[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12159-12160]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO STEVE LEVESQUE

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Steve 
Levesque, the executive director of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment 
Authority, or MRRA, which is the entity charged with the transition of 
the former Brunswick Naval Air Station into a vibrant commercial 
center. Steve has been a longtime leader in economic development in the 
State of Maine, having previously served as commissioner of the Maine 
Department of Economic and Community Development. His most recent 
efforts have earned him recognition from the Association of Defense 
Communities, which presented Steve with its Base Redevelopment 
Leadership Award last week at its annual conference in Norfolk, VA.
  An era came to an end on May 31 when the Brunswick Naval Air Station, 
also known as BNAS, was officially closed as an unfortunate casualty of 
the base realignment and closure process. As the executive director of 
the MRRA, Steve Levesque was charged with the unenviable task of 
overseeing the reuse of the 3,200-acre former air station. Many 
anticipated that the closure would be a devastating blow to the 
Midcoast economy, but under Steve's leadership the air station's 
closure has transformed into an exciting redevelopment project with 
much hope for the future.
  Always reluctant to accept credit for the successes at Brunswick 
Landing, Steve is always quick to laud the efforts of those around him. 
While the MRRA staff and board unquestionably embody the finest 
attributes of Maine's legendary work ethic, Steve's buoyant outlook, 
foresight, and true leadership capacity have undoubtedly accelerated 
the redevelopment of BNAS into Brunswick Landing, which is home to an 
ever-growing number of businesses focused on projects as diverse as 
aviation, advanced composites, and education. Tenants include both new 
and existing business from across the globe, including Kestrel 
Aircraft, Molnlycke Health Care, Southern Maine Community College, and 
Bowdoin College.
  Under Steve's leadership, there are presently 10 companies in the 
process of relocating to Brunswick Landing, and many other businesses 
are actively considering moving to the site because of the proactive 
efforts of Steve and his team at MRRA. There are 90 jobs associated 
with those 10 firms, and an additional 515 are projected. In April, 
Steve also oversaw the successful launch of Brunswick Executive 
Airport, and just over a month later hosted the first annual Brunswick 
International Fly-In for pilots from across the region and the entire 
country.
  In acknowledging Steve's commitment to Brunswick Landing with its 
prestigious Base Redevelopment Leadership Award, the Association of 
Defense Communities noted that ``[m]uch of the success so far in 
promoting the base's redevelopment can be attributed to Levesque's 
strong working relationship with the Navy, the state's congressional 
delegation, the governor's office, the legislature, local officials and 
the business community.'' I can attest that Steve has been a reliable 
partner and a tremendous asset to the redevelopment effort as he has 
labored tirelessly to ensure that the Midcoast region is an attractive 
locale for businesses seeking to open, expand, and grow.
  Steve exemplifies the very best of Maine. Aside from his professional 
duties, he has been active in the local community as the founder of the 
Maine

[[Page 12160]]

Moose Junior Hockey team. From 2006 until 2010, Steve served as the 
president and general manager of the Maine Moose, sharing his love of 
hockey with kids from across the State. Steve's passion for and 
commitment to public service and the people of Maine is truly 
commendable.
  I have long respected Steve Levesque for his intelligence, 
confidence, and ability to accomplish great things. At a time when job 
creation and economic growth are paramount to revitalizing midcoast 
Maine's economy, I know no one more suited to the task than Steve 
Levesque. I thank Steve for his incredible work thus far, and wish him 
success as he continues his efforts to construct Maine's Center for 
Innovation at Brunswick Landing.

                          ____________________