GrowSmart Advocacy
Act Now to Create a Maine Quality Places Fund

Grow a more sustainable economy by preserving our communities and landscapes.
Invest in the places that draw tourists and jobs.

A key recommendation of the Brookings Report is the creation of a Quality Places Fund, which would recapitalize the Land for Maine's Future program, provide grants to revitalize our communities, and make other key investments to protect Maine's unique character.

These programs will enhance and protect our villages, waterfronts, farms, forests, and downtowns - the quality places that the Brookings Institution identified as driving our tourism industry and attracting the mobile workforce that will grow our state's economy.

In order to pay for these investments without burdening Maine taxpayers, the Brookings Institution recommended "exporting" the expenses to tourists through a 3% increase in the lodging tax. Since the revenues would pay to enhance and protect the places that tourists love to visit, this policy is expected to increase demand for Maine's lodging industry in the long term.

You can read more about the proposed legislation here.

Please use the form below to contact your Legislators and let them know why a the Quality Places Fund is important to you, your business, and the future of our state.Your message will be most effective if you edit the sample letter to include your own perspectives, whether you're a Maine resident, tourist, worker, or business owner.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Invest in Maine's quality places

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm writing to urge you to dedicate new lodging tax revenues to create a permanent Quality Places Fund.

Maine people have consistently supported protecting our land and water, and safeguarding public access to forests and lakes for hiking, fishing and hunting.

The Quality Places Fund does those things, but also recognizes that we have to balance our commitment to rural and forested areas with revitalizing and rebuilding our towns, cities and villages.

Our communities and our outdoors are the things that draw tourists to Maine, but they also draw innovators, entrepreneurs, skilled employees and young people.

Please make this commitment to protect the places that make Maine special.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
May 10, 2007


Background Information

The Maine ‘brand’ is gaining in value

The Brookings Institution says that Maine’s quality of place is one of our strengths in the new economy. We can live modern lives – connected to the world through rapid transportation and internet connections – and still be close to working fishing villages, neighborly small towns, family-run farms, and accessible wild places. That is a powerful new reality in Maine today. Quality places, quality products and quality of life – that’s the Maine brand. Sometimes we underestimate the power of that brand, but products that evoke Maine sell all over the world.  Just ask L.L. Bean, Poland Spring, and Tom’s of Maine.

Economists say Maine's image, growing out of this special place and the people who live here, gives us a "competitive advantage" over other places that are more like "Anywhere USA." 

The Brookings Report recommends the creation of a Maine Quality Places Fund to make investment in Maine's "ace in the hole" - its unforgettable places - into a steady long-term strategy. Specifically, a dedicated 3-percent hike in the state's lodging tax should be used to finance a 10-year, $190 million revenue bond that would recapitalize the Land for Maine's Future program and a new Communities for Maine's Future program at $90 million apiece, with an additional $5 million to support traditional access and uses and $5 million to promote outdoor recreation and high-value tourism.

For more information:

Full text of LD 1872: An Act to Preserve Maine's Quality Places
Maine State Planning Office
Maine Downtown Center
The Natural Resources Council of Maine on Land for Maine's Future
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development: Nature Tourism strategic plans