The purpose of this bill is to create and expand opportunities in Maine to retain and attract youth, defined as persons 15 to 35 years of age. This bill does the following.

1. It directs the Department of Economic and Community Development to develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy to promote Maine to youth as an attractive location to pursue education, employment and business development opportunities.

2. It establishes the Future for Youth in Maine State Work Action Tactics Team, "S.W.A.T.," to bring together representatives of government, education, business and labor in a focused, coordinated effort to realign, streamline and oversee the State's economic development policy and specific efforts to retain and attract youth. The S.W.A.T. team consists of 15 policy-making members, including at least 2 members under 35 years of age, and 8 advisory members.

3. It directs the trustees of the University of Maine System and the Maine Community College System to develop and implement a formal process to work collaboratively with public and private sector representatives of business, industry and economic development to coordinate higher education planning and resource allocation decisions with the needs of the State's economy and business sector. The bill also directs the trustees to develop a comprehensive plan to coordinate higher education with the needs of the business sector and requires the plan to address the needs of the business sector with respect to research and development, the commercialization of new products and services, business development and workforce training.

4. It directs the Maine State Housing Authority to develop recommendations to create or modify programs with the goal of expanding access to housing for young professionals and young families and specifically to consider strategies to assist renters and first-time home buyers who are under 35 years of age and explore options for linking assistance levels to student loan obligations.