There’s been a lot of talk about the business climate in South Portland. Two discount stores have moved, and a medical practice is relocating. I’m saddened to see those businesses moving away, and I wish they could’ve stayed.

But make no mistake: The good news outweighs the bad. Two recent examples: MAC Jets built an impressive new jet aircraft maintenance facility here, and Casco Bay Steel Structures is in the midst of a massive expansion. Both of these great Maine-based companies are bringing more jobs and more tax revenue to South Portland.

Our little city is blessed to have a greater diversity of businesses than any other community in Maine: retail, hospitality, medical, financial, professional services, technology, light and heavy industrial, marine, transportation, energy and more small businesses than you can imagine.

Most Maine communities have only one or two of those categories, and quite a few depend on just one employer to sustain their entire economy. Those communities would give their right arms to have a tiny fraction of South Portland’s business community. When mill towns in rural Maine lose their biggest employers, leaving most of the residents unemployed and the tax base annihilated, they must envy South Portland’s situation and wonder why we get so upset over losing a discount store. They’d trade places with us in a heartbeat.

South Portlanders love living here because of the neighborhoods. I’d like to challenge everyone to go for a drive and do some exploring. Venture beyond your neighborhood and see the entire city. You might be surprised by how many businesses are here, some you probably didn’t know existed.

To those businesses, I extend my heartfelt thanks for being here and for contributing so much to this great community.

South Portland is truly blessed.

Adrian Dowling

South Portland

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