U.S. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) took to the streets of Newcastle and Damariscotta Friday on a tour to examine economic progress in the Midcoast region.

In visiting local businesses, King routinely asks people in rural areas how well they are being served by the Internet, explained King’s Maine press secretary John Faherty.

"Lots of us have been working hard for this for years,” said Faherty.

King's first stop was the Damariscotta Region Chamber of Commerce in Newcastle. From there, Executive Director Stephanie P. Gallagher escorted King to visit Buzz Maine LLC, a Main Street coffee shop which provides space for people to conduct business online.

King’s first question was the speed and bandwidth of the Internet at the work area. He tested it on his cell phone and was satisfied it was strong.

“That is not the case in many parts of rural Maine,” he said.

King spent time with members of Buzz Maine to find out how they came to work in the communal setting. Several members said they had moved to Maine with the opportunity to work away from a central office but found community in working together.

King touched on immigration reform by recounting how his ancestors had come to Maine before it was a state. "Today grandfather would never have gotten in,” said King.

King continued the tour with planned visits to the Francis Perkins Center, the newly expanded Central Lincoln County YMCA and Milling Around, a Newcastle antique store in Newcastle run by Ann and Dirk Poole. Gallagher said the Pooles and Buzz Maine founder Jennifer Van Horne are strong supporters of the Chamber. Van Horne will receive the Chamber’s Business Enhancement Award at the annual meeting May 16, reported Gallagher.