Governor Mills signs bill championed by Sen. Duson to establish Maine Blue Economy Center

AUGUSTA — On Thursday, April 16, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill to establish the Blue Economy Center, a proposal recommended by the Blue Economy Task Force, a group established by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Jill C. Duson, D-Portland.

“With this bill being signed into law, our state is one step closer to sustainable, informed development of the blue economy,” Sen. Duson. “The newly-established Blue Economy Center will help Maine’s broad array of maritime-based sectors unlock new possibilities while respecting the roots of our heritage industries. I thank my colleagues for helping steer this bill across the finish line and Governor Mills for singing this into law.”

Last year, Sen. Duson sponsored a bill to re-establish the Blue Economy Task Force, which was passed by the Legislature and signed into law. Between legislative sessions, the task force, which Sen. Duson served on, produced a report that recommended the creation of a Blue Economy Center.

LD 2216, as amended, establishes the Maine Blue Economy Center within the Maine Technology Institute. The Center will serve as the state’s central hub for coordinating and growing ocean-based industries. The Center is tasked with supporting research, commercialization and patenting; strengthening workforce development; aligning efforts across government, industry and academia; and improving tracking of economic and environmental trends.

As non-emergency legislation, the law will go into effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns sine die.

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