8331_NewGloucester_2021-2022_AnnualReport_Web

STATE OF MAINE O FFICE OF THE G OVERNOR 1 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0001 STATE OF MAINE O FFICE OF THE G OVERNOR 1 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0001 STATE OF MAINE O FFICE OF THE G OVERNOR 1 STATE HOUSE STATION AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0001

PHONE: (207) 287-3531 (Voice) e will also develop a world-class workforce starting with Pre-K for every 4-year-old in Maine d more post-high school options that result in a valued credential. Attracting talented young ople to move here and make Maine their home will be top priorities of my Administration. aine communities, especially rural communities, are confronting a severe workforce shortage d an aging and declining population. It is time for bold, dynamic ideas that will change Maine the better. That is why I, along with people ranging from small business owners, innovators d entrepreneurs, to economists and every day, hard-working Mainers, developed an economic n designed to make it easier for small businesses to grow, for people to come and stay, and for aine to thrive. welcome your ideas. We are all in this together. We all want Maine to have a beautiful vironment, happy people, and prosperous communities ank you, Phone: (207) 287-3531 (Voice) FAX: (207) 287-1034 PHONE: (207) 287-3531 (Voice) 888-577-6690 (TTY) FAX: (207) 287-1034 www.maine.gov While I am proud of the progress we have made, there is more to do, like addressing the housing crisis, the workforce shortage, and the opioid epidemic and strengthening health care, education, and the economy. I know that by working together to tackle these issues head-on, we can improve the lives and livelihoods of Maine people and make Maine the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Thank you again for the honor to serve you as Governor. Thank you, Janet T. Mills Governor Maine can be proud of our nation-leading progress, but our work is far from done. Through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, we will continue to address our longstanding workforce shortage, the expansion of broadband, education and job training opportunities, housing, child care, and transportation. Drawing on the hard work and resilience of Maine people, together we will rebuild our economy and rise from this unprecedented challenge a state that is stronger than ever. In 2022, I will be focused on our economy, on our climate, on our kids, on keeping people safe and on the health and welfare of all Maine people. We have persevered, and, while challenges remain, we will get through them together. I am proud of the people of Maine, and I am proud to be your Governor. Thank you, Janet T. Mills Governor 888-577-6690 (TTY) FAX: (207) 287-1034 www.maine.gov Dear Friends: It was the highest honor of my life to take the oath of office to become Maine’s 75th governor. Over the next four years, I will do everything in my power to make Maine the safe, beautiful, prosperous state we all want for our children and grandchildren. That is why on my first day in office I directed the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to implement Medicaid expansion as quickly and efficiently as possible. My Administration will ensure that it is paid for sustainably; that the cost of health insurance is controlled; and that the cost of prescription drugs is reined in. In addition to creating a Director of Opiate Response to marshal the collective power and resources of state government to stem the tide of the opioid epidemic, we will make Narcan widely available, increase access to medication assisted treatment and recovery coaches, and expand drug courts. We also need a healthy environment. My Administration will embrace clean energy; change our modes of transportation; weatherize homes and businesses; and reach a goal of 50 percent of our energy coming from Maine renewable resources. By reducing the impacts of climate change, we will create good- paying jobs, preserve our environment, and protect our state’s farming, fishing, and forestry industries. We will also develop a world-class workforce starting with Pre-K for every 4-year-old in Maine and more post-high school options that result in a valued credential. Attracting talented young people to move here and make Maine their home will be top priorities of my Administration. Maine communities, especially rural communities, are confronting a severe workforce shortage and an aging and declining population. It is time for bold, dynamic ideas that will change Maine for the better. That is why I, along with people ranging from small business owners, innovators and entrepreneurs, to economists and every day, hard-working Mainers, developed an economic plan designed to make it easier for small businesses to grow, for people to come and stay, and for Maine to thrive. I welcome your ideas. We are all in this together. We all want Maine to have a beautiful environment, happy people, and prosperous communities Thank you, ar Friends: was the highest honor of my life to take the oath of office to become Maine’s 75th governor. er the next four years, I will do everything in my power to make Maine the safe, beautiful, osperous state we all want for our children and grandchildren. at is why on my first day in office I directed the Maine Department of Health and Human rvices to implement Medicaid expansion as quickly and efficiently as possible. My ministration will ensure that it is paid for sustainably; that the cost of health insurance is ntrolled; and that the cost of prescription drugs is reined in. In addition to creating a Director Opiate Response to marshal the collective power and resources of state government to stem tide of the opioid epidemic, we will make Narcan widely available, increase access to dication assisted treatment and recovery coaches, and expand drug courts. e also need a healthy environment. My Administration will embrace clean energy; change our des of transportation; weatherize homes and businesses; and reach a goal of 50 percent of our ergy coming from Maine renewable resources. By reducing the impacts of climate change, we l create good- paying jobs, preserve our environment, and protect our state’s farming, fishing, d forestry industries. Dear Maine Resident: In January, I was privileged to take the Oath of Office to begin my second term as your Governor. I am deeply humbled by the trust the people of Maine have placed in me, and I look forward to continuing to work hard over the next four years to improve the lives and livelihoods of Maine people. Over the past four years, we have made real progress. We have expanded health care, leading to the largest decline in the uninsured rate of any state in the nation. We fully funded the State’s share of public education. We delivered two-years of free community college. We fully restored municipal revenue sharing to five percent. We delivered substantial tax relief, nation-leading inflation relief, and emergency energy relief to help Maine people through difficult times. Through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, we are strengthening and diversifying our economy. In 2022, our state’s gross domestic product – a key measure of economic growth – grew at the 9th fastest rate in the United States. People are moving to Maine at a rate higher than any other New England state, and at one of the highest rates in the nation. We have enacted balanced budgets, and we have built up Maine’s “Rainy Day” fund to a record high, preparing our state to continue meeting its commitments in the event of an economic downturn. Dear Friends: For three years it has been my privilege to guide our great state, working with the Legislature to keep Maine people safe and put our economy on a path to recovery. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines in December 2020, we have worked hard to get as many shots into the arms of Maine people as quickly as possible. In the last year, more than a million Maine people have gotten fully vaccinated from COVID-19. It is thanks to them that our state has one of highest vaccination rates and one of the lowest death rates from COVID-19, despite having a much older population than other states. People are coming to Maine because we are one of the safest states in the nation. Following the recommendations of the Economic Recovery Committee, our economy has not only fully recovered, but has surpassed pre-pandemic projections and unemployment claims have dropped to pre-pandemic levels. And, last year, I was pleased to sign a balanced, bipartisan budget that finally achieves the State’s commitment to 55 percent education funding, fully restores revenue sharing, and expands property tax relief for Maine residents. Janet T. Mills Governor

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