How Small Businesses Have Impacted Maine's Economy

Small businesses in Maine provide necessary services to those that live in the state as well as those that visit for a short time. Maine’s small businesses are what fortify Maine’s economy and show a strong work ethic for Maine by those that are employed in this job sector. These small businesses provide services to those who vacation in Maine and rely on this seasonal vacation period to make a living. Small businesses in Maine encapsulate what the Maine worker ethic is as well as serve the residents and tourists visiting Maine.

Small businesses in Maine are what keep the economy of Maine supplemented. “Maine’s 143,000 small businesses employ more then 282,000 workers and are the pulse of our stat’s downtowns and communities” (Goodall 4). Small businesses are the backbone to Maine’s economy and employ a majority of Maine workers. An example of a small business in Maine would be the towing companies that serve those that live here and those that vacation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Maine tow companies encapsulate the “Maine work ethic”, this work ethic is one of going out and getting a job done regardless of time of day or season.

The towing of cars or trucks is a very demanding service, especially in Maine, and truly shows what the “Maine work ethic” is. No matter where the vehicle is located, time of day, weather, or season, tow companies will go out to serve those in need. Many companies, including A.C. Provo’s Inc. are on call twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year. The boss of A.C. Provo’s Inc. is Roger Provencher, and when asked the most hard time of year to tow his response was that, “Towing in the winter months tend to be the most strenuous on our equipment and man power, vehicles that are stuck in the snow or that have gone off the road are dangerous to pull out because you never know what you are really dealing with before you are there” (Provencher 9/23/2014). Winters in Maine pose a problem to tow companies but many are experienced enough to know how to safely provide service to those in need during Maine’s harsh winters. This “go out there and make it happen” attitude encapsulates the Maine worker ethic, the workers for these companies are often enduring great physical activities to make a living. Many other small businesses in Maine hold this same work ethic.

Lobstering is another industry that is composed of many small businesses in Maine and does show the Maine work ethic. “Maine’s lobster industry employs about 5,000 licensed commercial fishermen…who brought ashore an estimated 104.8 million pounds of lobster in 2011, the highest annual landing figure ever” (Trotter 1). Those employed in this industry work very hard to provide the people of Maine (and the rest of the world) with quality lobster caught from the Maine coast. These fishermen work very hard for their catch that they cash in for at or “below $2 per pound that most fishermen are getting, [this] will not keep any of them in business over the long term” (Trotter 1). For such hard work they make very little, this just shows the determination of fishermen to bring money in to sustain their families and way of life. Small businesses in Maine are what make up the majority of the economy and show great evidence into the work ethic of the Maine worker.

Lobster is a mealtime delicacy choice of many tourists that vacation in Maine during the summer months. The 104.8 million pounds that was brought in during 2011 season helped feed the tourists of Maine (as well as the residents) searching for a truly Maine dish. The vacationing season lasts from the end of spring right up to the onset of fall in Maine, during this time period Maine experiences approximately 13.5 million day visitors along with approximately 9 million overnight visitors (Maine Office of Tourism 16). With this influx of tourists during the summer months, small businesses can thrive by providing these tourists with products and services they may need. Just like lobster, tourists are in demand of certain services or products to fully enjoy their vacation, and small businesses in Maine provide these essential services or products.

In the summer months, tow companies of Southern Maine are put to the challenge of serving those that are visiting Maine, mostly along the coast in beach communities. These people are, of course, tourists. Starting right around June and going all the way into August, tourists flood southern Maine beach towns for vacation, with all these tourists come all their cars as well. The summer months create a great influx of business for tow companies and it is considered “the wicked busy time” (Provencher 9/23/2014). Maine’s towing companies keep the tourists ready and on the move in order for them to have a more enjoyable vacation in Maine, and of course spend more money that goes out to other small businesses.

Small businesses in Maine encapsulate what the Maine worker ethic is as well as serve the residents and tourists visiting Maine. Small businesses in Maine are what drive the state’s economy and are the main force of employment in Maine. These small businesses show the hard Maine work ethic by providing products and services to those that live here and to those that visit on vacation. Just like tow companies, many other businesses in Maine work very hard to bring in a living as well as provide for those that live in and visit Maine, such as the lobstering industry by bringing record numbers of lobster caught. Small businesses do in fact make Maine a very special state by accommodating for tourism and by doing so makes Maine the true “Vacation Land”.