Senator Gooley: New Tenant at Former MBNA Building Helps Economic Development

FOR IMMERDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 12, 2006

Farmington – State Senator Walter Gooley, representing District #18, visited Farmington today to hear an announcement about an economic development project, brought about by new tenants at the former MBNA building, that would bring new jobs to the region.

With a new business entering the space vacated by MBNA last March, the region stands to regain the nearly 100 jobs it lost when the previous tenants vacated.

“It’s refreshing to see companies coming into the region and opening their doors for business,” Senator Gooley said. “We must continue welcoming businesses to the region, and the State of Maine as a whole, by reducing the tax burden and doing away with many of the burdensome regulations that are keeping other businesses from locating here, and investing and creating jobs here. If we don’t succeed in making it less expensive to do business in Maine, then we will not be able to grow economically.”

Currently, the unemployment rate for Franklin County is 5.7%. And, according to projections by the Maine State Planning Office, based on the US Census Data, Franklin Country is set to have a full and part-time job growth rate of only 0.1% by the year 2020, if current economic circumstances remain the same.

“The figures show the need for some changes that will give our economy a boost. We cannot let the good news of one new company relocating to the region distract us from the greater issue,” explained Gooley. “We must create an environment that will welcome new business to the region and the state at a far greater level then we have now. Maybe, if things improve, it won’t be such a surprise when one new business comes along.”

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