Another View: Poland Spring is a good Maine business unfairly smeared
Anti-bottled-water activists are running down the kind of employer we need to keep.
By DANA CONNORS
- I am writing in response to the recent letters baselessly attacking one of our iconic Maine businesses, Poland Spring. It is regrettable that a small group of activists is willing to jeopardize the livelihoods of hundreds of Mainers in an effort to push its agenda.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dana Connors is the president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce.
Maine people have been hit hard by the recession. As many businesses struggle to stay afloat and with unemployment rates still high, good-paying jobs with quality benefits are increasingly hard to come by. However, even in these tough economic times, Poland Spring has continued to contribute to Maine's economy.
The company employs hundreds of local residents and spends millions of dollars every year with local Maine businesses. We need more responsible companies investing in our local economy every year, not less.
Our natural resources have supported us and created economic opportunity for generations. Since the mid-1800s, Poland Spring has added value to our state's plentiful spring water by sustainably bottling it and, in the process, creating hundreds of jobs for Mainers. It's in Poland Spring's best interest to protect local water resources and keep them healthy. It's in our best interest to support this important Maine business.
The activists contend that Maine doesn't benefit from Poland Spring, but their assertions just don't hold water. Poland Spring has continuously proven its commitment to investing in Maine people, creating jobs and protecting our groundwater.
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9 COMMENTS
windjammer said...
I could not agree with you more -Dana. This all pervasive anti-business attitude is typical in Maine. People here bitterly complain about high taxes-especially property taxes and yet they refuse to broaden that tax base by allowing companies like Poland Spring to flourish here. The attitude that we can keep Maine environmentally "pure" and taxes low is incongrouous at best if not impossible. Poland Spring is using fresh water- clearly our greatest natural resource- to not only earn the profit they are entitled to-but-pay taxes to the state and create much needed employment for our people. You know what Dana- that by any definition is a win-win situation and it should be encouraged-not discouraged.
May 3, 2010 at 8:34 AM Report abuse
AFVET said...
I would be more persuaded were PS a Maine-owned company. And I would be more persuaded were the piece to contain facts and figures, rather than vague generalizations. How much of PS's money stays in Maime? The piece needs to be more specific to be effective. But that's typical of PPH. It prints opinion without the basis demanded to support that opinion.
May 3, 2010 at 9:44 AM Report abuse
GAWeinand said...
One would think that it is in everyone's best interest that aquifers are not mined to the point of depletion, and yet nationwide they are. Even levels of the great Ogalalla Aquifer have dropped by 100 feet in some areas, and with this drop comes higher concentrations of pollutants brought in during recharge.
May 3, 2010 at 10:20 AM Report abuse
John said...
To preceeding two posters, both excellent points. But, to be fair, the article in question is a rhetorical opinion piece, a very important part of a debate. It is not anti-business for towns to decide what types of industries they want in their towns, particularly one that has such an effect on something as vital as water. Corporations are buying up rights to water all over the world, and it will become the most important resource in the future. I still want to know how Poland Spring can still market itself as selling "Spring Water", when it's just pumping groundwater. talk about deceptive advertising.
May 3, 2010 at 11:00 AM Report abuse
weatherfreak said...
Since Poland Spring has now run totally dry, they have to find other water sources. There are many in the Boston area who are very grateful for the availability of bottled water.
May 3, 2010 at 12:32 PM Report abuse
iliketobike said...
Poland Spring a "good Maine business"? Sorry to burst your bubble, but Poland Spring is run by Nestle, headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. Poland Spring is definitely NOT a Maine business any longer.
May 3, 2010 at 7:17 PM Report abuse
ZackM said...
AFVET is right. PS is not a Maine owned company. It's only a subsidiary. Not all the money stays here, only the salaries and taxes they pay (from revenue that comes in from all over the country). We might as well just have them shut down and leave. Come to think of it, BIW, Unum, and Hannaford aren't Maine based either. Maybe we should throw them out also. What's a few thousand jobs? We can all go work for LL Bean.
May 3, 2010 at 10:47 PM Report abuse
bfrank said...
Maine would love to present itself as quaint, all family-owned businesses, but that is just not the reality of it. how many businesses and utility companies are owned by out-of-state/country ? that's reality. and if anyone really feels that Nestle/Poland Springs are the "bad guys" for looking for all this water....let's put the blame where it belongs....yell at all the people BUYING the S--- !
May 4, 2010 at 12:28 PM Report abuse
upnorth said...
Poland Spring might be a 'good business in Maine' but it is not "a good Maine business" It's a good Swiss business and we should be taxing it more as it is using our public resource and we can use the money here. Those from away will still buy it by the caseload.
May 4, 2010 at 1:37 PM Report abuse