PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - A Maine economic development official says Gov. Paul LePage won’t be asking the Maine Legislature to use taxpayer money to help fund a ferry service between Portland and Nova Scotia.
The Press Herald reports (https://bit.ly/1LmWkOu ) the Nova Star ferry’s operator has been seeking $5 million from a Maine bank since 2013, and has asked for help from the state to secure it.
A Portland city economic official says it’s up to the operator to get the loan by convincing a commercial lender that the money can be paid back, not through legislative means.
A Financial Authority of Maine spokesman says the financing agency has been helping Nova Star find private lenders, but has had no luck thus far.
The Nova Scotia government has committed to spend $13 million this season.
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