The idea behind the governor’s Pine Tree Zones is reasonable: Use tax incentives to attract targeted businesses and industries to particular communities in need of economic growth and job development.

For qualifying businesses, locating in a Pine Tree Zone could pay big dividends. The state will forgo sales taxes on building materials and personal property. Approved companies pay no corporate income taxes for five years and get a 50 percent break for another five. Plus, there are other perks including reduced property taxes and exemptions on pollution regulations.

But is it possible to have too much of a good thing?

More than 100 sites have been designated Pine Tree Zones. The governor announced the last of these during a speech Thursday at Bates Mill. Some of them are in Lewiston, Auburn, Mexico, Rumford, Peru, Wilton, Norway, Paris and Oxford. Just about anywhere in the state except the Gold Coast north of Saco and south of Thomaston.

No doubt all the selected communities could use economic development and growth in good jobs. But with so many choices, the program does not focus growth on those areas with the greatest need or the most appropriate infrastructure.

Instead, it just shuts out the parts of the state that are doing relatively well while providing potential competitors to existing businesses a government-backed, taxpayer-financed leg up almost everywhere else.

We hope the plan works. We hope new jobs come streaming into the state and take up residence in places where they will do the most good. The idea is bold and aggressive.

But it also is financed by the businesses, workers and homeowners who are already here and already paying taxes. It’s important that their investments show real returns.

A more targeted approach, focusing on fewer sites, would be more pragmatic.


Legacy of service


JoAnn Pike, motivated by her own family’s financial struggles, has spent 23 years helping hungry people get the food they need.

She was the driving force and founder of Good Shepherd Food-Bank. Her efforts started small, out of her home, but have grown into a massive charity food distribution network. Last year alone, Good Shepherd collected more than 9 million pounds of food and distributed it to 470 food pantries and soup kitchens around the state.

On Thursday night, Pike’s life, career and contributions to the well-being of thousands were celebrated with a retirement party. She arrived in high style, chauffeured in a white limousine. More than 300 people gathered to celebrate Pike’s long years of work finding food for people who need it.

Illness has forced Pike to retire, but her legacy remains an inspiration.

Truckloads of food arrive daily at the newly christened JoAnn E. Pike Building in Auburn, the food bank’s headquarters. From Auburn, the impact of Pike’s work fans out across the region and state, reaching 50,000 people a month.

JoAnn Pike has set an example we should all strive to follow. One person, committed to a goal, can make an enormous difference.


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