address the challenges we face to ensure that Maine remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that may threaten the health of our citizens and their families; and

WHEREAS, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States; and

WHEREAS, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers; and

WHEREAS, the National Academy of Sciences estimates that radon is responsible for up to 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year; and

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening on the eve of a great new year.

To support response and recovery efforts following the severe wind and rain storm and the flooding of last week, I have directed my Administration to seek any and all Federal financial assistance that might be available to us.

Following this directive, the Maine Emergency Management Agency has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency — or FEMA — to send Federal officials to Maine as soon as possible to review and validate the damage assessments gathered by our local officials.

That review is one of the first steps we have to take on the road to requesting a Major Disaster Declaration from the President of the United States. If that Declaration is granted by President Biden, it will unlock critical Federal financial assistance to help our state recover from this storm.

Well, I’m pleased to say that, earlier this week, FEMA approved our request. So, in the coming days, Federal officials will begin reviewing and validating damage reports from local officials.

Given the extent of the damage, it is likely that this process will take some time, but Maine people can help us document the damage from this storm. If you experienced property damage, please report it by calling 2-1-1.

Sharing your information will help us estimate the full impact of the storm and help us request the maximum amount of Federal aid available to support the recovery.

Now, it’s important to know that reporting damage is not the same as applying for personal assistance or reimbursement, or filing an insurance claim, and I still encourage you to file claims with your homeowners insurance or your auto insurance if you experienced that kind of property damage.

My Administration also has created a central online resource that contains information from the Maine Bureau of Insurance about flood and storm-related insurance claims. You can find those links on our new Maine Flood Resources and Assistance Hub at maine.gov/governor/mills/flood. That’s maine.gov/governor/mills/flood.

That website also has up-to-date information from the Maine Bureau of Insurance on flooding and storm-related insurance claims, directions on how to report storm damage to the state, and up-to-date road closures, and other information about how to safely deal with tree debris, for instance. Again, that website is maine.gov/governor/mills/flood -- all lowercase.

My Administration will continue to do all we can to support the swift recovery of Maine communities that have been hit hardest by last week’s storm. For example, hundreds of dedicated and experienced highway workers from the Department of Transportation are hard at it repairing and rebuilding State-owned roads and bridges right now, as quickly as possible.

Despite this recent wind and rain events, I hope that you are able to close out this year and celebrate the beginning of the new year with cherished friends and family. If you are missing a loved one at your table this year, please know that I am holding you in my heart this holiday season.

To all Maine people, I wish you all the very best in the new year.

This is Governor Janet Mills, thank you for the honor of serving as your governor, and thank you for listening.

Since the beginning of this week’s severe storm, my Administration has been working around the clock, with local public officials, county emergency management people, and CMP and Versant to clear debris from the roads, assess and repair damage caused by flood waters, and restore power to Maine people as soon as possible.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

I have declared a State of Civil Emergency for most Maine counties in order to mobilize all of the State of Maine’s resources to help with response and recovery efforts and to position the State of Maine to seek Federal disaster support in the coming weeks.

This declaration of civil emergency formalizes our all-hands-on-deck response and ensures that every State resource is available to towns across Maine.

I have also signed a proclamation that allows fuel delivery personnel to drive additional hours to make sure that heating fuel is delivered in a timely fashion.

Maine Emergency Management Agency is working with county emergency management officials to assess the damage to our infrastructure.

The Maine Department of Transportation is likewise working with the Federal Highway Administration to assess road damage.

Rest assured, we will seek any and all Federal assistance and support to help Maine people recover from this storm.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services will be providing information about how SNAP recipients can replace the food that might be lost because of power outages, flooding, or other storm-related damage.

That Department has continued to issue WIC benefits for parents, and it is working with water districts to check on public drinking water systems and it is reaching out to all Long Term Care facilities to make sure residents and staff are safe. 

As crews assess the damage and make repairs, Maine people can do their part by being vigilant and very cautious – please stay away from flooded areas, including roadways that have water on them, and heed the advice of your county emergency officials.

If you need emergency assistance, please dial 911. If you need non-emergency assistance, like information about where to find a warming center or charging center, call 211, or text your zip code to 898-211.

Look, Maine people are no strangers to hard times. We’ve been through a lot – from a pandemic, to a turbulent economy, to the horrific tragedy in Lewiston, and now, this devastating storm, which has already claimed the lives of several Maine people. It cannot be ignored that this storm came just days before Christmas, at a time that is supposed to be marked by love and joy and kindness.

For many Maine people right now, the holiday will be more difficult as they deal with the loss of their homes or vehicles or damage to their property. And if you’re in that situation this Christmas Eve, know that I am thinking of you, and that I will do everything I can to support you.

I hope that you do find comfort, and joy, and solace with family, friends, and loved ones this holiday, during a difficult time.

I know that in Maine, especially in the Lewiston area, the burdens we’re carrying feel heavy now, but we will carry that burden together.

I’m often reminded of our communal strength that we see in the acts of kindness, bravery, and compassion. First responders risking their own lives to rescue a stranded motorist; the community centers keeping their doors open to keep families warm and charge cell phones; and the linemen who come from all over who are doing their very best to bring the lights back on tonight – the unshakeable spirit and unbreakable strength of Maine people, the very best of our state.

We have challenging days ahead, but we will get through this. Please keep the faith and, please, stay safe.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has experienced a severe storm with heavy rains and unusually high winds causing widespread power outages, property damage, and road damage, including to many of the State’s federal-aid highways; and

WHEREAS, extensive road damage caused by high winds and flooding will require both immediate and on-going road repairs, constituting an emergency within the meaning of 23 U.S.C. §§ 120(e) and 125; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has experienced a severe storm with heavy rains and unusually high winds causing widespread power outages, property damage, and road damage; and

WHEREAS, fuel delivery crews will need to work continuously to ensure continuity of supply during the storm recovery effort; and

WHEREAS, temperatures below freezing are forecast throughout Maine in the coming days; and

Well, it’s here – the holiday season is upon us. As families across Maine put up trees, and wreaths, and lights, and as, this week, our Jewish friends lit the last candle on the menorah to mark the end of Hanukkah, we know we are in the full swing of the holiday season.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

At the end of a very busy – and, at times, very hard – year, I know that Maine people are looking forward to enjoying time with friends and family this time of year. I am, as well.

But, hey, if you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet, or if you are a bit of a last-minute shopper like I am, I wanted to take the opportunity to encourage you and encourage Maine people to shop local this holiday season.

You know, Maine is home to more than 150,000 small businesses — that’s 99 percent of all businesses in our state — and many of them are retail businesses that sell local, Maine-made products. These businesses and their producers are the cornerstones of our downtowns, the employers of our friends and family members, and a big driver of our economy. They need your business.

I guarantee you– no matter who you’re shopping for, you can find a special gift made right here in Maine and sold right here in Maine. If you need a little inspiration or information, our state’s “Maine Made” program is a great place to start. All you have to do is visit MaineMade.com. That’s MaineMade.com.

Look, everything from specialty maple syrup that’s boiled in a Jackman sugarhouse and homemade blueberry jam made on a farm in Ellsworth, beautiful fishing flies tied in Windham or snowshoes made in Pleasant Ridge Plantation, jewelry, craft brews, and puzzles and toys, specialty mustards from Eastport, all kinds of things are produced right here in Maine. The guide that’s online, our MaineMade.com guide, is a great resource for you to find local products that are made and sold all across our state. 

Check it out. You’ll find some pretty interesting and great things. Meaningful gifts.

When you buy local, you’ll not only make a loved one feel special with a great gift, but you’ll be supporting Maine small businesses and the good people they employ, and our economy in the process. 

You’ll be helping people who make these things – who spend hundreds of hours crafting jewelry and toys and specialty foods and whatnot – help them remain vibrant.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting Maine small businesses this year, and, as always, be sure to check-in on your neighbors and be kind to one another – this season, and every season.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season – and thank you for listening.

You know, when I was growing up in Western Maine, my mother, who was an English teacher, introduced me to our local library and she encouraged me to read books of every kind. Well, at times my favorite things to read were Mad Magazine and sometimes The Weekly Reader. At other times, I read the adventures of Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Like many Maine kids, I learned something about self-reliance and about problem-solving from those characters and those books. And I learned about the bravery it took to solve some of those baffling mysteries by Nancy Drew. People of all ages read to go on adventures like I did. Some people read to find acceptance and advice and information. Some read to explore different worlds and to escape their own world for a while. Some read to learn new skills or simply immerse themselves in a great story that captures their imagination.

Reading books and magazines, reading just benefits everyone, but we know it’s also especially important for our children. We know that the simple act of reading out loud to a child stimulates brain development, and it reduces stress and anxiety, it builds vocabulary, it develops the literacy skills a child needs to succeed in school and in life.

Supporting childhood literacy also has significant impacts on our economy. Look, our state needs every person to be able to contribute to society and that starts with giving them skills at an early age, being able to read and write.

My Administration has been working hard to increase early childhood literacy in this state, which is why I was proud to announce last year that we would bring the iconic singer-songwriter Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library program to Maine. The Imagination Library mails more than 2.5 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes each month.

Every child enrolled in the program receives one book a month from birth to age five - at no cost to their family.

Right now, more than 4,500 children in Maine are receiving Imagination Library books from existing reading programs in their communities. Earlier this week, I was pleased to announce that we are expanding the Imagination Library in Maine, with the goal of bringing the program statewide.

The goal is to enroll sixty-five percent of all age eligible children in Maine, or about 64,000 kids, in the Imagination Library as soon as possible. To do that, we need your help. We need more businesses and school districts, small and large organizations, and individuals to become local Imagination Library affiliates. To learn more about becoming a local affiliate of the Imagination Library, please visit ImaginationLibrary.com. That’s ImaginationLibrary.com.

By becoming a local Imagination Library affiliate, you can help us ensure that every child under the age of five in Maine has access to free books every month and the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

Maine is proud to join the family of states that participate in the Imagination Library. And on behalf of all the children of Maine, and the parents, all of whom will be served by this program, I thank Dolly Parton for her investment in our state and in our nation’s children. Whatever else may be going on in their lives, and for whatever reason they read, the Imagination Library will ensure that every child in Maine finds inspiration, education, and joy.

This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.

Career and Technical Education programs, or CTEs, equip our young people with skills and with hands-on experiences to secure good-paying jobs and have rewarding, life-long careers. Here in Maine, nearly 10,000 students are enrolled in CTE programs.

Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.

Well, despite the important role that CTEs play in the lives of Maine’s young people, and building the skilled workforce that we need to strengthen our economy, for decades Maine just did not modernize or expand these workforce training programs or provide them with proper equipment.

Well, when I became governor, I decided to change that. I have always been a believer in the power of our CTE systems to provide people with real world skills. 

In fact, nearly ten years ago when I was Attorney General, I settled a case with Bath Fitter, and I used funds from that settlement to begin plumbing programs, new programs at four different Maine high schools. And when I became Governor, I continued to make investments in our CTE system so that it can serve more students. Two years ago, as part of my Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, approved by the legislature, we invested $20 million of federal funds in Maine’s CTEs. First time in decades.

My administration distributed $4.5 million of that investment to the 23 CTEs across Maine so they could purchase and upgrade equipment to prepare students for the high-skilled, in-demand industries that dominate our current economy.

Earlier this year, we distributed another $15 million of that investment to four other Maine CTEs to expand hands on, real word training for our students in plumbing, electrical, building construction, culinary arts, hospitality, EMT programs, welding programs, and others.

This week, I visited Northern Penobscot Tech in Lincoln, Maine to see how they used Jobs Plan funding to expand their welding shop and welding program, purchasing new welding booths, welders, and ventilators. The expansion will allow Northern Penobscot Tech to enroll more students in its welding program, allowing many of those students to receive industry accreditation, earn college credit, and graduate with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the job market or in higher ed. According to the Department of Labor, the average wage for an experienced welder is more than $52,000 a year.

For the students at Northern Penobscot Tech, a welding certification charts a path toward real success, not just financial success alone, but rewarding careers in diverse industries. Someone who has mastered the ability to merge metals and other materials and to create strong, functional structures will always be in high demand.

I want students of any age to be able to learn skills like that, and to earn the credits, credentials, certifications, or college degrees they need to succeed. 

Whether in outdoor rec, registered medical assistant, graphic design, EMS, culinary arts, auto technicians, these are all available to young people in our state. 

We still have more work to do, but we are making important progress, and since 2019, when I took office, CTE enrollment has grown by almost 11 percent. Since 2021, the number of adults in Maine with a credential, including an industry certification, in Maine has increased by two percent to 55 percent of all adults, and that’s higher than the national average. And, since 2022, the number of newly registered apprentices has nearly doubled. 

That’s a good sign, but look, if you can’t see it, you can’t be it. That’s why workforce training programs are so important — modeling a path for young men and young women to a rewarding, life-long career right here in Maine. That’s good for our young people, for our students, and it’s good for our economy.

My Administration will keep doing all we can to support career and technical education programs like the one I visited at Northern Penobscot Tech in Lincoln. I want our students to be prepared to take important, meaningful careers here in Maine.

This is Governor Janet Mills and thank you for listening.