Governor Hassan, Regional Leaders Focus on Economic Development, Energy at Annual NEG/ECP Conference

Press Release

Governor Maggie Hassan, her fellow New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers pledged to strengthen economic ties as they finished the 38th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers (NEG/ECP) at the Mount Washington Hotel.

This year's NEG/ECP Conference culminated in a resolution on a path forward for the group's economic development efforts that will help encourage job creation throughout the region, which Governor Hassan made a focus of the conference.

"The economies of the New England states and Eastern Canadian provinces are linked, and further collaboration on economic development and energy will help create jobs, protect our natural resources and improve the economies of all our states and provinces," Governor Hassan said. "Our regional partnerships are critical as we work to expand opportunities for the middle class, support job-creating businesses and keep our economy moving in the right direction. This year's sessions were incredibly informative, and I am confident that by focusing on the initiatives we have laid out that together we can ensure a stronger economy."

The NEG/ECP adopted three non-binding resolutions on economic development, energy, and transportation and air quality at this year's conference.

The economic development resolution calls on the NEG/ECP's Coordinating Committee to establish and oversee a process to identify opportunities and challenges for regional economic development and trade in order to assess collaborative actions that could enhance the region's economic competitiveness. An interim report is due at next year's conference, with the final findings and proposed actions to be presented at the 2016 NEG/ECP Conference.

On energy, the NEG/ECP has directed the Northeast International Committee on Energy (NICE) to organize a Regional Forum in late 2014 for a public-private sector dialogue on the ongoing changes to the region's energy landscape. NICE will use the findings from the Regional Forum to identify collaborative actions and will report to the governors and premiers at the 2015 conference.

And building on work from last year's conference, the Transportation and Air Quality Committee will continue to work with the members of the Environment and Energy committees to enhance transportation choices that will lead to a more sustainable transportation future, including strengthening infrastructure to enhance public transportation, biking and walking options.

Every state and province was represented at this year's meeting. Next year's meeting will be hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tom Marshall, who was a co-chair of this year's event with Governor Hassan.

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