Butera spoke to members of the business community Wednesday afternoon at the start of the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry Community Awareness expo at XL Sports World.
Butera said prior to becoming the labor commissioner in June, which called the “supply side,” he worked on the “demand side” as the Governor Paul LePage’s economic advisor and before that as the executive director of the Central Maine Growth Council and the director of Business Development for the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
“I spent all those years on the demand side, I know how hard it is to be successful in a business. A lot of you have to be the chef, cook and bottle washer. It’s tough,” he said.
Butera said sometimes state and federal government red tape and regulations can make it more challenging for businesses to be successful. He said he worked very hard under LePage to minimize red tape on the state level.
He told businesses to congratulate themselves on their success.
“Because we know who grows the economy. It’s not Augusta, it’s not Washington, it’s you folks,” he said.
Butera said he gets two emails a day from businesses who can’t find workers, and conversely that day he spoke to two organizations who said there was a lack of employers.
Butera told the audience it was important to stay engaged and on top of issues that could impact businesses. He told them to talk with local economic development organizations and chambers of commerce and let state legislators know what is working for local business. He said business can call his office and the office of Brian Doyle, the governor’s account executive for the Department of Economic and Community Development, with questions. If people are facing a labor shortage, they should contact the York County Career Center, he said.
“I urge you all to stay aware and involved,” he said.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].
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