Why Maine Is #45 for Small Business (And How to Fix It) With Nate Cloutier, Director of Government Affairs at HospitalityMaine

Maine is a state built on small businesses—so why did Forbes rank us 45th out of 50 for small business friendliness?

In this episode of Maine For Keeps, Jonathan Bush sits down with Nate Cloutier, government affairs director for HospitalityMaine, to unpack the absurd barriers holding back Maine’s restaurant, hotel, and tourism industries—from soda fountain laws still on the books, to family leave mandates that punish seasonal businesses.

They discuss:

⛔ Why running a coffee shop in Maine could get you fined for not having a soda fountain

💸 How well-intentioned policies push employers underground

🍽️ The surprising apprenticeship programs fueling Maine’s food scene

🏠 Why lack of workforce housing is Maine tourism’s #2 bottleneck

📉 And how regulatory red tape is stifling growth in one of Maine’s most essential sectors

This episode is a must-watch for anyone who wants to see Maine actually support the small businesses it claims to champion.

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📌 Timestamps:

00:00 – Nate’s backstory: from French teacher to policy advocate

03:20 – The economic footprint of tourism in Maine

06:30 – How Maine became a food destination

08:30 – Why young people aren’t staying in Maine

11:00 – Family leave and seasonal work don’t mix

14:00 – Maine’s “whiteboard of shame” for small business laws

21:00 – Can we make it easier to start a restaurant?

27:00 – Why workforce housing is the key to Maine’s future

33:00 – The mindset shift Maine desperately needs