March 2023 Eggs and Issues: A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

This week, the Chamber hosted an engaging discussion at Eggs and Issues on the challenges and opportunities for welcoming New Mainers into the workforce. Panelists from the City of Portland, South Portland Public Schools, the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition, Luke’s Lobster, and the Greater Portland Council of Governments outlined the severe shortage of critical systems and infrastructure at the state level to support new arrivals to Maine.

In short, we know we need to grow our workforce in Maine, and we have a ready, willing, and talented workforce in our New Mainer communities, but barriers and a lack of resources at the state and federal level are preventing us from matching this solution to the problem. 

Next week, the Maine Legislature will take up two bills that are critical to the success of welcoming New Mainers into the workforce. We encourage all members to submit either written or live testimony to the legislative committees to urge passage of these important measures:

LD 787, An Act to Create the New Maine Resident Service Coordination Program in the Department of Economic and Community Development:
This bill would establish state level coordination for all efforts to connect New Mainers with job opportunities and housing. This is critical to implementing the “systems” that our panelists asked for at yesterday’s event.

When: Tuesday, March 21st at 1:00PM in the Committee on Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement, and Business
Submit Written Testimony Here
Register to Testify Online or In-Person Here

LD 1050, Resolve, Directing the Department of Labor to Request a Federal Waiver to Allow Presumptive Work Eligibility for Asylum Seekers:
While we await a permanent federal solution to the work authorization issues for asylum seekers, this bill directs the Maine Department of Labor to request a waiver from the federal government to allow asylum seekers to work for up to 6 months while their asylum case is processed by federal immigration authorities.
When: Tuesday, March 21st at 1:00PM in the Committee on Labor and Housing
Submit Written Testimony Here
Register to Testify Online or In-Person Here

Should you or your business have any questions on how to testify or the content of these bills, please be in touch with Eamonn Dundon, our Director of Advocacy, via email at edundon@portlandregion.com.