On Election Day, Maine voters will have the opportunity to support economic growth and workforce training so young people can stay in Maine.

I am voting “yes” on Question 5 to help build a 21st century workforce, attract new jobs to Maine and promote new cures for devastating illnesses such as Alzheimer’s.

Question 5 asks voters to approve a $3 million bond which, if it passes, would be awarded competitively and matched by $5.7 million in private and public funds. The MDI Biological Laboratory would construct a 3,000-square-foot training laboratory on its campus that will benefit students from across Maine.

The MDI Biological Laboratory has a solid record of training Maine students for 21st century jobs, with a research training program that reaches across the state and has brought tens of millions of federal dollars to more than a dozen institutions from Lewiston to Fort Kent. More than 2,000 students have already received training that prepared them for good jobs in health and science.

“Yes” on Question 5 also means support for critical research that focuses on developing new treatments for many of Maine’s most common chronic health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

To support Maine’s economic future, the public must build the science and technology sector to make sure young people are ready for 21st century jobs.

Question 5 deserves strong public support.

Charles Morrison, Auburn

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