From the editor: All together now
Hopefully by now the dust has settled from last week's elections. I'm sure liberals are feeling pretty good about the results, but I think the most heartening comment came from presidential contender Mitt Romney.
In his concession speech, the former Massachusetts governor asked for cooperation and compromise to be the hallmarks of the new Congress.
I like to think that's an acknowledgement that the partisan gamesmanship that has been the norm in Washington in the last decade or so has done nothing but harm this country.
Both sides of the aisle are culpable and both sides need to make it right — a message several CEOs we videotaped at the Mainebiz Momentum Convention sent to Washington.
Luckily, Maine's congressional delegation has generally reflected moderation and a willingness to seek compromise. Senator-elect Angus King had eight years as governor without a party and managed to get plenty of good things done — we hope he finds that kind of success in Washington as well.
A little closer to home, I find inspiring models of collaboration on both sides of the Androscoggin River. Lewiston and Auburn have a history of working together to drive economic development, especially since 2000 when mayors Kaileigh Tara and Lee Young led public efforts to invest in the cities' downtown districts.
Their collaboration with a cadre of private developers helped to create an L-A renaissance. Oxford Networks, Northeast Bank, Platz Associates, PropSys, L.L.Bean, Franklin Property Trust and a host of others invested in the future of those two cities, the focus of this issue.
Another big investor in the area's economic vibrancy is Tambrands, which put almost another $11 million into an expansion at its Auburn tampon facility. Staff Writer Matt Dodge looks at the Procter & Gamble operation and its positioning for international growth, in "Market ready," starting on page 22.
Senior Writer Jim McCarthy brings another L-A business into the spotlight: Great Falls Insurance, which is making inroads in Maine's workers' comp market by targeting small and medium-sized companies. His story, "Seeking its niche," starts on page 20.
Jim also takes us along on a tour of Smith's Farm in Aroostook County, the likely source of that head of broccoli you just picked up at the market. His story, "Crowning glory," starts on the cover.
That's also where you'll find Contributing Writer Lori Valigra's exploration of ground-breaking developments at The Jackson Laboratory.
Under the leadership of a new CEO, Jackson Lab has pioneered a mouse without an immune system, called Avatar, a perfect host for testing treatments on diseased human tissue. A cancer cure could be the outcome.
Wouldn't that be the be-all of collaborations?
Carol Coultas
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