On November 17, 2023 at the Watts Hall in Thomaston, ME, the Midcoast Council of Governments held their Fall General Assembly. This annual event focused on issues surrounding housing and amenities that have been growing concerns in the region.
For a detailed summary of our General Assembly, click the link below:
(Pictured above: Erik Pages describing factors that draw in people in the workforce)
The keynote speaker, Erik Pages of Entreworks Consulting, discussed how communities were at risk of falling into an "Amenity Trap" where not enough investments were being to support newcomers to stay in Maine. MCOG's own Charlotte Nutt then provided in-depth data coverage regarding housing shortfalls facing our region, and our future needs.
(Pictured above: Charlotte Nutt showing a graphic of the percentage of homes used for Short-Term Rentals)
The event also included panel discussions in the morning with Debora Keller (Bath Housing Authority), Denise Needham (Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital), and Martin Cates (Cates Real Estate) to discuss the challenges they have experienced in this current housing crisis; meanwhile, a separate panel closed out our General Assembly consisting of Representative Holly Stover, Amaila Siegel (Maine Climate Council Coordinator), Nick Battista (Island Institute), Steve Lyons (Director of Maine Office of Tourism) and Doug Beck (Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands) to discuss the importance of conservation and outdoor recreation to the State of Maine.
(Pictured above from left to right: Debora Keller, Martin Cates, Denise Needham, and Mathew Eddy)
(Pictured above from left to right: Steve Lyons, Doug Beck, Nick Batista, Amalia Siegel, and Representative Holly Stover)
This event is available on the Midcoast Council of Government's Youtube channel. The morning portion of the General Assembly (Presentations by Erik Pages and Charlotte Nutt as well as the housing panel) and the afternoon portion (the conservation/recreation panel discussion) are two separate videos due to size limitations. Click here for the morning portion of the General Assembly and click here for the afternoon portion.