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🎙️ Q-Point Podcast | Patrick Woodcock — Part One

President and CEO, Maine State Chamber of Commerce

In Part One of Q-Point Podcast, Corenna and David Quirk sit down with Patrick Woodcock, President and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, for an in-depth conversation on the state of Maine’s economy heading into 2026. Woodcock reflects on the pressures facing Maine businesses in 2025, including shifting federal economic policy, tariffs, interest rates, and disrupted Canadian tourism, and explains why Maine’s long-term economic outlook is constrained by demographic challenges and stagnant employment growth.

The discussion dives into key economic indicators Woodcock is watching closely — from interest rates and inflation to state revenues, energy costs, business starts, tourism trends, and housing production. He outlines why housing has become a top Chamber priority, framing it as a core economic issue tied directly to workforce growth, business expansion, and Maine’s ability to retain younger generations. Woodcock details the Chamber’s high-priority housing policy pillars, including speeding up state permitting, reassessing building code requirements, and placing reasonable limits on municipal roadblocks to compliant development.

The episode also explores Maine’s energy costs and policy decisions, with Woodcock calling out long-term consequences of past choices that have left Maine exposed to volatile and expensive imported natural gas. He explains how rising electricity costs are impacting households, businesses, and economic competitiveness, and why energy policy costs should be re-examined.

Finally, Woodcock weighs in on Maine’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, highlighting concerns for small businesses, seasonal employers, labor shortages, and program solvency. The conversation concludes with a deep dive into tax conformity, why alignment with federal tax law matters for Maine businesses, and why research and development expensing is viewed as “table stakes” for a competitive state economy.

📻 Airs weekends on VOM (The Voice of Maine): Saturday at 6:00 AM & Sunday at 6:30 AM.
⬇️ 🎧 Streaming after airing on QPointPodcast.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & more.
Produced and sponsored by Corenna Quirk, Broker at NextHome Experience.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily represent those of the hosts, Q-Point Podcast associates, or affiliates.

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