Value
Maine provides significant value on investment to open up opportunity for life science companies, with an abundance of affordable land and resources, and capacity advantages.
Maine is almost as big as all of the other five New England States combined
About 90% of Maine is forested, the highest percentage of any state
Inexpensive workforce with 30%-50% lower than national average wage
Capacity advantages through low cost of land, existing real estate & resources
The most affordable land in New England
Source: USA Today, 2019
Access
Maine has direct access to government resources, support, and funding to create business efficiencies and drive growth.
Contact your State Representative
Contact your State Senator
Resources: Doing Business in Maine
Support, Capital, Accelerators & Funding Resources
Proximity
Maine is a gateway to the life sciences world, just up the road from a global hub, but with ease of traveling, low traffic congestion, and public transit commuting.
1 hour 45 minute drive from Portland, ME to Boston, MA
Take the Amtrak Downeaster
Take a direct Concord Coach bus
Take a non-stop flight from the Portland International Jetport to Boston Logan Airport
The Portland International Jetport has direct flights to 20 major cities including Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and more.
Work-Life Balance
Maine values work-life balance, providing residents the ability to do industry-leading work, but also maintain a low cost of living, higher salaries, and access to Maine’s natural resources and cultural vibrancy.
Maine is one of the greatest natural playgrounds in the world. It offers 5,000 miles of spectacular coastline, majestic mountain ranges, and crystal-clear lakes and rivers.
Portland, ME ranked 2018 Restaurant City of the Year
Portland, ME named World’s Best City for Craft Beer
Maine ranks first in the nation for public safety
Maine ranks No. 1 for the highest percentage of grade A hospitals
IDEXX named Maine’s 2nd best employer
Portland, ME named 4th best place to live in the United States
Industry Impact
Maine life sciences companies’ voices carry weight to drive our economy forward, creating more jobs for Mainers and shaping the state’s economy.
426 life science companies in Maine
Maine’s life science industry has a job multiplier of 2.71 compared to 1.71 in all other Maine industries
$1.5 Billion of Maine’s total GRP
5% of Maine’s total exports
Life Science Industry Job Growth
Maine is one of three New England states with positive job growth in the industry over the last 5 years
Workforce
Maine has access to a quality, highly skilled workforce, driving both workforce attraction and retention
The cost of living in Maine is 27% lower than the national average
Study finds Maine is 1 of 4 states with residents having the least desire to move away
100% increase in average earnings of Maine’s life science jobs from 2001-2018
Affordable median home value of $237,800
6,439 life science degrees awarded in Maine from 2009-2017
Average annual salary of $95,044 in Maine’s life science industry
Compared to the average annual salary of $52,455 in all other Maine industries
Maine has 20+ colleges and universities offering degrees in life sciences
Value
Maine provides significant value on investment to open up opportunity for life science companies, with an abundance of affordable land and resources, and capacity advantages.
- Maine is almost as big as all of the other five New England States combined
- About 90% of Maine is forested, the highest percentage of any state
- Inexpensive workforce with 30%-50 lower than the national average wage
- Capacity advantages through low cost of land, existing real estate & resources
The most affordable land in New England
- Maine Value/Acre $6,142
- Vermont Value/Acre $7,439
- New Hampshire Value/Acre $19,840
- Massachusetts Value/Acre $102,214
- Connecticut Value/Acre $128,824
- Rhode Island Value/Acre $133,730
Source: USA Today, 2019
Access
Maine has direct access to government resources, support, and funding to create business efficiencies and drive growth.
Support, Capital, Accelerators & Funding Resources
- Maine Technology Institute
- Maine Venture Fund
- Maine Accelerates Growth
- Maine Angels
- Scratchpad Accelerator
- Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
- Maine & Co.
- New Ventures Maine
- Finance Authority of Maine
- Maine Small Business Advising & Training
- Maine Center for Entrepreneurs
- Maine International Trade Center
- Startup Maine
- Maine Department of Economic & Community Development
- U.S. Small Business Administration
Proximity
Maine is a gateway to the life sciences world, just up the road from a global hub, but with ease of traveling, low traffic congestion, and public transit commuting.
- 1 hour 45 minute drive from Portland, ME to Boston, MA
- Take the Amtrak Downeaster
- Take a direct Concord Coach bus
- Take a non-stop flight from the Portland International Jetport to the Boston Logan Airport
- The Portland International Jetport has direct flights to 20 major cities including Boston, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Atlanta and more.
Hours lost in congestion
- Portland, Maine 22
- Boston, Massachusetts 149
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 142
- New York, New York 140
- San Francisco, California 97
- Seattle, Washington 74
- Providence, Rhode Island 70
- San Diego, California 70
- Raleigh, North Carolina 25
Work-Life Balance
Maine values work-life balance, providing residents the ability to do industry-leading work, but also maintain low cost of living, higher salaries, and access to Maine’s natural resources and cultural vibrancy.
Maine is one of the greatest natural playgrounds in the world. It offers 5,000 miles of spectacular coastline, majestic mountain ranges, and crystal-clear lakes and rivers.
- Portland, ME ranked 2018 Restaurant City of the Year
- Portland, ME named World’s Best City for Craft Beer
- Maine ranks first in the nation for public safety
- Make ranks No. 1 for the highest percentage of grade A hospitals
- IDEXX named Maine’s 2nd best employer
- Portland, ME named one of the best places to live in the United States
“Great science is like great art; you need to be creative to do it, and to do it well, and that ethos is here.” – Dr. Deborah Bronk
Industry Impact
Maine life sciences companies’ voices carry weight to drive our economy forward, creating more jobs for Mainers and shaping the state’s economy.
- 426 life science companies in Maine
- Maine’s life science industry has a job multiplier of 2.71. For every job created for the life sciences 1.71 jobs are created in other industries in Maine
- $1.5 Billion of Maine’s total GRP
- 5% of Maine’s total Exports
- Maine is one of three New England States with positive job growth in the industry over the last 5 years
Life Science Job Industry Growth
- United States 10%
- New England 17%
- Massachusetts 26%
- Maine 14%
- Connecticut 12%
- Rhode Island -2%
- New Hampshire -4%
- Vermont -8%
Industry Reports
2019 BioME Life Sciences in Maine Industry Report
TEConomy/BIO Maine Industry 2020
Workforce
Maine has access to a quality, highly skilled workforce, driving both workforce attraction and retention
- The cost of living in Maine is 27% lower than the national average
- Study finds Maine is 1 of 4 states with residents having the least desire to move away
- 100% increase in average earnings of Maine’s life science jobs from 2001-2018
- Affordable median home value of $237,800
- Average annual salary of $95,044 in Maine’s life science industry compares to the average annual salary of $52,455 in all other Maine industries
- 6,439 life science degrees awarded in Maine from 2009-2019
Maine has 20+ colleges and universities offering degrees in life sciences
Education & Training Resources: Discover Maine’s life science related research opportunities, fellowships, internships, training programs, courses, workshops, graduate & undergraduate programs and more.