Bill Overview
Title: Downeast Maine National Heritage Area Act
Description: This bill establishes the Downeast Maine National Heritage Area in Hancock and Washington Counties in Maine and designates the Sunrise County Economic Council as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area. The council shall prepare a management plan for the heritage area, which must include comprehensive policies, strategies, and recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and development of the heritage area.
Sponsors: Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Target Audience
Population: Residents of Hancock and Washington Counties, Maine
Estimated Size: 52841
- This bill establishes a heritage area in Hancock and Washington Counties, which are both located in the state of Maine.
- The local coordinating entity is the Sunrise County Economic Council, suggesting a focus on local economic impacts.
- Heritage areas often focus on conservation, preservation, and tourism, which can affect local businesses and community members.
- This designation could influence local policy, cultural preservation efforts, and regional development strategies.
Reasoning
- The budget and target area both suggest that the policy will primarily impact local residents and businesses in Hancock and Washington Counties.
- Given the focus on heritage, conservation, and local development, affected people will likely include those in tourism, local government, historical societies, and small businesses.
- Considering the population (around 52,841), the per capita spending over 10 years is modest, so impacts will vary greatly among individuals based on their occupation and direct involvement with the heritage area.
- Not everyone living in the target area will be directly influenced; many might experience negligible changes to daily life, while others such as those in the tourism industry might see significant benefits.
- Perspective range is essential; interviews should include both directly impacted individuals and those who won't see much change, to reflect the variance in expected benefits across the population.
Simulated Interviews
Small Business Owner (Cafe) (Hancock County, ME)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the designation brings in more tourists which could boost my business.
- It's important they conserve the natural beauty without restricting access too much.
- I'm concerned about how the funding will be allocated and if small businesses will truly benefit.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Retired (Washington County, ME)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I support anything that preserves our local heritage.
- It would be nice to see more cultural events and museums supported.
- Hope there aren't too many restrictions on our traditional activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Local Government Staff (Hancock County, ME)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could bolster our environmental protections in a meaningful way.
- Funding can be channeled to crucial conservation projects.
- Concerned about balancing economic growth with sustainability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Software Engineer (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not directly affected, but I like to vacation there.
- Maintaining the heritage and beauty is important for future visits.
- Changes won't affect my daily life, but positive for vacation quality.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Fisher (Washington County, ME)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm wary of new regulations impacting our way of fishing.
- Bringing in more tourists could be beneficial if managed well.
- We need to ensure our fishing rights are maintained.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Journalist (Portland, ME)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This can provide a good story about the intersection of development and heritage.
- Curious how different stakeholders benefit and who might be left out.
- The implications for Maine's identity as a heritage site fascinate me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tour Guide (Hancock County, ME)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The heritage area may create more job opportunities for guides.
- Could help extend the tourist season into other times of year.
- Worried that any changes might limit tourist access to sites.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Local Politician (Ellsworth, ME)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This creates opportunities for local initiatives to gain support.
- Key is ensuring benefits flow into local businesses and sustain jobs.
- Funding allocations need transparency and accountability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
College Student (Washington County, ME)
Age: 22 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This project aligns with my career goals in conservation.
- Could offer new internship or job prospects post-graduation.
- Hope they prioritize conserving land and promoting education.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Real Estate Developer (Bangor, ME)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Potential to enhance property values in the area.
- I see the heritage designation as a growth opportunity.
- Concern over regulatory overreach affecting development.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000 (Low: $1000000, High: $2000000)
Year 2: $1200000 (Low: $900000, High: $1500000)
Year 3: $1200000 (Low: $900000, High: $1500000)
Year 5: $1200000 (Low: $900000, High: $1500000)
Year 10: $1200000 (Low: $900000, High: $1500000)
Year 100: $1200000 (Low: $900000, High: $1500000)
Key Considerations
- Initial costs could be offset by federal, state, or private funding sources aimed at heritage conservation.
- Coordination with local stakeholders is crucial to the effective implementation of the management plan.
- Economic benefits depend heavily on successful implementation and marketing of the heritage area's assets.