Maine
Our 2010 Policy Priorities:
- Enact a strong reauthorization of CCDBG that significantly expands access to and improves the quality of childcare funded under the program. For FY2011, we urge Congress to increase CCDBG funding by $1 billion over FY2010 levels. (Learn more.)
- Increase discretionary funding for Head Start and Early Head Start by nearly $1 billion for FY2011. (Learn more.)
Did you know that in Maine:
- 274,000 children (to the age of 18) live in the state;
- Almost 1 out of every 3 children live in a household with only one parent;
- More than 2,900 children participate in the federally-funded Head Start program;
- 64 percent of eighth graders are below grade level in math;
- 65 percent of fourth graders are reading below grade level; and
- 24 percent of high school students do not graduate on time with a high school diploma.
America’s Edge Maine Members Meet with U.S. Senators Snowe and Collins
America's Edge members Jim Clair and Dana Connors with U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins
On Tuesday, April 13, 2010, America’s Edge members Dana Connors, President of the Maine Chamber of Commerce, and Jim Clair, CEO of Goold Health Systems, met with U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins in the Senators’ DC offices. Connors and Clair introduced America’s Edge to Snowe and Collins and made the case for increased federal investments in Head Start, Early Head Start and Child Care Development Block Grants.
Dana Connors and Jim Clair with U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe
“As a country, we have rarely viewed early childhood development as a strategy for economic growth. But investments in high-quality early education and care are among the most cost-effective and powerful sources of economic stimulus available.”
–James A. Clair, CEO, Goold Health Systems, Augusta, ME
Click here to view the sign-on letter presented to Senator Collins, and click here to view the sign-on letter presented to Senator Snowe.
Op-eds and Letters to the Editor published by America’s Edge Maine Members:
June 28, 2010 Bangor Daily News Letter to the Editor by Arthur Comstock, “A Solid Investment.”
June 15, 2010 Times Record Letter to the Editor by John Peters, “Leaders of Tomorrow.”
June 10, 2010 Times Record Letter to the Editor by Glenn Hutchinson, “Invest in Early Education.”
June 6, 2010 Kennebec Journal op-ed by Jim Clair, “For business, no better investment than early learning.”
May 28, 2010 Bangor Daily News op-ed by John Rohman, Principal of WBRC Architects & Engineers, “High-quality early education essential to success.”
March 13, 2010 Portland Press Herald Letter to the Editor by America’s Edge member Bob Davis “Preschool programs worthy, shouldn’t be short changed.”
March 13, 2010 Lewiston Sun Journal Letter to the Editor by America’s Edge member Chip Morrison “A more stable workforce.”
March 12, 2010 Bangor Daily News Letter to the Editor by America’s Edge member John Bragg “Invest early, often.”
February 11, 2010 Impact, Maine Chamber of Commerce’s weekly newsletter “Maine business leaders see high quality early education as key to future economic success.”
December 2, 2009 Times Record Letter to the Editor by Bob Davis “Building a Strong Future.”
October 30, 2009 (Brunswick) Times Record op-ed by America’s Edge member John Peters, CEO of Downeast Energy, “Early childhood investments make sense.”
October 14, 2009 Maine Policy Review: A Joint Publication of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center and the Margaret Chase Smith Library, essay by Dana Connors, “Investing in Maine’s Youngest Children Has Great Returns for Business.”
September 25, 2009 (Brunswick) Times Record article “Early education investment touted to area business” (following up to Sept. 24th Mid Coast Regional Business Leaders Summit).
March 13, 2009 Portland Press Herald letter to the editor by Dana Connors, President of the Maine Chamber of Commerce “Senators stimulus vote seen from opposite sides.”
February 1, 2009 Maine Sunday Telegram op ed by Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett and Jim Clair, CEO Goold Health Systems, “Invest in 21st century workforce.”
*For more information, please contact State Director Kim Gore at (207) 725-5946. or kgore@AmericasEdge.org.