Maine State Chamber of Commerce

08/21/2026

The 2026 election is already shaping up to be one for the history books. Join us virtually on September 16, 2026, from 9:00–10:00 a.m. for expert analysis of Maine's key races and the national political landscape. Featuring Erik Potholm, Managing Partner of SRCP Media, and Mark Brewer, Chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Maine. Register today to receive the webinar link. We hope to see you there! Register here: https://web.mainechamber.org/atlas/events/2813/details

08/11/2026

In this episode of The Bottom Line, Maine State Chamber President Patrick Woodcock interviews Senate Majority Leader Teresa Pierce about her leadership on housing, education, and economic development. They discuss the success of Maine's Research & Development Bond, efforts to address affordability and housing challenges, and priorities for strengthening Maine's economy in the years ahead. Click/tap to listen here: https://youtu.be/YNIKgLInEI8?si=YrhoJpn7gtQU7XE-

08/10/2026

Mark your calendars for the Maine State Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting, Dinner, and Debate on Thursday, October 1, 2026! Click/tap here for more information: https://web.mainechamber.org/atlas/events/690/details

07/30/2026

Last chance to take our survey at https://www.maineconnectivity.org/vision !! It will be open through the end of this week.

Is there an organization we should get insights from to inform Maine's connectivity vision through 2030? Tag them in the comments!

07/29/2026

Congratulations to Brian Billings, Matt Gilley, Abe Philbrook, Meaghan Dillon, John Petersdorf, Cameron Dyment, and Elizabeth Horton for their appointments to the board of the Lobster Marketing Collaborative!

The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative was created in 2013 and is funded by lobster harvesters, dealers and processors to market Maine lobster and expand the demand for lobster. 

07/17/2026

How are Maine lawmakers shaping our state's economic future?

The 2026 MERI Roll Call goes beyond legislative scores to connect lawmakers' votes with the economic issues that matter most—from workforce shortages and housing affordability to energy costs, innovation, and Maine's long-term competitiveness.

🎥 In this video, MERI President Simon West explains why Roll Call exists, how legislators are scored, and why understanding voting records helps Maine businesses and citizens make more informed decisions.

Then dive into the full report to:
📊 See how your legislators voted
📈 Explore Maine's key economic indicators
🏆 Meet this year's MERI MVPs and Policy Champions

📖 Read the 2026 MERI Roll Call: https://me-ri.org/roll-call/

https://youtu.be/ID75SxM3LVI

Which Maine legislators are helping move our economy forward?In t...

07/16/2026

🤖 AI is everywhere right now. But what can it actually do for your payroll and HR—today, not someday?

That's exactly what we're digging into next week. A lot of new AI tools were announced at isolved's Connect conference, and it's fair to ask what's real, what's coming, and what's just hype. We'll cut through the noise and show you what's genuinely useful—inside isolved and beyond it.

Join us + guest Chris Fortin (Chatham Oaks) for a free, no-pitch session built for small business owners, HR, and payroll pros.

Plus, everyone who joins walks away with two free takeaways:
✅ An AI-Use Policy Template you can customize in an afternoon
✅ A Small Business Prompt Sheet—copy-and-paste prompts you can use right away

📅 Tuesday, July 21 | 2:00 PM ET 🔗 Register free: https://hubs.la/Q04m-h9P0

07/15/2026

*Every legislator says they're working for Maine's economy. But how did they actually vote?*

The Maine Economic Research Institute's 2026 Roll Call takes an objective look at the voting records of Maine's 132nd Legislature on the business and economic issues that shape our state's future.

🎥 Hear more from Maine State Chamber President & CEO Patrick Woodcock below about why legislative voting records matter—and meet this year's MERI MVPs, recognized for their consistent support of policies that strengthen Maine's economy.

Then explore the full report, including legislator scores, economic indicators, and the bills that shaped this year's rankings.

📖 Read the 2026 Roll Call: https://me-ri.org/roll-call/

https://youtu.be/I0p-Xkw1VfU

07/14/2026

🎙️ “The best use of AI for us will be a foundational knowledge of AI across our entire employee base. That's where we're going to see the biggest bang for the buck.”

In this clip from The Bottom Line, Ryan Low explains why the real value of artificial intelligence isn't creating a handful of experts—it's giving employees across an organization the tools and knowledge to work more efficiently.

🔊 Hear the full episode: https://www.mainechamber.org/podcast.html

07/09/2026

Our President and CEO, Patrick Woodcock, sits down with Fred Forsley, founder of Shipyard Brewing, to talk business and the future of Maine's economy.

They dig into the state’s biggest challenges — housing, permitting, taxes, labor, and regulation — and why business leaders believe Maine needs a more competitive climate to keep young people, entrepreneurs, and investment here.

From Portland’s growth to rural decline, from tourism and manufacturing to film and innovation, the episode explores what it will take to unlock opportunity across the state.