In early February, hundreds of Maine’s top leaders and industry experts gathered at the Samoset Resort in Rockport for the annual, invite-only Maine State Chamber Leadership Summit. Spanning two-days, the event brought together a dynamic mix of legislators, business owners, educational leaders, and construction professionals including Team Hancock’s Chief Strategy + Growth Officer, Rebecca Hatfield. Rebecca attended the event as one of four housing development panelists to discuss on “Overcoming Barriers to Maine Housing Development”
A hub of ideas and collaboration, the summit is a unique opportunity to facilitate open discussions about the top priorities for Maine’s economy and future, including our state’s most pressing challenges, promising opportunities, and the policies that will help further our collective mission. The summit’s collaborative energy was palpable as leaders from across sectors—government, business, education, and construction—united under a common goal: finding actionable solutions for Maine.
One of the event’s highlights was an engaging panel discussion titled “Overcoming Barriers to Maine Housing Development”, where Rebecca Hatfield joined three other influential voices: Elliott Chamberlain (Chamberlain Construction, Saco), Sam Height (Height Auto Dealership, Skowhegan), and Jonathan Culley (Redfern Properties, Portland). Panel members delved into a range of topics crucial to Maine’s housing landscape, including:
- Innovative Housing Solutions:
The panel addressed the multifaceted needs of Maine’s housing market. While multi-family housing often take center stage, discussions expanded to include alternative solutions like tiny homes, modular homes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Insights were shared on emerging trends, such as the integration of advanced manufacturing techniques. - Planning, Permitting and Approvals Reform:
Panelists discussed how to streamline the planning, permitting and approvals process to add efficiency, transparency and predictability—which, ultimately, can help to speed up production and lower costs. - Legislative Support and Financial Realities:
The conversation also explored the broader regulatory and financial challenges affecting housing development. With rising operational costs—spanning wages, insurance, supply chain issues, and material expenses—the panel stressed the need for robust legislative support. They underscored the importance of recent initiatives such as the HR&A Maine State Housing report, a study initiated by the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation to understand housing needs and deficits along with their impacts on Maine’s economy—a step towards a strategic shift from assessment to action.
Following the panel, breakout sessions allowed for more focused discussions with a wide array of stakeholders. Participants from diverse backgrounds—including elected officials, representatives from the Governor’s office, Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), the Roux Institute, Jackson Labs, financial institutions, local municipalities, small businesses and developers —joined together to explore the complexities of Maine’s housing and development sectors. Key topics discussed included scaling housing production, modern construction practices such as off-site construction, bridging the gap between assessment and action, and the Maine State Chamber’s new housing committee formed to foster collaboration and solutions.
“For Hancock Lumber, participation in the summit went beyond being a supplier of building materials and solutions—it was a chance to engage as thought leaders and active contributors to Maine’s future. Human beings and housing are two things we care most about at Hancock Lumber. We are proud to play a role in a dialogue that will influence the upcoming legislative session and set the stage for meaningful housing and development progress.”
—Rebecca Hatfield, Chief Strategy + Growth Officer
The Maine State Chamber Leadership Summit was a testament to the power of collaboration. Amid discussions that ranged from the technical details of modular construction to broad economic strategies, the overall atmosphere was one of optimism and determination. While the challenges are significant, the shared vision of a stronger, more sustainable Maine was evident in every conversation. As we move forward, Hancock Lumber remains committed to playing a vital role in these efforts—listening, advocating, and contributing our expertise to help build a future where communities thrive. We look forward to continued engagement with our industry partners and local leaders as we work together to innovate and create lasting, positive change.
For more insights and updates from the summit, check out the event highlights on the Maine State Chamber’s website and watch the recap video on Facebook.