Golden Discusses Jobs, Economic Development with Loggers, Lobstermen, Local Leaders in Washington County
Congressman Golden tours St. Croix Tissue and Pembroke Lumber Company, joins a Downeast Broadband Utility ribbon-cutting, and takes a ride on a lobster boat
Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) spent a busy weekend in Washington and Penobscot Counties, making stops in Baileyville, Jonesport, Machias and Pembroke to tour mills, celebrate Maine's Forest Products Industry Week, meet with constituents, and celebrate the more than 2,000 people who gained access to high-speed broadband in Baileyville and Calais.
Golden started his weekend in Penobscot County, speaking at the AFL-CIO Biennial Convention Dinner in Bangor. The dinner honored Maine loggers from the New England Loggers Cooperative, employees from Preble Street, Rep. Tina Riley, and Eastern Maine Labor Council President Emery Deabay. Golden discussed his work in Congress to support the rights of workers to engage in collective bargaining.
From Friday on, Golden was in Washington County. He began his Friday with a tour of St. Croix Tissue in Baileyville, followed by a tour of Pembroke Lumber Company in Pembroke. Golden has put a high priority on working with Maine's heritage industries, like the forest products industry, to help them succeed and prepare for the future. He has travelled throughout the state visiting loggers, mills, and lumber yards to learn the industry and identify ways he can help it grow.
Golden then joined Downeast Broadband Utility's ribbon-cutting for Pioneer Broadband's new broadband service in Baileyville and Calais. The new service will allow more than 2,000 local residents to access high-speed internet. Downeast Broadband Utility was one of the broadband providers Golden heard from during the congressional field hearing he brought to Machias last month.
Afterwards, Golden met with Family Futures Downeast to discuss the important services they provide for local parents attending school. Their first-in-the-nation program ensures that parents and kids have the resources they need to make ends meet while they pursue a more successful career path. Family Futures Downeast combines private funding with federal and state funding to support families in need, regardless of their month-to-month income, with transportation, technology, educational, career and social support.
At a bustling Harvest Dinner at the Pellon Center with Community Caring Collaborative and their partners, Congressman Golden met dozens of spooky trick-or-treaters, selected one lucky door-prize winner, and served up squash and zucchini to attendees.
On Saturday, Golden was up bright and early to join Dana Beal and Mike Yohe on a lobster boat ride. On their ride they discussed challenges facing Maine's fishing community, including a lower lobster catch so far this year. Golden's bipartisan bill the FISH SAFE Act was introduced this month. The bill would help provide safety training and research programs to Maine's fishermen and lobstermen.
Golden capped off his weekend in Machias, joining local community members at Helen's restaurant for lunch. At lunch, Golden was joined by a local leaders working to reinvigorate Machias and develop its economy. The attendees discussed their plans to invest in Machias and make sure the community is looking to the future.