PORTLAND, Maine - A coalition of business, academic, political and community leaders today launched a campaign to support one of the bond proposals on next month's ballot. Question 5 asks voters to support a $3 million bond, which would be matched by $5.7 million in public and private funds to support the expansion of workforce training and research opportunities in Maine.
Specifically, the funds would be used to construct a 3,000-square-foot training facility at MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor. Kevin Strange is president and CEO of the lab, which specializes in medical research and training. "In the last decade we've trained about 2,000 Maine students for 21st century jobs," Strange said.
As well as creating up to 20 additional permanent jobs at the existing lab, Strange says the bond-funded expansion will increase its training capacity by about 40 percent over five years.
If Question 5 is approved, Strange says the new lab would open in 2016.