Vote yes on Question 4: Fight cancer and create jobs

By Dana Connors

    Maine voters have an outstanding opportunity this November to vote in favor of a ballot question that will not only help in the fight against cancer, but also will create jobs, grow our great state’s economy and put Maine on the map as a leader in cancer research.

    Referendum Question No. 4 on the upcoming November 4 ballot seeks voter approval for $10 million in bond funds to build a cancer research center in Maine. If the bond is approved, the well-respected and internationally recognized non-profit, Jackson Laboratory, will submit a proposal to build a state-of-the-art research facility, matching the state’s investment with an additional $11 million.
    The Maine State Chamber of Commerce is in full support of this ballot question and encourages all Maine voters to vote yes on Question 4. We all know someone who has been affected by a terrifying cancer or other medical diagnosis. The State Chamber recognizes The Jackson Laboratory’s global leadership in the search for cures and believes that this new research facility will enable improved diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), glaucoma and Parkinson’s.
    In addition to aiding in the fight against cancer and other diseases, the center will create high-paying jobs in Maine. It is no secret that we need more well-paying jobs with good benefits in this state. We all know that the creation of jobs that keep our youth from leaving the state is an important priority. This research center will be a huge step in the right direction on all of these fronts.
    For 85 years, The Jackson Laboratory has been a bright spot in Maine’s economy. As the largest biomedical research organization in Maine, the Laboratory has created thousands of high-paying jobs for Mainers across the state for decades, hiring hundreds of graduates from Maine’s universities and colleges, and attracting Mainers who have left the state, but want to return to Maine to grow their careers and families.
    The Jackson Laboratory’s new research center will put Maine on the global map in this kind of research. It will bring additional grant money and revenue into the state from national and international organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
    The new facility will create direct and indirect jobs, including those in the construction and trade industries. A Yes vote on Question 4 will ensure the kind of investment Maine needs to be making to help our economy grow and thrive. I encourage all Maine voters to vote Yes on Question 4 this November 4. It’s a win-win for all of Maine.
Dana Connors, an Easton native and former Presque Isle city manager, is president of Maine State Chamber of Commerce.