As we rush through traffic, lost in our thoughts, it’s easy to ignore the scenery. If we look, though, we would see major business development in the Twin Cities.

Last year Lewiston ranked first in new development projects; the Twin Cities ranked second in job creation and business investments.

We can take pride in that.

The business development in Lewiston and Auburn has been obvious because much of it is tied to new construction — the heart center at Central Maine Medical Center and expansion of the Sun Journal, WahlcoMetroflex, Banknorth Group, Live Bridge and Lepage Bakeries in Lewiston, renovations and expansion at Gates Formed Fibre and Safe Handling, expansion of Maine Family Credit Union and arrival of Angostura Foods in Auburn.

Not counted in these statistics are the new hotel in Auburn, expansion of the Auburn Hall and construction of a new Wal-Mart distribution center in Lewiston.

What is interesting about the new business development, defined as creating more than 10 jobs or spending more than $500,000 on new investments, is that Lewiston and Auburn have not had the largest projects in Maine. They’ve had the most.

That’s good news for the area because it means new development is not tied to a single company or a single industry.

According to the Maine Department of Labor, since 1994 the largest number of businesses employ only between 1 and 4 workers, making small business the backbone of Maine’s economy. But these are also the businesses hardest hit by rising insurance premiums and competition for skilled labor. So, while it’s good to see stability in the small market, it’s also good to see growth of larger businesses, indicating a commitment to these communities.

The news is not so good in other parts of Maine, particularly in western and northern Maine where the wood industry is suffering. The news has not always been good in Lewiston and Auburn, either, as we’ve been forced to diversify beyond shoe and textile mills.

The real progress we see now is the result of years of hard work in public and private sectors that must continue at equal or greater pace if we are to make Lewiston and Auburn destination cities.
Coming spring
The track was sold out Sunday for the Daytona 500. Although the race was shortened by rain and frustrated by many pit stops under Winston Cup’s new fuel cell rule, the race offered us the promise of spring.

Motor racing is a warm weather sport. So is baseball, where spring training is in full swing in Florida and Arizona. Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions aside, fledging signs are spring have arrived.

In a few short weeks the sap will be flowing, the songbirds will return and gardening shows will sprout up in civic centers across the state.

It’s been a brutally cold winter and the East Coast buckled down for another strong storm Monday, but just beyond the ice and snow is the coming spring — on the track and the baseball diamond, in our forests and in our gardens.
jmeyer@sunjournal.com

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