2021 ANNUAL SUMMIT
Time until 2022 Summit
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PAST SUMMITS
Visit any of the links below to view our previous summits.
THANK YOU FOR A SUCCESSFUL 2021 SUMMIT!
Turning Climate Action into Economic Opportunity:
Smart Growth Guidance for Maine Communities
Host City: Biddeford
Satellite Locations: Bangor | Calais | Caribou | Machais | Rangeley | Rumford | Sidney
If you couldn’t make the Summit this year, we invite you to watch the recording below
Post Summit Forum
Wednesday, November 10th, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
We added this new component to the 2020 Summit as part of the COVID adaptation, and due to its success in continuing the conversations ignited during the Summit, GrowSmart Maine will host a Post-Summit forum again in 2021. All Summit attendees are encouraged to participate.
The Post Summit Forum is a 90-minute virtual session one week after the Summit. The week time lapse allows for participants to think through the discussions and issues raised by our keynote speakers, dive deeper into Summit analysis, and identify three key opportunities or actionable items for climate action and economic opportunities within Maine communities.
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Our 2021 Annual Summit addressed topics related to Climate Change; Economic Pandemic Disruption; Federal Stimulus Dollars. Conflicts and opportunities abound right now for Maine’s diverse regions, iconic industries, and economies. In this environment, how will Maine ensure lasting positive impact from recent federal initiatives while activating our new Climate Action Plan and 10-year economic plan?
Smart growth strategies can help turn risks to opportunity. At GrowSmart’s 2021 Summit you will hear success stories and learn the essential steps your community can take to stay ahead.
Keynote Speakers
Dr. Devashree Saha and Kate Dufour
DR. DEVASHREE SAHA
Senior Associate
World Resources Institute
“Rural America is key to the success of U.S. climate policy. Rural communities are already facing increasingly severe impacts from climate change. At the same time, these communities are also a critical part of any solution, be it through investments in renewable energy, more efficient use of energy, or agricultural practices that sequester carbon. These investments can create jobs and boost economic growth while ensuring that benefits in transitioning to a net-zero economy support rural as well as urban and suburban communities.”
Dr. Devashree Saha is a Senior Associate at WRI United States. In this role, she supports state, city, and federal policymakers as they work to develop and implement policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support clean energy. This includes analysis of the economics of climate action, and work to develop policies to enable an equitable transition to a low-carbon economy and ensure fairness for workers and communities adversely impacted by phase down of fossil fuels.
Prior to joining WRI, Devashree led the Council of State Government’s (CSG) energy and environmental policy work where she was responsible for directing research and providing policy analysis and technical assistance to state legislators and executive branch officials. Before joining CSG, Devashree worked at the Brookings Institution where her research focused on a wide array of clean energy topics, including examining clean energy innovation trends at the U.S. sub-national level, identifying promising clean energy financing mechanisms, and estimating the employment size, nature and spatial geography of the U.S. clean economy. Earlier in her career, she worked for the National Governors Association, providing governors and their staff with data and guidance on best practices affecting the energy sector. Over her career, she has authored several publications on clean energy that have informed state and city policymaking.
Dr. Devashree holds a Ph.D in public policy from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in political science from Purdue University.
Read : America’s New Climate Economy: A Comprehensive Guide to the Economic Benefits of Climate Policy in the United States, coauthored by Dr. Saha.
“Municipal leaders are often called upon to find and implement solutions to challenges that result from a variety of different factors.
Such challenges as affordable housing, reliable broadband service, and the ability to adapt to climate change and economic challenges are addressed with local ingenuity and can-do attitudes of elected and appointed municipal leaders, often leading to the implementation of lasting solutions.
That said, the over-reliance on property taxpayers to resolve issues of statewide significance is an unsustainable practice. All Maine residents must work together to make the best use of limited resources and provide support to the entity best suited to implement solutions at the local, regional and state levels.”
Kate has worked for MMA since 1995 and served as the Director of the State and Federal Relations Department since 2017, which is charged with representing municipal interest before the Maine State Legislature. Her areas of focus include taxation, labor and State appropriations. Kate received her BA degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Maine and Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine. Kate is also a member of the Hallowell City Council.
Read: State-Municipal Partnership Programs: Past, Present and Future
Municipal Issues Paper 2018, Reestablishing the State Municipal Partnership co-authored by Kate Dufour
Format & Guidelines
After the success of last year’s multiple location + hybrid virtual model, and thanks to our sponsors and partners, we will be hosting from our anchor site in Biddeford and satellite locations.
Proof of vaccination at the door and masks are required to attend the Summit at our anchor site in Biddeford.
Each satellite location will have their own masking requirements.
If you register to attend any site in person, and later change your mind and wish to attend virtually, OR we are required to shift the summit to a fully virtual model, after the summit we can refund the difference in your ticket price, or you may opt to donate the difference in your ticket price to GrowSmart Maine.
Thank you for joining us virtually if you are exhibiting symptoms.
For updated detailed information about Covid-19 symptoms and guidelines please visit the CDC website.
We’d like to thank the sponsors of 2021 GrowSmart Maine Summit:
In-Kind Sponsors
We’d like to give thanks to our satellite venue partners for making possible
the multiple locations across the state for people to come together in small groups
to engage in the Summit together!
PAST SUMMITS
Visit any of the links below to view our previous summits.