Meet Amanda Rector, new state economist.

She grew up in Camden and lives in Union, and she’s worked for the Department of Labor and State Planning Office.

“Certainly I’m thrilled to have the job,” Rector said. And she’s glad to be moving up in her career. In her immediate future: Census figs and veggies.

Name: Amanda Rector

Age: 29

You’re a state economist and not even 30 yet. How do people react? Many people have asked if I’m the youngest state economist Maine has had. I’m actually not; Catherine Reilly holds that record. (I believe Kate was 26 when she started.)

You find yourself at a dinner party. Describe your new job to a stranger: My job is about improving Maine’s economy and the economic well-being of people in the state – both in the near term and for future generations. It’s about taking data from all different sources and figuring out what policies can best move Maine in a positive direction. In a typical day I’ll look at recent economic and demographic statistics as well as news stories at everything from the local to the international level. Maine’s economy is tied into an incredibly complex global system and it’s important to keep up to date on everything that’s going on.

Policy work and revenue forecasts sounds like long nights. What’s the appeal? I am passionate about Maine. I grew up here, I chose to move back here after college, and I went into the public sector with the desire to make a difference in Maine. It’s a privilege to be in a position where I can truly effect change.

Trends you’ll look for as new Census numbers come in: We actually have a lot of the Census 2010 data already. We saw Maine’s population increase more than expected, which was good news. We also saw the continued aging of Maine’s population – our median age of 42.7 years is the oldest in the country. Demographics are the heart of the economy – it’s about people, after all – so it’s important to consider the composition of Maine’s population when creating economic policies.

Upcoming project you’re looking forward to: The State Planning Office received a multi-year federal grant as part of the State Broadband Initiative (funded under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) to work on broadband capacity building in Maine. Expanding access to and adoption of broadband has many benefits for Maine, and I’m excited to see progress being made on this front.

What does the state economist’s office look like? I have to admit, I’m just not an interior decorator. We moved into our current building last September and I haven’t even put anything up on the walls yet!

You garden for fun. What did you plant this year? I’ve got a large vegetable garden – about 1,200 square feet – so it’s a pretty lengthy list: peas, tomatoes, basil, lettuce, beets, turnips, rutabaga, chard, pole beans, shell beans, potatoes, radishes, carrots, parsnips, shallots, leeks, fennel, eggplant, kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, corn, peppers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins and garlic.

Gardening tip you wish someone had told you sooner: Woodchucks love broccoli!

kskelton@sunjournal.com