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New Cluster Report finds that Maine’s effort to grow a technology intensive economy is well underway and while there are weaknesses and challenges, the foundations are strong and warrant further support - Maine’s Technology Sectors and Clusters:  Status and Strategy 2008 was prepared for the Maine Technology Institute and Maine Office of Innovation<<more>>

Projects

Recent projects, clients, and reports of PolicyOne Research Inc. and its principals include:

Maine’s Technology Sectors and Clusters:  Status and Strategy, Maine Technology Institute and Maine Office of Innovation, Completed April 2008

Completed analysis and developed strategies to strengthen Maine’s targeted technology clusters.  PolicyOne was part of a team led by the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at University of Southern Maine and included the Battelle Institute and Planning Decisions to analyze and develop strategies for the sectors of:  biotechnology, composites and advanced materials, environment and energy, forest products and agriculture, information technology, marine technology and aquaculture, and precision manufacturing.  PolicyOne was the principal investigator/analyst for the sectors of information technology and forest products and agriculture.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Maine Technology Institute>>

<<Link to Maine Office of Innovation>>

 

Analysis of the Potential Fiscal Impact of Finance Related Petition, Town of Hermon Maine, Completed November 2007

Conducted analysis of the potential fiscal impact of a proposed petition in the town of Hermon that would. require 80% of all fiscal year revenues in excess of expenses be used to reduce the following year’s taxes and require 20% of all fiscal year revenues in excess of expenses be placed in an escrow fund to be used for and  emergencies that might arise in the following fiscal year.  Based on the analysis PolicyOne recommended that the Town allow recently adopted fiscal policies to take affect without passing the petition.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Town of Hermon>>

 

Looking Out for Portland and the Region 2007, Portland Community Chamber, Portland, Maine, Completed October 2007

Produced economic benchmark analysis and report comparing the Portland region and City of Portland to 26 benchmark regions and cities nationally on more than 25 key indicators.  The report provides data regarding the opportunities and challenges facing the City and region and is being used as the foundation for the development of local, regional, and state strategies to grow the economy.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Portland Community Chamber>>

 

Evaluation of University Technology Incubator, NC State University Industrial Extension Service (NCSU-IES), Completed October 2007

PolicyOne designed and implemented an online survey for RTI International as part of their economic impact assessment of past clients and tenants of the NC State Technology Incubator.

<<Link to NCSU-IES>>

<<Link to RTI>>

 

Impact Fee Assessment – Phase I:  The Potential for Impact Fees, City of Auburn, Completed October 2007

Conducted research and analysis regarding the potential use of impact fees in the City of Auburn.  Findings were presented to the City Council and are being used by the City for the development of an impact fee ordinance and schedule.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to City of Auburn>>

 

Development of Sustainability Plan for the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway, Maine Department of Transportation and the Executive Board of the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway, Completed September 2007

Analyzed the feasibility of tourist and traveler services and programs to be offered as part of the scenic byway system.

<<Link to Scenic Byway>>

 

Evaluation of Statewide Technology Incubator System, Maryland Technology Development Corporation, Completed September 2007

PolicyOne designed and implemented an online survey for RTI International as part of their evaluation of the economic contributions the state supported incubators make to the state’s economy in Maryland.

<<Link to Maryland TEDCO>>

<<Link to RTI>>

 

Strategic Economic Development Plan & Process, City of Westbrook, Completed March 2007

PolicyOne partnered with Biscaye Consultants to work with the City to conduct an Economic Summit among business and citizen leaders.  The purpose was to determine how best to engage stakeholders in the process of economic development and foster a community-wide partnership to plan for and implement economic and community development in the City.  Based on Summit results PolicyOne and Biscaye updated the City’s Economic Development Model, Vision and Goals, and presented a set of suggested next steps in the continuing process of realizing a long-term strategic economic development plan.  This has lead the City to adopt a new collaborative model for economic development and create the Westbrook Development Collaborative, a new partnership among business, citizen leaders, policymakers, and staff to guide and advocate for economic development implementation. 

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to City of Westbrook>>

 

Maine Innovation Index, Maine Office of Innovation, annual since 2002

Produce annual index containing over 75 indicators measuring Maine's progress on developing and growing an innovation-based economy.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Maine Office of Innovation>>

 

Evaluation of Maine’s State Investments in Research and Development, Maine Office of Innovation, annual and on-going

Provide project management, research, analysis, and reporting on the impact of Maine's public investments in research and developmet.  Work inlcudes development and administration of annual on-line data reporting system for recipients of State R&D support, analysis, case studies, and annual reporting.  Work is completed through partnership between PolicyOne Research and RTI international.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Maine Office of Innovation>>

 

Evaluation of NASA REASON Grantee Project, Professor Jeff Beaudry, University of Southern Maine, Completed December 2006

PolicyOne worked with Jeff Beaudry, Professor, University of Southern Maine to evaluate the effectiveness of NASA grantee, Boston Museum of Science, in its efforts to help middle school teachers incorporate NASA scientific data into their classroom curricula.  By means of online surveys conducted by PolicyOne at teacher workshops, presenters were able to immediately gain feedback from workshop participants.  The result of this “real-time” feedback helped the Boston Museum of Science to more effectively determine how to write the scientific curricula that teachers can readily use in their classrooms.

<<Link to Boston Museum of Science>>

<<Link to NASA>>

 

Tax Increment Financing Application, NAPPI Distributors, completed November 2006

Prepared analysis and application for the creation of a tax increment finance (TIF) district for Nappi  Distributors for the development of a new $15 million distribution facility in Gorham, Maine.  Work included fiscal projections, calculations of tax shifts, preparation of Town application to the state, and presentation to the Town Council

<<Link to Nappi Distributors>> 

<<Link to Town of Gorham>>

 

Tax Increment Financing Application, Moody's Collision Centers, completed November 2006

Prepared application for the creation of a tax increment finance (TIF) district for Moody's Collision Center for an expansion at their current site in Gorham, Maine.  Work included fiscal projections, calculations of tax shifts, preparation of Town application to the state, and presentation to the Town Council

<<Link to Moody's Collision >>

<<Link to Town of Gorham>>

 

Business Planning and Grant Preparation, Warp Drive Engines, in progress

PolicyOne is assisting Warp Drive Engines with business planning and completion of a grant application to the Maine Technology Institute for research and development funding.  Warp Drive is a start-up company that is designing a low-speed, high torque engine for use in marine and other industries and is exploring research, development, and commercialization in Maine.

 

Fire & EMS Study, Town of Gorham, Maine, Completed February 2006

Conducted over the course of 2005-06, the Gorham Fire & EMS Study was a joint effort between PolicyOne Research and Maine Fire Training & Education (MFTE) a department of Southern Maine Community College. MFTE was responsible for assessing and documenting the fire department’s facilities, apparatus, and staffing levels. Other areas examined included fire code enforcement and mandatory sprinkler requirements. Policy-One was responsible for identifying and analyzing demographic, fiscal, and demand and supply trends as they relate to the delivery of fire-EMS services and developing fiscal estimates for various options. The analysis team conducted site visits, a survey of membership (using PolicyOne's Websurvey system), interviews, and two open forums with members.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Town of Gorham>>

 

Tax Increment Financing Application, VIP Auto, completed February 2006

Prepared application for the creation of a tax increment finance (TIF) district for VIP Auto for a new site to be developed in Gorham, Maine.  Work included fiscal projections, calculations of tax shifts, and preparation of Town application to the state.

<<Link to Town of Gorham>>

<<Link to VIP Auto>>

 

Evaluation of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, Cluster Leadership Network, RTI International, Completed January 2006

As part of the effort to evaluate and strengthen the RTRP Cluster Network, PolicyOne designed and implemented an on-line survey of network members for RTI International.  The survey was implemented using PolicyOne's custom online survey system. The Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP) is a public-private partnership of economic development agencies that works collaboratively with the N.C. Department of Commerce to market the 13-county Research Triangle Region of North Carolina for the economic benefit of its communities.

<<Link to RTRP>>

<<Link to RTI>>

 

School Enrollment Projections, SAD 51 - Cumberland & North Yarmouth, Maine, Completed January 2006

Using their custom cohort survival model, PolicyOne completed 10-year enrollment projections for SAD 51 to assist the district in long-term facility planning.  PolicyOne's work included an analysis of past trends in enrollments and the factors that influence school enrollments including births, residential development, and economic development.  These trends were used along with existing enrollments at each grade level to project enrollments for ten years.

<<Download Documents >>

<<Link to SAD 51>>

 

Co-instruction for Workshop on Designing and Conducting Web Surveys, Maine Association of Nonprofits, completed November 2005

Jim Damicis of PolicyOne, co-developed and instructed with Chase Saunders of Burgess Computer, a workshop on designing and implementing Web surveys for the non-profit sector.

<<link to Maine Association of Nonprofits>>

<<link to Burgess Computer>>

 

Overview of Impact Fees, City of Auburn, Maine, completed October 2005

PolicyOne prepared an overview of the use of impact fees for the City of Auburn, Maine and briefed the City Council at a council workshop on their potential uses.

<<Link to City of Auburn>>

<<Download Documents>>

 

Evaluation for the Maine Mental Health Funding Collaborative, the Bingham Program, completed October 2005

Through a partnership with Legacy Philanthropy Management, LLC, provided evaluation of eight community mental health service programs funded by the Collaborative. Effort included evaluation design, survey design and analysis, structured interviews, and case studies.  Survey was implemented using PolicyOne’s on-line survey system.

<<Link to the Bingham Program>>

 

Analysis of Tax Increment Financing and Technical Assistance for Preparation of Auburn Mall Area TIF, City of Auburn, September 2005

Completed analysis of the impacts of TIF’s on the City’s fiscal condition and financial tables for the City’s state application for a TIF in the Auburn Mall Area.

<<Link to City of Auburn>>

 

Evaluation of Business Incubators in North Carolina, RTI International, completed September 2005

PolicyOne designed and implemented an on-line survey for RTI international for the evaluation of the E-NC business incubators/telecenters.  The survey was implemented using PolicyOne's custom Web survey system. The telecenters are technology and entrepreneurship hubs within North Carolina’s most rural areas.  The telecenters provide free high-speed Internet service to the public and a variety of fee-based business and technology services to local nonprofits and businesses. The telecenter system offers employee training, state-of-the-art office space, technology expertise and business advice.

<<Link to E-NC>>

<<Link to RTI>>

 

Strategic Plan and Evaluation Plan Development, Maine Space Grant Consortium, completed Fall 2005

Developed strategic plan and evaluation methodology and plan for use by MSGC in meeting NASA requirements and implementing their 3-year work plan.

<<Link to Maine Space Grant Consortium>>

 

Downtown Revitalization Plan, Town of Houlton, Maine, completed April 2005

Provided a complete plan for the revitalization of Houlton's downtown in partnership Kent Associates, Wright-Pierce, and Colin Baker.  PolicyOne's work included downtown economic development, marketing, and financing strategies.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Town of Houlton>>

 

Survey of Maine School Superintendents:  Essential Programs and Services, completed March 2005

The current debate about Maine school funding reform has evolved from that which has driven debate for decades in Maine : the desire to offer a strong education to every child in Maine , regardless of where that child lives. Embedded annually in every legislative session and every community budget process are school funding subsidy amounts and distribution methods. Realizing the importance of this policy debate, PolicyOne Research, Inc., a public policy analysis firm in Portland , Maine constructed a survey and, as a public service, made it available to each Maine school superintendent through PolicyOne's online survey capability.

<<Download Documents>>

 

Research and Advocacy Services, Pierre’s School of Cosmetology, completed Spring 2005

Provided research and advocacy services to change the system of providing student academic credits to improve student services and industry’s profile.

<<Link to Pierre's>>

 

Grant Writing and Research for a WIRED Grant proposal for the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, completed January 2005

Drafted grant proposal for a coalition lead by the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership for a U.S. Department of Labor, WIRED Grant.  The coalition included economic development and health service entities in the North/Central Penobscot region of Maine.  The grant proposal was for the integration of innovative practices in rural health care, workforce development, education, and manufacturing to increase regional economic competitiveness.

<<Link to Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership>>

 

Community Needs Assessment Survey, Town of Scarborough, Community Services Department, completed November 2004

Worked with Community Services Advisory Committee to provide survey design, implementation, analysis and reporting of Town-wide household survey to assess existing and future needs of citizens related to parks and recreation facilities, programs and services. Survey was implemented in both hard-copy format as well as through PolicyOne’s on-line survey system.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Town of Scarborough>>

 

Business and Economic Development State Issue Briefings, Bromley Leadership Maine, completed October 2004

Provided state issue briefings on the subjects of Maine's tax burden and business climate, small business economic development strategy, and technology related business profiles for Maine State Senator Lynn Bromley

<<Download Documents>>

 

Research and Analysis Regarding the Impact of a Proposed Property Tax Cap in Maine, the Citizens To Reduce Local Property Taxes Statewide, completed October 2004

Provided research and analysis regarding the impacts of a proposed statewide property tax cap on business and economic development.  Completed analysis of the impact of the proposed tax cap on ten Maine municipalities.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Maine Municipal Association>>

 

Design of Evaluation Plan, Camp Kieve, completed July 2004

Partnered with Dr. Jeff Beaudry, University of Southern Maine, to develop evaluation plan and methodology for science programs delivered by the Camp.

 

Assessment of the Impact of a New North/South Aroostook Highway on Houlton and the Southern Aroostook Region, Town of Houlton, Maine, completed June 2004

Through partnership with Colin Baker, provided the Town of Houlton an assessment of a new North/South Aroostook highway under consideration by the Maine Department of Transportation.  The assessment focused on the potential impacts to the Southern Aroostook Region's Economic Strategy. 

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Town of Houlton>>

 

Grant Writing, Biomedical Research and Countermeasures: Flight Research Opportunities, NASA 2004, Bones for Life Program, completed June 2004

Providing grant writing for a NASA grant proposal by the Bones for Life Program to provide research and training regarding bone density for Astronauts of the International Space Station.

<<Link to Bones for Life>>

 

Research, Analysis, and Reporting for Maine’s Compact for Higher Education, Maine Development Foundation, completed May 2004

Provided research, analysis, and reporting in the area of increasing access to higher education for the State as part of a comprehensive report developed for the Maine Compact for Higher Education.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to the Compact for Higher Education>>

 

Regional Economic Development and Strategic Marketing Plan, Town of Houlton, Maine, completed March 2004

Provided the Town of Houlton a regional economic development plan that included development of goals and objectives, assessment of assets and opportunities, detailed strategies, and actions for implementation. Integral to the plans development were the facilitation of four regional-leadership forums.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Town of Houlton>>

 

Analysis of City of Auburn's fiscal condition and fiscal trends, City of Auburn, Maine, completed January 2004

Prepared analysis of the City of Auburn's fiscal condition and fiscal trends relative to Maine's other large communities and service centers.  The research and analysis was prepared for the City Manager's Office to assist in the development of long-term fiscal, service delivery, and budget strategies.

<<Link to City of Auburn>>

 

Analysis and Strategy Development for Growing Economic Clusters in Aroostook County, Maine, Northern Maine Development Commission, completed November 2003

Analyzed and developed strategies for growing and supporting the information technology industry in Aroostook County.  This project was part of a study completed for NMDC through a collaboration between Jim Damicis, Colin Baker, and Planning Decisions.  Five industry sectors were examined including agriculture, forest products, tourism, precision manufacturing, and information technology.

<<Download Documents>>

<<Link to Northern Maine Development Commission>>

 

Review of Literature, City of Portland, Maine, completed Summer 2003

Provided literature review for use in the City’s legal process for the development of a program to provide local property tax relief to homeowners.

<<Link to City of Portland>>

 

Grant Preparation, Maine Space Grant Consortium, completed May 2003

Prepared application for a National Science Foundation Grant to provide develop a statewide network of science based programs and activities for K-12 students and families in Maine.

<<Link to MSGC>>

 

Facilitation of Strategic Planning Session, Maine Metal Products Association, completed April 2003

Facilitated session at Association’s annual meeting to be used by Association to improve research and advocacy services.

<<Link to Maine Metal Products>>

 

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