KENNEBEC JOURNAL • February 16, 2021
The nostalgic images we hold of rural Maine belie the challenges they face. Behind “the way life should be” veneer, many communities are weighed down by large shifts in the American economy and culture which have weakened them. Globalization has also had a profound impact. The paper industry continues to consolidate, as mills close and ownership moves overseas. This has precipitated a rapid decline in the rural logging industry, with Maine’s extensive forest lands facing an uncertain future. The governor’s economic plan could inject needed energy into rural areas. Several featured growth centers build on rural assets and geography — innovative wood composites using Maine forest products, energy development (wind, solar, tidal), safe and sustainable food systems built on Maine’s growing small farm sector, and the outdoor recreation industry that is an integral part of Maine’s “brand.” ~ Lisa Miller, Somerville, a former legislator; Luisa S. Deprez, Professor Emerita of Sociology, University of Southern Maine