Purpose — Maine Code § 982.

§ 982.. Purpose

The purposes of this subchapter include:   [PL 1983, c. 519, §7 (NEW).]

1.  General.  To relieve those conditions which now exist which represent difficulties in natural resource enterprise financing and development and to assist in planning, coordinating and implementing programs that will encourage further public and private participation and investment to achieve this end;

2.  Current and increased production.  To maintain the land and water base necessary to the production of food and fiber and to encourage the continuation and expansion of successful production of the natural resource products of the State in order to secure adequate food and fiber to the people of the State, to secure markets and to assure the stability of the local economy;

3.  Value added.  To encourage the creation and expansion of processing or manufacturing enterprises adding value to agricultural, forestry and fisheries products, grown or harvested in the State;

4.  Market improvements.  To coordinate, improve and expand the marketing of raw, processed and manufactured products of the fisheries, farms and forests of the State;

5.  Employment opportunities.  To expand opportunities for full and part-time gainful employment and facilitate entry into farming, fishing and forestry in order to maintain adequate food and fiber production capabilities in the State and to improve the unemployment situation in the State and the demands on state services which arise because of unemployment and related problems;

6.  Expanded participation of lending institutions and improved credit opportunities.  To provide for additional capital resources for natural resource enterprises from the sale of bonds and to otherwise make adequate credit available at interest rates that enable persons to enter, maintain and expand natural resource enterprises; to encourage the investment of private capital and the diversification and competition among financing institutions in the natural resource sector; and

7.  Improved technical assistance.  To provide a central source for credit information and other financial management training and services to farmers, persons who fish commercially and foresters to better enable them to obtain adequate financial assistance from existing sources and to provide similar technical assistance, research and service in marketing products of natural resource enterprises.