CARIBOU, Maine — In terms of demographics, Maine is the oldest state in the nation, populated by what the state Office of Aging and Disability Services calls one of the largest concentrations of baby boomers.
The data in the State Plan On Aging, commissioned by the OADS, also indicates that the state’s population is aging faster than any other state.
With those facts in mind, officials with Mobilize Northern Maine are meeting to draft goals and strategies to minimize the impact that the retirement of older employees will have on the region.
Mobilize Northern Maine is an economic development group focused on helping the area grow and prosper.
Officials have concluded that they will need to do more than just train and retrain younger people in Aroostook County to prepare for the future. They have set a target of growing the 18- to 44-year-old population by 3 percent by 2017.
Representatives of Mobilize Northern Maine and other organizations working on economic growth in the area — the Aroostook Partnership for Progress and Northern Maine Development Commission — met Tuesday to form a consensus on several goals. One major priority is growing the number of younger workers.
Mark Madsen, chief economist for the consulting firm ViTAL Economy, said earlier this week that stable economies are powered heavily by the 18- to 44-year-old demographic. That should be about 35 percent of the working population.
Figures from the Aroostook-Washington County economic development district revealed that the working population in the region is approximately 29 percent, according to data gathered in the 2010 census.
Increasing the 18- to 44-year-old population by 3 percent would bring an additional 3,000 people to the region, planners indicated.
Bob Dorsey, APP president, acknowledged that it was an ambitious but necessary goal,
According to the OADS plan, the media age in the state rose by almost nine years during the last two decades. Currently, 22.6 percent of Maine’s total population is age 60 or older, meaning that more than 300,000 people in the state can look to the Area Agencies on Aging for services and support.
“It is clear from the declining workforce trends that we are seeing that we will not be able to sustain our existing business base let alone grow a new industry such as mining without a major effort to retain our young people and attract 18- to 44-year-olds to the County,” said Dorsey.
The group also is looking to increase the labor force participation rate to 62 percent by 2017. That is one area which has shown improvement since the first round of goal setting in 2009. The 2010 census revealed a labor participation rate of 58 percent.
A subcommittee of educators will submit recommendations on what the targets should be for growing the numbers of County residents with bachelor’s degrees or higher, associate degrees and professional certificates.
In the coming months, officials will focus on industry clusters that may help achieve the agreed-upon goals.
Is there a
beach there ?
I love the way theses people keep getting funds and getting paid for doing nothing. there is a very simple solution to keepping the youngens in the county. They need jobs.
AGREED!!!!
Right on! Throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks isn’t a job! It’s theft of Me The People’s money! Less studies, more rolling up your sleeves and WORKING! Rah rah Real Jobs!
I moved up to the County a few years ago. To be quite honest, it is a beautifull area, with an abundance of opportunity for outdoor recreation, but to live here is another story. There are no jobs, and probably half, if not more, are on some type of assistance in the area we are. So in my eyes, attempting to keep the young here really just condemms them to a life of low wages with very little opportunity. I apologize for being candid, and coming from the more southern areas, I think I just miss not having to drive an hour to a Walmart, and I will not miss driving an hour and a half to a highway on-ramp. Living here is far different than visiting and vacationing here.
I live in Piscataquis county, retired, and see the economic oppotunities to be vitually nonexistant with exception of health care low wage jobs; mostly paid by medicaid funding…………. Even though the goals of increasing opportunities for the younger group are good, Maine does not have the mindset to allow this to happen……………….. How many opportunities has Maine had over the past 20 years only to be ‘squashed’ by special interest groups??? Sadly, there seems to be no middle road or compromise from these groups; they don’t embrace change or want progress, and will delay any type of economic advancement for years, if necessary, in order to accomplish their goals, knowing that time is their best ally…….. This is the reason why the population is steadily becoming older, as the younger ‘workers’ have to leave Maine in order to find suitable work……………….. What I see is a state that is more and more dependant on the older population supporting the economy both at the local and state level……… An example; my property taxes have increased 300% in the last 10 years, mainly due to increased school budgets, resulting from inadequate funding at the state level…….. Being retired, living on a fixed income, I can assure you that my income has not increased 300% over that same period………….. While I don’t dispute the fact that I should support and help finance K-12 education, I do feel that our money is not serving our state, as intended, because of the necessity of our younger population leaving Maine searching for better opportunities………………… This is the area that should be addressed in this state; as, if Maine continues this trend for another 20 years, the older population will be forced to leave too…………….. Then what will become of Maine????…………. Have the ‘special interest’ groups finally won???????????????????
I agree with you. One of the false statements that this state continues to make is the increase spending at State Universitys, to provide a better education for our students. You can teach these students as much as you want, but the bottom line is there are no jobs after graduation. Most of the increased spending goes to pay these proffesors far more than they deserve, and live off our tax dollars forever. The current business conditions in this state are grim. How many Hostess employees voted themselves out of a job last week? And they think another company wants to expand or develop another business knowing these facts? The high cost of energy, combined with a lack of a substatial workforce forces most larger companys to seek alternate areas like the Carlinas. The enviroment is muc more friendly, a to of quality colleges, and a population large enough to meet their needs. Just look at that Quimby woman. Where did she start her business and where did it end up?
A little background on Roxanne as I remember…………… The original founder of Bert’s Bees started the business in Parkman, ME back in the 80’s……… Roxanne came on board to help market and expand the business…………. She applied to the State for a business loan through some business program available at that time and was refused the loan. Shortly after the refusal, Bert’s Bees relocated to North or South Carolina (?) and sucessfully established the business……… This was a missed opportunity for Maine…………….. The originnal founder, Bert Sharvitz was bought out by Roxanne and still lives in Parkman………….
There are WalMarts in Houlton and Presque Isle, as well as Grand Falls and Edmundston. (I don’t like WalMart, but if that’s your thing, then you can’t be THAT far from one).
You really like highway on-ramps that much? A bit odd, but to each his own, I guess. (There are a few new ones in Caribou now that the Connector is finished, you can go drive on and off a bunch of times if you really need to…)
lol, that’s funny!
Why is that funny? This person does not know me, does not know where I live, probably does not live up here, but I’m an idiot?
Try living in Ashland/Portage area, you’re at least 45 minutes from the Walmart in Presque Isle. Walmart is not really my “thing” either but there are not a whole lot of other options, unless you really want to deal with the border crossing and being worried about if the peanut butter you bought is going to make it accross. I mean, sure there are the littler grocery stores, Ashland FoodMart and such but the prices are at about a 75% mark-up. I tried it with my family, the area is gorgeous, but being the new people in a town of 400ish is not fun. People get weird when they do not know you and you’re from the bigger cities. Vacation there, perhaps. Live there, never again. I must say, I do agree with necader.
Fair enough, but it’s not as bad as you portray. There’s a super Walmart in Presque Isle, SaveAlot in Caribou (even cheaper food prices than Walmart,) Mardens in Houlton, Presque Isle and Madawaska, and other good places to shop. Almost every town is bigger than 400 people. Heck, even little Portage has a golf course, good restaurant, motel, general store, and more. There are a few towns on the edge of the woods that are quite a ways from bigger towns, I’m thinking of Ashland, Patten and Island Falls. But that’s about it. Border crossing is still pretty easy (we go across all the time).
We love living here (and my wife is quite young lol)
Best place in the world to raise a family.
Agree to disagree. Would not want to ever raise a family there, like I said we tried. I love having culture available and large libraries, a downtown, public transportation if needed, guess my heart belongs in a city. And I am sorry but the deep fried greasy spoon, AKA Dean’s hardly qualifies as a “good restaurant” except maybe for the Sunday morning, after church crowd and their gossip with the huffy French speaking rude waitress. In a way I do hope more young people move to these areas to raise their families, then maybe some of the people would become a little more open minded and accepting. But enjoy your life, it’s the way it should be for you. And I’ll enjoy mine, traffic lights, drug users, 5 minute car ride to huge shopping centers and downtowns. :)
If they don’t live here, they cannot know. Deans a good restaurant? The only decent meal I’ve had since I’ve been here is the Sporting club and even that is closed after the car ran into it.
I don’t like Walmart, and YES I am an hour away from one. And my job requires me to go south every week or so, so a highway is a convienience.
So you know not where I live, you don’t know my working staus, but you have already assumed I’m an idiot and I don’t know anything. Nice.
You know not where I live, you don’t know the requirements of my career, but I’m an idiot driving in circles. Real nice!
I agree. I once visited the County. Beautiful country and open space. Living in the south is so different. The traffic is hideous but there are jobs.
Why aren’t the people on assistance pooling great ideas and resources together and starting businesses? There are plenty of venture capitalists (like Mitt Romney) out there just waiting to get behind the next great idea, most of which come from the Average Joe and not elitist “thinkers”!
Folks from all over this country often move to a place that they have enjoyed very much while vacationing. You are correct it’s not the same. If I move to Hawaii I won’t be living at the beach, If I move to Washing D.C I won’t be sleeping in the Lincoln Bed room either. It takes about two years to figure out that back home wasn’t that bad year round. How many people have we all known that have moved to Florida before retirement age? They usually come back after spending a hot humid summer down there.
agreed!
good luck
The horse goes in front of the cart you maroons
Sorry – but this isn’t going to happen. Every aging community in the country is trying for the same thing – to attract young people. No where is it more evident then among aging church congregations – each of whom hold annual meetings every year to discuss ways to attract young families. But they don’t come. For the same reason that they won’t move to Aroostook – there is nothing there for them.
I wouldn’t say there is nothing for them. It’s not all that different from most parts of Maine, and better in some ways (for young people).
It’s pretty simple- a privately funded connector to 95 (NOT TAXPAYER FUNDED) that links northern County towns to Houlton and the rest of the world will spur economic growth! Non-union manufacturing jobs would solve a lot of problems in Aroostook County! Maybe someone needs to start a bakery to fill the void left by Hostess! Every day someone’s not working toward a goal like this is another day someone’s not taking advantage of the American dream! There, no one had to spend any money for those great ideas!
Good luck with keeping this age group in Aroostook County. It takes money to raise a family. There aren’t that many good paying jobs in the state let alone in the county.
Mobilize Northern Maine, Northern Maine Development: Another example of government money spent. No results, unless you count the fact that those involved in these studies/grants/groups get paid. Paid much more than the average hard-working Aroostook county resident.
Exactly. What did the citizens, and government, ever do prior to the emergence of people with clipboards?
This is putting the cart in front of the horse. This area is well aware that if it wants to keep this group in the county then there need to be jobs that will keep them here. What good will it do to bring 3000 people home to no jobs. Get real will you. The time for studying is over it is time for action and job creation and they will stay and or return and only then will this happen.
This northern part of the state helped elect our governor. Also its distance from medical services, cultural amenities and shopping services (outside of Walmart) makes this area less attractive to young people. The educated and those seeking a more vibrant lifestyle have left this area of Maine in droves.
Not really.
And your “facts” are wrong, too.
Enlighten us. Where is TheRoyalScam wrong?