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What makes
a great place to live and work? Maine
(ARA) - As the summer season reaches its sunny peak, thousands
of tourists flock to the state of Maine to unwind on its rocky
coastline, breathe in the crisp mountain air and hike through
emerald forests in search of grazing moose. But few tourists
are aware that Maine offers much more than just a great vacation
-- it's also the perfect place to live, work and raise a family.
Maine's not just "Worth a Visit," but "Worth a
Lifetime" as well, and that's just what the people at the
Department of Economic and Community Development want summer
travelers to know.
"Maine's
employment opportunities abound in a variety of business fields,"
says John Butera, director of the Maine Office of Business Development.
"Maine's industries offer all the optimal career advantages
and benefits, and with our state-of-the-art telecommunications
network, we are totally connected to the rest of the world."
A leader
in advanced telecommunications and industry support services,
Maine provides both its employers and its employees with an excellent
business environment. Outside the workplace, it's also a cost-effective
and beautiful place to live and raise a family. The state recently
ranked first in the U.S. in primary education by the National
Education Goals Panel, as well as the best state to raise children
by the Children's Rights Council. In 1999, Maine also had the
fourth lowest crime rate in the nation and the lowest average
home price in New England.
Hundreds
of companies and thousands of job seekers have invested in Maine
to find financial success and a terrific way of life. Fairchild
Semiconductor International is just one such story of business
success. A respected leader and global supplier of high performance
technical products, Fairchild chose South Portland, Maine, as
its corporate headquarters.
It comes
as no surprise that the company was recently named as one of
the 20 best employers in the electronics industry by a study
performed by Cahners Research and published in the Electronics
Industry's Movers and Shakers 2001 magazine. Given Fairchild's
approach to employee recruitment, training, retention, competitive
compensation programs and benefits, Cahners chose the company
as a top-performing employer from more than 10,000 other businesses
in the industry.
Kirk Pond,
Fairchild's chairman, president and chief executive officer,
has said, "We are proud of the unique and innovative programs
we have developed to hire and retain a world-class, motivated
employee base. Our employees are the best of the best, and their
competence has been borne out by Fairchild's record in its first
four years."
Fairchild's
11,000 employees worldwide indeed get the job done, as proven
by yet another honor for the company. Business Week selected
Fairchild as one of the 100 best performing technology companies
in the world in their annual "Info Tech 100" issue
last June. Fairchild was chosen from over 10,000 tech companies
worldwide as a leader in the field of information technology.
But Fairchild isn't the only business to reap the benefits of
their Maine location. Situated in Maine's Aroostook County, ATX
Forms, Inc., a creator of tax management software, has seen their
growth rate skyrocket over the past five years. In 2000, the
Caribou, Maine firm was recognized by Inc. Magazine - for the
third year in a row -- as one of America's fastest-growing companies.
Business giants such as Verizon, General Motors and Southwestern
Bell are only a few of the 40,000 clients currently using software
generated by ATX.
Brothers
and co-founders Steve and Glynn Willett's "emotional"
attachment to Maine spurred their relocation to the state where
they lived and worked as young adults. When they brought ATX
from New York back to Maine in 1998 to pair a "fun working
culture" with an "unusually productive work environment"
-- and a $48,000 starting salary -- many residents told their
children to come home to northern Maine and to ATX. As a result,
the company tripled its programming staff, and now employs 120
people in its Caribou offices.
The strong
work ethic of ATX's Maine team results in high productivity for
the company, and employees' efforts garner big rewards. ATX programmers
appreciate their individual offices, and all staffers enjoy the
in-house ping-pong and pool tables as well as regular company
whitewater rafting trips. The company's owners credit much of
their consistent and rapid growth to their creative and dedicated
workforce.
ATX has even
come up with novel ideas to promote business growth while simultaneously
revitalizing Caribou's downtown community. To generate an increase
in customers, ATX offered a finder's fee to anyone in the town
who successfully brought in a new client to the company. With
this innovative plan to involve the community in sales leads,
ATX hopes to benefit the city of Caribou as well as all those
who want to live and work in Aroostook County.
Though a
world away from taxes and semiconductors, Tom's of Maine shares
the common thread of success with companies like Fairchild and
ATX. Uniting moral values and social responsibility with good
business sense, the world-famous manufacturer of natural personal
care products has become the largest of its kind over the past
30 years.
A beacon
of excellent business stewardship, Tom's of Maine has always
built its relationships with consumers and employees on the basis
of shared values. Working Mother magazine recently voted Tom's
of Maine as one of the "100 Best Companies" for working
mothers on the basis of the company's dedication to flexible
work hours, health insurance premiums and paid leave for new
parents -- even fathers. Other benefits for employees include
free financial planning services, stress prevention workshops
and reimbursement for wellness classes outside the workplace.
Tom's of
Maine also encourages its 150 employees to serve the community
on a personal basis as well. Five percent of their staff's paid
work time is spent as volunteerism in the community, at local
schools, animal shelters and other organizations.
The company's values extend even further than its customers and
business partners. Tom's of Maine donates ten percent of its
pre-taxed profits to charitable causes, and recently announced
the implementation of The National Rivers Awareness Program,
geared towards the education of river and watershed preservation.
In partnership with national rivers and conservation organizations,
Tom's of Maine aims to communicate to consumers the importance
of keeping water clear and clean for future generations.
Another company
focused on the great outdoors is L.L. Bean, headquartered in
Freeport, Maine, since its humble beginnings in 1912. Now a world
leader in outdoor gear, home furnishings and clothing, L.L. Bean's
net sales exceeded $1.1 billion in 2000. With locations in Portland,
Ellsworth and Brunswick, Maine, L.L. Bean employs approximately
4,000 people year-round, and extends its staff to 10,000 during
the peak holiday season. The company attracts and retains its
vital staff through a number of special programs, bonuses and
benefits.
In addition
to flex vacation, dental insurance and a 401(k) retirement savings
plan, L.L. Bean offers numerous advantages for employees who
like to spend a lot of time enjoying the great Maine outdoors.
Generous employee discounts, an employee store and the chance
to use one of the company's seven camps on Maine's Rangeley Lake
are just a few benefits of working for the renowned retailer
of outdoor goods.
L.L. Bean
also encourages its workers to share the wealth by participating
in company community service. Keeping the outdoor environment
in mind as well as the outdoor gear, hundreds of employees have
helped to maintain the largest section of the Appalachian Trail
in Maine. The company is also dedicated to improving the quality
of life for employees, their families and community, having donated
nearly $10 million to non-profit organizations over the last
decade.
These businesses
are just a few of many that have found markets, production, great
employees and success in Maine. And as new businesses sprout
and existing companies continue to expand in the state, so will
the employment opportunities. In fact, several of Maine's industries
are currently looking for educated and driven people to join
their staff, and offering high salaries and remarkable benefits
to attract prospective employees. Add to that Maine's thriving,
close-knit communities, array of recreational opportunities,
a diverse culture steeped in history, high quality school systems
and low cost of living, and you've got the perfect combination
for a place that's not only "worth a visit, but worth a
lifetime."
"Our
economy is evolving," Butera stated. "We are focusing
on the industries and technologies that promise exponential growth
in the years to come, and we are looking for motivated people
to fill the jobs that are available, now and in the future."
For further information about Maine's business climate and career
opportunities, check out www.econdevmaine.com or call (207) 624-9804.
Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: infoARAcontent.com
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