I was pleased to read the Nov. 6 comments by Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, in which he highlighted two businesses that have recently come to our state: Boston Financial and Patriarch Partners.

Boston Financial will operate at the former MBNA headquarters in Rockland and Patriarch Partners at the bankrupt Red Shield in Old Town. While there were issues with Red Shield, and might continue to be issues, we recognize that there is a need to put the laid-off workers back to work, and are hopeful that Patriarch Partners will choose to focus on the possibilities for clean alternative energy production.

What impressed me most about Mr. Connors’ op-ed was the tone more than the details. There was a distinct lack of complaining about high taxes, whining about a poor business climate and despair about the loss of jobs. Rather, Connors notes that Maine’s business climate “is getting stronger,” and cites that strength as a major factor in Boston Financial’s decision to expand into Maine. He lauds the creation of the Pine Tree Zone program, and notes that Maine is aggressively attempting to attract new business.

Nowhere in Connors’ op-ed can a reader detect even a hint of pessimism or criticism of our business climate. Rather, he lauds the Pine Tree Zone program, and states that it has put Maine on a level playing field with the rest of the country.

How refreshing to hear someone who is not only a businessman, but also the representative of businesses throughout the state, express optimism and hope about our business climate.

Lynne Williams

State Chair, Maine Green Independent Party

Bar Harbor