Mark your calendars. . .
for the upcoming PCEDC Quarterly Meeting!
September 12th , 4-7pm at THE RESTAURANT, Rt. 11, Milo
Topic: "Education & Economic Development"
Expert panelists include:
Discussion to be facilitated by:
Dr. Steve Pound, Supt. Of Schools, School Union # 60, PCEDC Executive Committee member
To RSVP, contact PCEDC Administrative Assistant Lisa Herzog by email or phone at (207) 564-3638.
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Good news!
The PCEDC wrote a successful $400,000 CDBG grant for the Town of Guilford to assist Maine Wood Turnings of New Vineyard, Maine, purchase the Pride Mfg. plant. Previously, Pride's owners stated that unless a buyer was found, they
would sell the mill and equipment piecemeal and lay off 60 workers. The owners of Maine Wood Turnings, Doug and Jody Fletcher, will continue operations and retain the workers. Special thanks are extended to the Maine Dept. of Economic & Community Development for their facilitation of discussions between the Fletchers and Pride management.
Good News! (2)
The PCEDC also wrote a successful $300,000 CDBG grant for the Town of Brownville to assist X-Ring Industries purchase equipment and renovate manufacturing space. X-Ring makes muzzleloader bullets and its owner, Vermont entrepreneur Craig Sanborn, has committed to create 10 jobs. Sanborn is not new to the eastern Piscataquis County area as he had previously subcontracted his bullet casting operations with the now closed Ox-Yoke Originals. Sanborn anticipates hiring many of the bullet casting workers laid off from Ox-Yoke.
Check out this Bangor Daily News article for more information on this grant and Guilford's successful CDBG application.
Good News! (3)
WHG Development Inc. of Palm Springs, California, has announced their interest in constructing a large resort complex in Brownville. WHG President, James Dennehy has approached the Brownville Planning Board with plans on building a 550 room
hotel, a conference center, an 18 hole golf course, and up to 400 timeshare units. If realized, this will be the largest complex of its kind in the State of Maine. For more information, click here. Stay tuned...
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Good News! (4)
Maine House Furnishings, the first tenant within the Greenville Business Incubator building, recently advertised
for their first employee. Incubators create jobs.
Good News! (5)
Thanks to the strong efforts of our Congressional Delegation, two Piscataquis County projects will be financed through the recently passed federal transportation bill. The bill provides $400,000 for right hand turning lanes into the Pleasant River Lumber plant on Rt. 6/16 and the creation of an intersection for the new Eastern Piscataquis Industrial Park on Rt. 11. The PCEDC developed the proposals with municipal leaders.
Senator Snowe's Comments
Senator Collins' Comments
Congressman Michaud's Comments
People Notes
The Monson Selectmen have hired Robert Nicholson as their new Town Manager. Nicholson brings much enthusiasm to the job and will be a strong asset to local and county economic development efforts.
Some Bad News
According to recent statistics by the Maine Dept. of Labor, Piscataquis County residents earned a smaller average annual wage in 2004 than residents in any other county.
Real Estate note...
Piscataquis County's median sales price of homes was $72,000 in 2004, the second lowest county average only to
Aroostook ($59,450).
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PCEDC supports Plum Creek
The PCEDC Executive Committee has voted to support Plum Creek Timberland's concept plan for 426,000 acres of their land in the Moosehead Lake Region. The Committee also voted to join the newly created "Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine", an organization dedicated to developing support for the concept plan. Plum Creek's concept plan will continue to conserve over 417,000 acres, allow the sale of 975 residential lots (40% non-shorefront), promote the creation of two resorts, create property for a high tech sawmill, and contribute 100 acres of land for affordable housing uses. The plan is estimated to create 800 jobs in the Moosehead Region, Piscataquis County, and Maine.
Piscataquis County Tourism
Piscataquis County is one of three pilot areas being studied by State-sponsored Fermata, Inc. for nature-based tourism growth. On September 13, Fermata will be releasing their suggested strategies to Governor Baldacci. Will Piscataquis County be ready to implement these strategies? That is the issue facing the Piscataquis Tourism Task Force. For information on the Task Force, click here.
Tourism note...
According to the Maine Office of Tourism, both Piscataquis and Penobscot counties garner only 7% of tourists visiting our State.
Community Development
In July, the PCEDC's $85,000 application from USDA Rural Development in order to hire a community development specialist was accepted. This person, to be hired around November, will assist Piscataquis County municipalities as they develop community projects such as industrial parks, downtown revitalization, and affordable housing. The application was one of only 32 accepted nationwide.
Check out the PCEDC's website for continual updates on activities: www.pcedc.org
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For more information about Piscataquis County and business opportunities, contact:
Mark Scarano, Executive Director
Email mscarano@emdc.org
Piscataquis County Economic Development Council
50 Mayo Street
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine 04426
(207) 564-3638
or toll free at 1-800-539-0332
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