By Buzz Lamb We’ve all heard the phrase “buy local.” But what exactly does that mean? And why is it important? “Buying local” – is not just about supporting your local farmer or retailer. It’s about building the strong economic and social foundations that produce more vibrant communities, particularly when combined with efforts to revitalize…
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in opposition to LD 1764 January 24, 2018 Senator Paul Davis, Representative Danny Martin and members of the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, my name is Nancy Smith and I am the Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine. We are a statewide non-partisan, non-profit, membership-based…
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in support of LD 1698, Resolve, Directing the Maine Community College System To Promote Innovation and Growth in Rural Maine through the support of local and traditional industries January 17, 2018 Senator Langley, Representative Kornfield and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural…
Written by Rachel Bouvier. As an environmental economist, member of GrowSmart Maine, and an avid hiker and “consumer” of conservation land, I testified in front of the Ag, Forestry and Conservation Committee back in December. Here are some highlights of my testimony. Many municipalities around Maine are concerned with the tax-exempt status of some conservation lands. …
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in support of LD 520 January 10, 2018 Senator Hamper, Representative Gattine and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, my name is Nancy Smith and I am the Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine. We are a statewide non-partisan, non-profit, membership-based organization working…
Testimony of Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine in support of LDs 178, 319, 955 and 1118. January 9, 2018 Senator Hamper, Representative Gattine and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, my name is Nancy Smith and I am the Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine. We are a statewide non-partisan,…
This memo was prepared by Nancy Smith, Executive Director of GrowSmart Maine, and select information was presented at a 11.13.17 Roundtable discussion hosted by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree in Portland, Maine. See bottom of this page for a link to the video of the roundtable discussion. As Congress prepares to debate tax reform, GrowSmart Maine wishes…
By Executive Director Nancy Smith || I’ve been paying attention to the very public debate about the Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument with the same curiosity as most Mainers, and this past weekend, I traveled a few hours north to explore the Katahdin Region. The drive up I-95 is an easy one and pleasant…
By Susan Ransom Last night I walked over to our community garden plot with my husband and our dog, greeting neighbors (and their dogs) along the way. Within five blocks I can walk to the library, the Quality Shop, Pat’s Meat Market, Baxter Woods, Siano’s restaurant, Roy’s Shoe Repair, the Sewing Shop, Jet Video, and…
To the Members of the Maine Land Use Planning Commission August 10, 2017 As noted in my testimony yesterday, I am providing a written summary of my remarks. I was encouraged to hear the Chair of the Commission state that it is not the goal of the Commission to eliminate the adjacency rule, but to…