Biddeford Speaker Fecteau wins statewide award
PORTLAND – Maine’s Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau has been named the 2022 recipient of the Maine Real Estate & Development Public Policy Award. The statewide award is given in recognition of significant achievements and efforts in improving Maine public policy for housing and economic development.
In his legislative service to Maine, Fecteau sponsored a bill that made Maine’s single largest investment in affordable housing in history by working to secure a Maine Low Income Housing Tax Credit program in 2020 and he led the Legislature’s Commission to Increase Housing Opportunities in Maine by Studying Zoning and Land Use Restrictions in 2021.
“Speaker Fecteau has demonstrated a commitment to helping more Mainers access housing. MEREDA applauds him for those efforts, and looks forward to working with him in the years to come to help keep Maine’s public policy fair, practical, and predictable to ensure housing construction and development,” said Josh Fifield, MEREDA President.
Speaker Fecteau was presented with the award Thursday at the MEREDA Forecast Conference in Portland following his keynote address to in-person and virtual attendees. The conference forecasts trends Mainers can expect from Maine’s real estate market in the coming year.
Fecteau discussed his childhood experience growing up in low-incoming housing and described the housing crisis that Mainers are experiencing today. Fecteau underscored the urgent need for more housing and outlined nine recommendations for Maine to move the needle on housing construction and smart development so that all Mainers have access to safe and affordable housing.
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