Department of Economic and Community Development

Record Group

Identifier: US-MeSA-19

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Maine State Archives (MSA) collects and holds the permanent historical records of the Maine State Government. MSA was created in 1965. By 1971, MSA housed the historical records that had been held by the Secretary of State, Legislature, Courts and Executive Departments. This included records from defunct agencies.

With the implementation of a records management system, groups of records were identified as having permanent historical value and were sent to the Archives after a designated period of time. These included Commissioner/Executive correspondence, meeting minutes from Boards and Commissions, as well as department-specific records.

Dates

1933 -

Biographical / Historical

The Maine Development Commission was established in 1933. A reorganization in 1957 established the agency as the Department of Economic Development. In 1971 it became the Department of Commerce and Industry; in 1975, it was abolished. In 1987, the newly established Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) assumed the activities of the State Planning Office and the Department of Conservation. In 1995, the Department transferred its Natural Areas, Growth Management, Coastal Zone Management and Code Enforcement programs to the State Planning Office and the Department of Conservation. In 2004, the Energy Resource and Conservation programs were transferred to the Public Utilities Commission as a part of their energy office. In 2012, after the State Planning Office was abolished, DECD acquired the Code Enforcement Training and Certification Program and oversight of the State-owned landfill properties.

The Department of Economic and Community Development is responsible for administering Maine's programs related to business growth, community development, tourism, and film promotion. These programs fall within four divisions: the Office of the Commissioner, the Office of Business Development and Innovation, the Office of Tourism and Film, and the Office of Community Development.