The Effects of Business Assistance Programs on Employment Growth in Maine Establishments

The purpose of this research project is to provide information to the Maine Economic Development Incentive Commission (EDIC) to assist in its evaluation of Maine’s economic development incentive programs. As a statistical-based study, the analysis focuses primarily on the relationship between short-term employment change in Maine establishments from 1998 to 1999 and their participation in incentive programs. The programs highlighted in the study are the Business Equipment Property Tax Reimbursement Program (BETR), the Governor’s Training Initiative (GTI), Maine Quality Centers (MQC) and the municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program