Why I’m living in Maine again

I was born in Bangor on Aug. 29, 1965, where I now also reside. I say also because this spring I moved back to Bangor after more than 16 years living out of state.

The move in both directions and processes involved over this period and longer has, for me, been somewhat life-defining. Articulating fully its impact feels elusive, but certainly includes, among other factors, an evolved appreciation of the state, a growing recognition of its bounty and real challenges, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to Maine.

In 1988 I graduated from the University of Maine No. 1 in the College of Arts and Sciences. Driving to Bangor and crossing the state line in my return to Maine after this decade-plus period, late at night with flurries coming down preceding a snowstorm that hit me full brunt an hour or more outside of Bangor (this felt appropriate), I honestly felt in my heart and maybe even my soul that I could appreciate the sign (if my short- and long-term memory haven’t failed me) welcoming all: “Maine, the way life should be.”

I had left the state as part of the “outmigration” or “brain drain” affecting so many. I had wanted to test the adage that if you can make it in New York you can make it anywhere, and satisfied that I had the skills to have a good life, I wanted to return to Maine. Quickly.

As Maine continues to transition within its economic mix into the information-rich global economy that the world has become, one idea that I have long harbored is of the creation of a “Maine Environmental Science Network” that would successfully coordinate and integrate for economic export leading Maine environmental knowledge.

Environmental solutions has been prominently identified as one of the significant and most high-growth business areas worldwide of the 21st century (clean drinking water, deforestation, acid rain, agricultural and maritime issues, global warming, etc., is environmental business worldwide).

Through a Maine Environmental Science Network, Maine would more tightly and expansively coordinate and integrate its leading environmental knowledge statewide (forestry, maritime and agricultural science, renewable energy, etc.) and then do a better marketing job toward promoting this valuable informational resource toward where it is sought and needed.

Increasing Maine dependence upon revenue sources that may be “quick-fix” (e.g. borrowing), painful (e.g. cutting of social programs), socially debatable (e.g. gambling), that threaten the long-term natural resources of the state (e.g. over-development) or that are noxious both politically and in regard to general business health (e.g. raising taxes) in my view necessitates greater development of economic growth strategies consistent with global economic realities and trends.

I am intrigued and hopeful by the state’s already beginning current efforts in these areas through such entities as Maine’s Applied Technology Development Centers, http://www.atdcmaine.org. An extension of such efforts with some substantial alterations, I believe, could be quite fruitful.

In particular, to name a few changes for future development efforts, growing beyond the significant focus on incubator or new or emerging businesses, I would like to see a greater focus on the role of Maine’s already most developed and leading environmental research, technologies and expertise and then have such expertise more strongly coordinated into a network beyond the individual company.

This would allow such offerings to be most effectively marketed for significant export to where they are needed, for economic gain servicing environmental needs.

I feel very grateful that the Maine that the entry sign refers to was here for me to come back to.

To me, Maine is the richest state I know, and I hope that this always continues.

Alex Hammer is a resident of Bangor.