James C. McConnon, Professor Emeritus of Economics and Cooperative Extension
E-mail: mcconnon@maine.edu
Education:
Ph.D. Agricultural Economics, Iowa State University;
M.Agr. Agricultural Economics, Penn State University;
B.S. Business Administration, Drexel University
Interest Areas:
Small business management, rural economic and community development, innovation and entrepreneurship
Teaching:
Dr. McConnon’s Extension program is primarily in the areas of small business management education and community economic development. He has taught hundreds of educational workshops, classes, seminars and short courses on topics related to small and micro-business development. He has also conducted many outreach programs designed to enhance the economic viability and sustainability of communities across Maine. More than 15,000 people have attended his educational programs. Dr. McConnon has also advised and mentored many graduate students in the School of Economics, involving them in his research and outreach projects.
Research:
Dr. McConnon’s research interests include microenterprise development and growth, community economic development, and economic impact assessment and analysis. He has been a principal or co-principal investigator on many externally funded research projects. Dr. McConnon has published articles in a variety of outlets such as: the Review of Economics and Statistics, the Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Applied Economic Letters, Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, the Journal of Travel Research, and the Journal of Extension. He has also authored many technical reports and publications and has made numerous presentations at state, national, and international conferences
Selected Publications:
Werner, S., Lemos, S., McLeod, A., Halstead, J., Gabe, T., Huang, J., Liang, C., Shi, W., Harris, L., and James McConnon (2019). “Prospects for New England Agriculture: Farm to Fork.” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review, 48(3), 473-504. Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/agricultural-and-resource-economics-review
Gabe, Todd and James C. McConnon, Jr. 2018. “Popping the Question: The Influence of Survey Design on Estimated Visitor Expenditures in a Region”. Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Volume 48, Number 4: 9-24. Available at: https://jrap.scholasticahq.com/.
Freedman, Emily A., James C. McConnon, Jr., Gary L. Hunt and Todd M. Gabe. 2017. “An Analysis of the Economic Impacts of Big-Box Stores on a Community’s Retail Sector: Evidence from Maine.” Journal of Regional Analysis and Policy, Volume 46, Number 2: 138-153. Available at: http://www.jrap-journal.org/.
Gabe, Todd and James C. McConnon, Jr. 2016. “Economic Contribution of Maine’s Aquaculture Industry.” School of Economics Staff Paper No. 623, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. 4pp.
Porter, Terry, James C. McConnon, Jr., and Ana Zivanovic. 2015. “Social Ontology and the Emergent Moment: A Theoretical and Action Research Inquiry into Rural Microenterprise Development.” Journal of Systematic Practice and Action Research. Available at: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11213-015-9346-3.
Awards:
Eastern Maine Development Corporation Champion Award, 2014 (Presented to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension for our work in support of small business and economic development in Eastern Maine).
National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) Excellence in Community Development Programming – Team National Award, 2008.
National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) Excellence in Community Development Programming – Team Northeast Region Award, 2008.
University of Maine, College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture, Outstanding Public Service Award, 2007.
U.S. Small Business Administration’s Home-Based Business Champion of the Year Award for the State of Maine. Presented to the members of the Washington County Business Conference and Marketplace Core Planning Team, 2005.
U.S. Small Business Administration’s Home-Based Business Advocate of the Year Award for the State of Maine and the New England Region, 2001.
To see continued contributions by Dr. McConnon: