Jacobson changed the organization's focus from a passive go between helping businesses already interested in coming to Maine, to one which actively courted specific companies to attract them to the state.
Jacobson himself has been credited with facilitating these moves, with Mainebiz specifically citing him as the reason athenahealth chose to move to Belfast, ME rather than Burlington, VT.[6] Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative In 2014 Jacobson was selected to lead the newly formed Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative.
Jacobson's name was widely discussed for a potential bid for the Republican nomination as early as September, 2008,[7] but he made no formal announcement regarding his interest until much later.
On February 26, 2009, Jacobson announced that he was forming an exploratory committee to examine the prospects of running for Governor of Maine.
On May 7, 2009, Jacobson made his candidacy official, announcing his run at the Ocean Gateway terminal in Portland.