ORONO, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined with members of the Economic Development Assessment Team (EDAT) and Maine’s forest products industry for a roundtable discussion focused on the top challenges facing the industry and opportunities to strengthen the forest economy in Maine.

Following the roundtable, Senator King released the following statement:

            “I applaud the forest products industry for convening this roundtable, which was a productive and important contribution to the Economic Development Assessment Team’s ongoing work in Maine,” Senator King said. “As the EDAT gathers information to build its strategic action plan, it’s crucial that its members understand the challenges the industry faces today and how we can address them together to build a more prosperous future. Today’s conversation, along with the EDAT’s continued work, is a positive step in that direction.”

Today’s roundtable was part of the EDAT’s ongoing three-day visit to Maine, during which forest products industry representatives, economic development leaders, and officials from multiple federal agencies participate in a series of economic development sessions, tours, and briefings with the goal of evaluating new and existing economic strategies to address Maine’s forest-based economic challenges.

The EDAT was originally requested by Senators King and Collins in a March 2016 letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

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