Items in the News

Re-energized LEAD revives and revamps Aroostook Day in Augusta

February 1, 2008

Augusta  -   Since it was first organized in 1986, Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development (LEAD) has regularly sponsored a day in the state capital designed both to showcase Aroostook County and to serve as a platform to connect with lawmakers about issues facing the state’s northernmost and largest geographic county.  After a hiatus of a few years, a re-energized LEAD has again taken the “show on the road” with a new twist.

              The County-wide organization that exists to foster and encourage the balanced development of Aroostook, re-introduced the two-decade tradition recently by bringing together nearly 20 of its board members and other County community leaders with a dozen legislative leaders and members of the Aroostook delegation at a reception and dinner in Augusta.

              “Aroostook Day at the Legislature has been a LEAD initiative for some time,” said Walt Elish, who serves as the administrator for LEAD.  “The current board felt that there is a definite benefit to this event and included it in the 2008 work plan.  We really want to use this and other events to reenergize LEAD.  We have an aggressive work plan and the hope is that additional businesses will see the benefit of becoming a member.”

              The recent event in Augusta was a departure from past Aroostook Days at the Legislature, which were typically hosted by LEAD in the capitol building on a day the House and Senate were in session.  Board members felt the hustle and bustle of activity at the State House precluded substantive discussion, and as a result moved the event to a separate venue and to the evening.

              Aside from revisiting the event format, LEAD members prepared in advance for their trip to Augusta by hosting a breakfast in early January featuring guest speaker Peter Gore, legislative liaison for the Maine Chamber of Commerce.  Gore spoke about the key issues facing lawmakers in the current session and how they might impact the business community.

              For LEAD President Nathan Berry, the two recent events underscore the ever-increasing importance and relevance of the advocacy work done by the County organization. “With the current state of the economy, it is more important than ever for businesses in our region to have a voice in Augusta on issues of importance to northern Maine.  It is for this very reason that we want to continue to grow LEAD’s membership – so our voice is even stronger,” said Berry.

              As part of his brief presentation before the lawmakers gathered at the Aroostook reception and dinner at the Senator Inn in Augusta, Berry outlined the goals of LEAD, which according to the recently elected president, have changed little in the 22 years since the group was founded.

              Among them he spoke about LEAD’s efforts, along with the Aroostook Partnership for Progress and other County organizations, to recruit and retain businesses to ultimately advance the economic and employment outlook in the region.  He also spoke about the initiatives undertaken by LEAD to improve the County’s image and to work collaboratively with partners including the region’s three higher education institutions – Northern Maine Community College, the University of Maine at Fort Kent and the University of Maine at Presque Isle – to curb out-migration.

              “Northern Maine has been hit especially hard with recent layoffs, and the role of LEAD is more important than ever.  We need to act as the voice for business in the County so we can stimulate the economy and get things back on track,” Berry told the legislators.

              Among the members of the Aroostook County delegation participating in the LEAD reception and dinner in Augusta were Representatives Ken Theriault (Madawaska), Peter Edgecomb (Caribou), Richard Cleary (Houlton), Bernard Ayotte (Caswell), Patricia Sutherland (Chapman), Jeremy Fischer (Presque Isle), Troy Jackson (Fort Kent), as well as State Senators John Martin (Eagle Lake) and Roger Sherman (Houlton).   Legislative leaders joining in the event included State Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston of Montville and House Majority Whip Sean Faircloth of Bangor.