Governor Janet Mills held discussions with small business owners, major employers, and local officials in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, during a visit organized by the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council at the Mill Inn and Café. The gathering provided a platform for community leaders to share insights on regional economic development, the impact of state-funded workforce programs, and how federal trade regulations affect local industries.
Mills emphasized her administration’s commitment to strengthening rural economies, noting her personal ties to rural Maine as both her birthplace and upbringing. She highlighted initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for rural enterprises, supporting workforce training, and modernizing equipment for traditional sectors. The governor pointed to companies like Pleasant River Lumber and Puritan Medical Products as examples of resilient local enterprises driving economic vitality.
“Rural Maine is where my roots are, and it remains central to my priorities,” Mills stated. “Our administration continues to invest in infrastructure, workforce development, and market expansion to ensure these communities remain strong places to live and grow businesses.”
Earlier that day, she toured Pleasant River Lumber in Dover-Foxcroft, a key player in Maine’s forestry sector operating five production facilities, two sawmills, and a trucking division across the state. She also visited Puritan Medical Products in Guilford, recognized as North America’s leading manufacturer of COVID-19 test swabs during the pandemic. In 2024, Puritan received a $250,000 grant through Maine’s Domestic Trade Program—an element of the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan—aimed at helping the company expand its domestic market presence.
These visits underscore ongoing state efforts to support heritage industries while fostering innovation and job creation in remote regions.
— news from Maine.gov
— News Original —
Governor Mills Meets with Business and Economic Leaders in Piscataquis County
Governor also visits major local employers in Dover-Foxcroft and Guilford n nDover-Foxcroft, MAINE — Governor Mills today met with small businessowners, representatives of major Piscataquis County employers, and local elected officials during a meeting organized by the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council at the Mill Inn and Café in Dover-Foxcroft. n nDuring the meeting, Governor Mills heard firsthand about economic development initiatives in Piscataquis County, the effects of Administration workforce and community investments, and impacts from Federal trade policy on employers and heritage industries. n n”Like many people across our state, rural Maine is my home. It is where I was born and largely raised, and it is where my heart is, which is why it is so important to me that we continue to fight for the success of rural Maine in Augusta. I ‘m proud of my Administration ‘s work to build new opportunities for rural businesses, to invest in rural workforce training and equipment for heritage industries, and to ensure that rural Maine is a great place for people to live, work, and raise a family,” said Governor Mills. “From the success of employers in our heritage industries, like Pleasant River Lumber, to Guilford becoming the ‘swab capital of the world ‘ through the work of Puritan Medical Products, to the countless small businesses that serve communities throughout Piscataquis County, Maine ‘s rural economy remains a cornerstone of our state. Under my Administration, we will continue to make rural Maine a priority for investment and opportunity today and into the future.” n nEarlier in the day, Governor Mills toured Pleasant River Lumber, one of Maine ‘s top lumber producers. Based in Dover-Foxcroft, Pleasant River Lumber owns and operates five lumber production plants, two sawmills, and trucking company in Maine. n nShe also visited Puritan Medical Products in Guilford, which became North America ‘s top producer of COVID-19 testing swabs during the pandemic. In 2024, Puritan received a $250,000 grant through the state ‘s Domestic Trade Program, an initiative of the Governor ‘s Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, to support its efforts to build new market opportunities for its products in the United States.