Stephen Hand - Know Technology, LLC
One More Step
Contact the Governor and the Press
The final step to achieving our goal of creating the Innovation Finance Program is to show your support to Governor Baldacci and alert the press about the economic benefits that will be created by this legislation.
Contact Governor Baldacci Today
The Governor needs to hear your support for LD1. We got this close to passage before but the Governor did not sign the legislation. Sending a letter to the editor of your newspaper will also raise the visibility of the need for capital and highlight the reason to sign LD1 into law. Every e-mail, letter and call is important!
Email Governor Baldacci
Call the Governor's Office
E-mail the Governor
Get involved in the support for the Innovation Finance Program by sending an email to the Governor urging him to sign the legislation. We’ve provided a template message below that you can customize. Provide a brief summary of your company and let him know how the legislation will impact your business, your clients, your employees and Maine's economy.
Webform campaign messages tend to get filtered out; we suggest sending a message from your own mail account. Please feel free to copy and paste the content below and send a message to Governor Baldacci.
Please mention your personal information when emailing the Governor.
Subject: Pass LD 1 - An Act To Stimulate Capital Investment for Innovative Businesses in Maine
Message:
From (your name, title, company, phone, email address)
Dear Governor Baldacci
I want to encourage you to sign LD 1 - An Act To Stimulate Capital Investment for Innovative Businesses in Maine.
[A few lines about your experience as a leader or employee of a Maine tech company and the importance of venture capital or the LACK of venture capital in your experience]
Industry statistics from Arizona show that their economy receives $6.54 revenue return over a five-year period for every $1.00 of venture capital investment. In addition, for every $1 million in venture capital, 27.6 jobs are created in the state. Maine’s young companies have seen available venture capital disappear, falling from a high of $27 million invested in Maine firms in the first quarter of 2001, to being labeled recently as one of the five worst states in the country for technology start-ups based on a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
I urge you to sign LD 1 in order to boost our high growth economy and help our citizens recover from our current economic difficulties.
[Here are some additional points you may want to include in your message.]
This initiative:
- Stimulates the availability of funding for innovative companies
- Increases the State’s venture capital (VC) culture and infrastructure
- Increases the number of jobs in high-growth, knowledge businesses
- Elevates the profile of innovative Maine companies
- Creates a competitive investment market in the state
- Leverages investment funds through syndication
- Supports commercialization of R&D efforts
- LD1 is not a subsidy
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me at the contact information below:
Call the Governor's Office
Call the Governor's office and urge him to sign the Innovation Finance Program Legislation. This bill is referenced as: LD 1 - An Act To Stimulate Capital Investment for Innovative Businesses in Maine. Use the phone number below to contact the Governor's office. When you call, be sure to give the office your address so they know you are from Maine.
The Governor's Office
(207) 287-3531
TTY (207) 287-6548
Conversation Introduction:
I want to encourage you to sign LD 1 - An Act To Stimulate Capital Investment for Innovative Businesses in Maine.
[Be Personal; explain how the issue affects you and your business. Tell him about your company. Say a few words about your experience as a leader or employee of a Maine tech company and the importance of venture capital or the LACK of venture capital in your experience.]
Industry statistics from Arizona show that their economy receives $6.54 revenue return over a five-year period for every $1.00 of venture capital investment. In addition, for every $1 million in venture capital, 27.6 jobs are created in the state. Maine’s young companies have seen available venture capital disappear, falling from a high of $27 million invested in Maine firms in the first quarter of 2001, to being labeled recently as one of the five worst states in the country for technology start-ups based on a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
I urge you to sign LD 1 in order to boost our high growth economy and help our citizens recover from our current economic difficulties.
If you have to leave a message, suggest how the the Governor's office can contact you for additional input.
Talking Points:
This initiative:
- Stimulates the availability of funding for innovative companies
- Increases the State’s venture capital (VC) culture and infrastructure
- Increases the number of jobs in high-growth, knowledge businesses
- Elevates the profile of innovative Maine companies
- Creates a competitive investment market in the state
- Leverages investment funds through syndication
- Supports commercialization of R&D efforts
- LD1 is not a subsidy
Write a Letter to the Editor
Portland Press Herald
Letters to the editor should run approximately 300 words or less. They must include the writer's name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters may be e-mailed to letterstotheeditor@pressherald.com (no attachments) or faxed to (207) 828-8154
Bangor Daily News
Letters should be no more than 250 words. Send a letter to the editor via this online form
Kennebec Journal
Letters should be no more than 300 words. Send a letter to the editor via this online form
Lewiston Sun Journal
Letters should be no more than 250 words. They must include the writer's name, address and daytime phone number for verification purposes. Letters may be e-mailed to letters@sunjournal.com (no attachments).
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