Before Maine looks for an economic ‘secret sauce,’ it should look inward | Opinion

Maine Blue Economy Week in Portland Highlights Lessons from History and the Future of Regional Clusters

Portland, Maine — During its annual gathering in early October, Maine Blue Economy Week attracted founders, researchers, investors, and policymakers who met to chart the next chapter of the state’s ocean‑based economy. The conference, held at a downtown venue in Portland, centered on the possibility of building a new “ocean cluster” modeled after successful examples in Massachusetts and Alaska, while drawing on the state’s own heritage of innovation.

A Look Back at the Kennebec River Ice Trade

The event’s keynote speaker, John Surdyk, a resident of Waterville, opened the discussion by recalling the bustling ice industry that once thrived along the Kennebec River in the winter of 1882. Teams cut ice from the river, hauled it to wooden icehouses on the banks, and shipped the product to major eastern markets in Boston, New York and Washington. Surdyk described how the industry, a textbook cluster of specialized labor, local capital, and shared infrastructure, collapsed within a generation when mechanical ice‑making plants and household refrigeration took hold. By the 1920s the trade was largely gone.

“Those ice kings were innovators, too,” Surdyk told the crowd. “Their ability to turn a natural resource into a national commodity shows the power of local entrepreneurship and adaptive use of the environment.”

The Promise and Pitfalls of Building Clusters

The conference highlighted the allure of economic clusters—groups of firms, suppliers, and institutions that thrive by proximity and collaboration. The idea was popularized by Harvard economist Michael Porter and has become a staple of regional development thinking. Yet, as Surdyk pointed out, the evidence that governments can deliberately construct successful clusters is mixed.

He cited Florida’s decade‑long, $1 billion effort to attract research institutes and seed a biotech cluster as an example that “most public accounts suggest the results have disappointed.” The lesson, he said, is that while a region can copy visible structures, incentives or branding—such as a public‑private partnership or a catchy name like “Silicon Alley”—it may overlook the tacit knowledge and relationships that make a place work.

Learning from the Past: New Bedford and Regional Branching

During the conference a case study of New Bedford was presented to illustrate how regional economies evolve. New Bedford’s history—from whaling to textile mills to commercial fishing—exemplifies “regional branching,” a concept in which new industries grow by re‑applying existing workforce skills in new ways. The discussion underscored that “improvisation matters as much as planning” and that entrepreneurs already recognize this dynamic.

Surdyk urged Maine to adopt a more experimental approach to its blue‑economy strategy. “Treat it the way a scientist or a startup founder treats a promising hypothesis: run small experiments, measure the results, take the data seriously—even when it’s unwelcome—and adjust,” he said. He argued that hard‑won local knowledge will serve Maine better than simply imitating another region’s pathway.

Conference Themes and Key Takeaways

The keynote “Our Heritage Is Innovation” emphasized the continuity between Maine’s past and its future. The gathering featured demonstrations of cutting‑edge technology such as electric outboard motors and sustainable seafood brands, showing that the state’s research institutions, educational systems, and entrepreneurial talent are already poised for growth.

Participants discussed strategies for fostering collaboration between universities, industry, and local governments. The focus was on building a “blue cluster” that harnesses the state’s maritime expertise, scientific talent, and natural assets while remaining flexible to new opportunities.

Looking Ahead

Maine Blue Economy Week ended with a consensus that while the allure of a pre‑designed cluster remains strong, the state’s next steps should be guided by experimentation, data‑driven decision making, and an appreciation for its unique historical context. As Surdyk closed the conference, he reminded attendees that the same innovative spirit that powered the Kennebec River’s ice trade can help shape Maine’s future maritime economy—provided the state learns from its own past rather than merely copying elsewhere.