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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Maine Gov. Excludes Nonprofits From Jobs Workshop

Maine nonprofits want to know why Governor Paul LePage is excluding nonprofits from an upcoming jobs workshop.

According to an article in The Kennebec Journal, Brenda Peluso, executive director for the Maine Association of Nonprofits, sent a letter to the governor requesting to have a seat at one of his upcoming workshops.  She hoped it would give her an opportunity to talk about the obstacles nonprofits face when it comes to job creation.  What she got instead was a letter from LePage's secretary rejecting her request:

"Because the goal is to hear firsthand from businesses, first priority will be given to them with seating.  If the situation changes as the event nears, I would be happy to include you on an alternate list and contact you."
Nonprofits employ 82,000 people in Maine.  Only the retail industry employs more people, so Peluso thought it would have been appropriate for them to have a seat at the table.  In a statement given to The Journal, LePage's press secretary said the upcoming workshops were meant only for private enterprises, which he believes are the primary sources of job creation in Maine.

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