Policy Priorities and Research Agenda

Throughout its 40+ year history, CEI has devoted time and energy to advancing state and federal policies that expand resources for rural communities, natural resource-based industries, business ownership, workforce development, and the expansion of clean energy.

In the mid-1980s, CEI joined forces with colleagues from Community Development Corporations (CDCs) to advocate for federal programs important to community economic development. This coalition is responsible for legislative initiatives and bipartisan support resulting in over $2 billion in federal allocations for the CDC/CDFI field. Maine’s congressional delegation is united in supporting and sponsoring community development legislative initiatives, including economic assistance for women entrepreneurs.

CEI works with legislators, community organizations and other stakeholders to create broader government support for new initiatives and demonstration programs in addition to ongoing efforts to boost economic and community development. 

Learn how engaging with State Government can benefit your small business.

On the state level, CEI advocates for resources that benefit populations left out of the mainstream, or struggling in our economy.

Coalitions and Partnerships

Maine


National


Testimonies

National Advocacy

front of a formal building marked treasury

August 5, 2022

Comments on the “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) on Reforming the Community Reinvestment Act Regulatory Framework.”

CEI strongly supports the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which has been the driver of much-needed investment to communities with low to medium incomes over the past 40+ years. While the proposal overall represents important progress, there are some areas where we believe the rule needs modification to achieve the desired outcome of increased capital flow, especially to low- and moderate-income communities and people. CEI’s highest priority recommendations are outlined in the linked comment letter.

130th Maine State Legislature

February 15, 2022

LD 1626 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary
in support of LD 1626, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act

March 15, 2022

LD 2013 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
in support of
LD 2013, An Act Relating to Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Contamination in the State

March 7, 2022

FY22 Supplemental General Fund Budget Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs
in support of
FY22 Supplemental General Fund Budget Providing Funding to Accommodate the Increased Costs
Associated with Staff Support for the Maine Economic Growth Council

March 7, 2022

LD 2003 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing
in support of
LD 2003, An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by
Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions

March 1, 2022

LD 856 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
in support of
LD 856, An Act to Balance Renewable Energy Development with Natural and Working Lands
Conservation

February 22, 2022

LD 1955 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology
in support of
LD 1955, An Act To Facilitate Net Energy Billing

February 8, 2022

LD 1941 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation
Neither For Nor Against
LD 1941, An Act To Clarify and Update the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program

February 3, 2022

LD 1894 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology

Neither for, Nor Against LD 1894, An Act To Support Municipal Broadband Infrastructure through Incentives and Competition

January 12, 2022

LD 1838 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs
in support of LD 1838, An Act To Improve Student Access to Postsecondary School Transcripts and Diplomas

January 11, 2022

LD 1805 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
in support of LD 1805, Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 26: Producer Margins, A Major Substantive Rule of the Maine Milk Commission

June 9, 2021

LD 1733 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs
In support of LD 1733, An Act To Provide Allocations for the Distribution of State Fiscal Recovery Funds

May 24, 2021

LD 709 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology
In Support of LD 709, Resolve, To Provide a Brief Moratorium on Certain New Net Energy Billing Arrangements and To Examine the Costs and Benefits of Net Energy Billing

May 20, 2021

LD 1712 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Health & Human Services
in support of LD 1712, An Act To Support Children’s Healthy Development and School Success

May 11, 2021

LD 1652 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
in support of LD 1652, An Act To Build a Child Care System by Recruiting and Retaining Maine’s Early Childhood Educators Workforce

May 17, 2021

LD 1684 Testimony

Testimony to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in support of LD 1684, An Act to Strengthen Maine’s Workforce by Expanding English Language Acquisition and Workforce Training Programs

May 12, 2021

LD 1659/1556 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology in support of LD 1659, An Act to Create the Maine Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator and in support of LD 1556, Resolve, To Create the Commission to Study and Recommend a Financing Model to Increase Capital Investment in Renewable Energy, Clean Energy Technology, Energy Efficiency Projects and Jobs in Maine

May 4, 2021

LD 1565 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry in support of LD 1565, An Act To Strengthen Maine’s Agriculture, Food and Forest Economy

 

May 3, 2021

LD 1573 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services in support of LD 1573, An Act to Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Study Long-term
Care Workforce Issues

May 2, 2021

LD 1329 Testimony

Testimony to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs in support of LD 1329, An Act To Establish the Career Advancement and Navigation Initiative in the Department of
Education To Lower Barriers to Career Advancement

April 27, 2021

LD 1555 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology in support of LD 1555, An Act to Fund Broadband Internet Structure for Marginalized Groups in the State

April 26, 2021

LD 983 Testimony

Testimony to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations & Financial Affairs in support of LD 983, An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Promote Land Conservation, Working Waterfronts, Water Access and Outdoor Recreation

April 20, 2021

LD 1475 Testimony

In support of LD 1475, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue for Food Processing Infrastructure in Targeted Areas of the State.”

April 20, 2021

LD 1235 Testimony

In support of LD 1235, “An Act To Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue To Connect Maine with a World-class Internet Infrastructure.”

April 14, 2021

LD 1034 Testimony

Testimony Submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government in support of LD 1034, An Act To Provide Funding To Support the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations

April 13, 2021

LD 1146 Testimony

Testimony to the Committee on Marine Resources
Opposition to LD 1146 – An Act To Protect Maine’s Ocean Waters and Support Regulatory Oversight and the Long-term Health of the Aquaculture Industry

April 4, 2021

LD 870 Testimony

In support of LD 870, “Resolve, Directing the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations To Study the Impact of Policies Regarding Agriculture, Access to Land, Access to Grants and Access to Financing on African-American and Indigenous Farmers in the State.”

April 2, 2021

LD 229 and LD 950 Testimony

in support of LD 229, An Act To Increase Investment Caps in the Maine Seed Capital Tax Credit Program
AND
in opposition to LD 950, An Act To Improve Maine’s Economic Development Incentives

February 25, 2021

LD 340 Testimony

Testimony to the Committee on Energy, Utilities & Technology
in support of LD 340, An Act to Allow for the Establishment of Commercial Property Clean Assessed Clean Energy Programs

Feb 24, 2021

LD 221 Testimony

In support of LD 221, “An Act Making Unified Appropriations and Allocations for the Expenditures of State
Government, General Fund and Other Funds and Changing Certain Provisions of the Law Necessary to
the Proper Operations of State Government for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 2021, June 30, 2022 and
June 30, 2023 – Sec. AA-1. 35-A MRSA §9211 – Extension of 10-Cent Surcharge for ConnectMaine Fund”

February 18, 2021

LD 143 Testimony

Testimony to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology in support of LD 143, An Act To Make the Arrearage Management Program Permanent

February 16, 2021

LD 201 Testimony

Testimony to the Committee on Taxation in support of LD 201, An Act To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Promote Weatherization in the Buildings Sector by Extending the Sunset Date for the Historic Property Rehabilitation Tax Credit

February 3, 2021

LD 2 Testimony

Testimony Submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government in support of LD 2, An Act To Require the Inclusion of Racial Impact Statements in the Legislative Process

Research and Reports

September 2020

Maine Historic Tax Credit Economic Impacts Report

January 2019

Advancing Clean Energy Investment in Northern New England

March 2018

Voices from the Field: Conversations About Quality Jobs with Washington County Employers

2016

Maine Policy Review: Impact Investing and Community Development

March 2016

Building Maine's Economy: How Maine Can Embrace Immigrants and Strengthen the Workforce