The Maine Development Foundation shall foster, assist and participate in efforts for economic growth and revitalization, in coordination with existing state, regional and local agencies, such efforts to include, but not be limited to, providing for or stimulating the following provisions. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
1. Public, private partnerships. The Maine Development Foundation shall strive to:
A. Bridge the gap in knowledge and communications between the public and private sectors; [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
B. Build the leadership capacity of public and private sector persons and the institutional capacity of agencies to accomplish economic development; and [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
C. Expand the traditional business and government partnership to include other significant sectors of the economy. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
2. Economic analysis. The Maine Development Foundation may:
A. Develop and propose new ideas and recommend changes to State Government and others for the growth and development of the State's economy, including development strategies and economic development programs to best meet the economic needs, problems and conditions of the State; [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
B. Analyze opportunities to improve the marketing of Maine products and the development of new markets, especially foreign; and [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
C. Analyze opportunities to promote business investment in the State. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
3. Economic education. The Maine Development Foundation may provide Legislators, officials of State Government, business people, municipal officials, development professionals and others with an educational program on the Maine economy, including training, information and experiential learning on the Maine economy, business investment, government operations and the relationship between public policy decisions and business investment, with the goal of strengthening public and private partnership to accomplish economic development.
[PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
4. Economic opportunities. The Maine Development Foundation may:
A. Identify and develop specific economic opportunities in the State; and [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
B. Design, coordinate and implement, when necessary, development projects of a statewide or broad regional significance. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
5. Good climate for economic development. The Maine Development Foundation shall strive to promote an improved climate for economic development in the State through judicious use of the public and private nature of the foundation to provide objective analysis and develop broad consensus on issues of significance to the economic health of the State, provided that the promotion does not require the foundation to register as a lobbyist employer pursuant to Title 3, chapter 15, and further provided that the foundation does not advocate to the general public a position on a question as defined in Title 21‑A, section 1, subsection 35.
[PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. B, §§ 4, 23 (NEW).]
6. Attract and retain youth in the State. The Maine Development Foundation shall establish and oversee an initiative to develop, recommend and implement specific strategies and efforts to attract and retain youth in this State. For the purposes of this subsection, "youth" means persons 20 to 40 years of age. The initiative must be guided by an independent steering committee selected by the Maine Development Foundation Board of Directors that is composed of youth with a diverse representation of gender, race, geography, professional sector and education and including representation from regional young persons groups and networks across the State. The Maine Development Foundation shall perform activities to advance this initiative, including but not limited to:
A. The support of regional efforts in this State to connect, attract and retain youth. Areas of support include professional and leadership development, social networking and community building and collaboration between regional groups for the purpose of promoting best practices; [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. RRRR, §3 (NEW).]
B. The support and promotion of existing and emerging economic development, public policy and community initiatives that expand opportunities for youth in this State; and [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. RRRR, §3 (NEW).]
C. The development and oversight of a comprehensive website linking youth to professional, educational, social, recreational, cultural and civic opportunities in this State. [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. RRRR, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. RRRR, §3 (NEW).]
