Question 4 will provide the financial support to keep Maine growing.

On Nov. 8, the voters of Maine will have the opportunity to move the state forward. By supporting Question 4, the referendum to authorize $20 million in bonds to support economic development efforts in Maine, we have an opportunity to build the state’s small businesses and our emerging biotech industries.

The economic development bond package includes $20 million of state funds, but will be matched by nearly $44 million in additional federal and private funds. The $64 million infused into the Maine economy will support everything from world-class scientists at Maine universities and laboratories, to construction jobs, to low-cost loans for Maine’s micro-businesses.

While detractors would have you believe otherwise, Maine’s economy is moving in the right direction. We have created 5,000 new jobs in the last year, our per capita income is growing faster than all other New England states, unemployment is below the national average and, in the last year, 6,641 more people moved to Maine than left.

Maine must continue to invest in itself if we are to continue that economic progress, and especially so because of the uncertainty created by the closing of Brunswick Naval Air Station, and the sale of several Maine mills and MBNA.

Mainers overwhelmingly approved a jobs bond package in 2002 that helped to minimize the effects of the national recession. The investments in that bond package have helped Maine replace many of the manufacturing jobs that have left for cheap labor overseas and helped us compete in the new global economy.

By investing in research and development in Maine’s traditional agricultural and fishing industries, we are finding ways to better produce and market our natural resources. We are also putting funds into other forms of research and higher education, to create new technologies, tap existing ones and to train the people who will staff emerging and existing companies.

Question 4 is also an opportunity for institutions of higher education, private businesses and state government to collaborate and improve Maine’s economy. By entering into a partnership with the state to invest in building laboratories and research facilities, public and private universities get the opportunity to recruit top researchers to Maine. The work done at places like the Bigelow Laboratory in Boothbay or the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, has the potential to fuel the work being done at private laboratories like IDEXX of Westbrook and other medical or pharmaceutical labs.

Over the last two years, I have been conducting a listening tour around Maine to hear from small business owners and entrepreneurs about their businesses and what state government can do to help. One issue that kept coming up was the availability of micro-loans. Sometimes all that stands between a person with a great idea and a person with a business is a small loan to get things up and running. The Finance Authority of Maine would receive funding to make small loans at low rates available to small businesses. The Small Enterprise Growth Fund, which would receive $1 million if Question 4 passes, is a program that makes those small loans to entrepreneurs.

I believe in the power of the creativity of the people of Maine to grow Maine’s economy and build for our future. By investing in Maine’s economy, we invest in Maine families. On Nov. 8, Maine voters will have the opportunity to vote for an investment that will help to jump-start Maine’s economy and give Maine people the resources to capitalize on their creativity and ability. Please join me in voting yes on 4.

Rep. John Richardson is speaker of the House and represents House District 63, part of Brunswick.