Community Bridge: NMDC News Nov. 18, 2015 www.nmdc.org Inside BFD News pg. 2 New Partnership pg. 3 TA Grant pg. 4 See ROADS continued on pg. 2 Executive Board approves proposal to grow business opportunities in the UT Transportation survey results show roads are king CARIBOU — e Executive Board of Northern Maine Development Commission, at its November meeting, approved the final work product of the Community Guided Planning and Zoning Steering Committee. at work plan calls for the creation of a Development-Rural Business subdistrict in select unorganized territories. is subdistrict is designed to encourage a wide range of small commercial, light manufacturing, and public facilities that may create impacts incompatible with residential uses, recreation uses or resource management. ese businesses are typically larger than a permissible home-based business, but are not large- scale commercial or industrial developments. It will encourage the commercial expansion of facilities that are suitable for growth because of proximity to hub communities, service centers or major transportation corridors, despite generating some traffic, noise, odor and visual impacts. e proposal now goes to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) for, pending public comment, approval in the rule 10 regulations. About two years ago the LUPC selected Aroostook County as the initial region to participate in a series of local workshops, coordinated by Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), to help determine overall regional interest and further develop a framework for the community guided planning and zoning process. Recent efforts to improve the effectiveness of managing land use in the unorganized and deorganized areas of Maine have focused in part on the need for more locally guided and proactive planning for these areas. More information about the new subdstrict can be found at www.nmdc.org. Also at the board meeting, the NMDC Finance /Audit committee detailed the annual audit. “For fiscal year ending June 30, NMDC had total assets of $13,252,402, total liabilities of $7,340,718 and net assets of $5,911,684,” said NMDC Finance Director Mary Dahlgren. “ere were no findings or questioned costs noted and NMDC is classified as a low risk auditee.” e Executive Board meets again ursday, Jan. 14, 2015 in Caribou at the NMDC boardroom. Northern Maine Development Commission completed a regional transportation priorities survey in August 2015. e purpose of this survey was to obtain information from municipalities, businesses, and other interested stakeholders on Aroostook County’s transportation infrastructure and to determine what the region’s priorities for this infrastructure are. Our goal is to ensure that MaineDOT is well aware of the region’s priorities when they develop projects for their Capital Work Plan. Sixty (60) detailed responses were received and provide an overview of the region’s priorities as they relate to Aroostook County’s transportation systems. Roads ranked as the highest priority mode of transportation in the region. Overall 58 of the 60 respondents ranked roads as their highest priority followed by bridges. at was followed by rail, airports/air services, and trails. US Route 1 was listed as the top priority in the region by nearly 42 percent of those responding, followed by Route Finance/Audit Committee Chairman Jon Frederick updates the Executive Board about the results from the annual NMDC audit.
Executive Board approves proposal to grow business
opportunities in the UTTransportation survey results
show roads are king
CARIBOU — The Executive Board of Northern Maine Development Commission, at its November meeting, approved the final work product of the Community Guided Planning and Zoning Steering Committee. That work plan calls for the creation of a Development-Rural Business subdistrict in select unorganized territories. This subdistrict is designed to encourage a wide range of small commercial, light manufacturing, and public facilities that may create impacts incompatible with residential uses, recreation uses or resource management. These businesses are typically larger than a permissible home-based business, but are not large-scale commercial or industrial developments. It will encourage the commercial expansion of facilities that are suitable for
growth because of proximity to hub communities, service centers or major transportation corridors, despite generating some traffic, noise, odor and visual impacts. The proposal now goes to the Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) for, pending public comment, approval in the rule 10 regulations. About two years ago the LUPC selected Aroostook County as the initial region to participate in a series of local workshops, coordinated by Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), to help determine overall regional interest and further develop a framework for the community guided planning and zoning process. Recent efforts to improve the effectiveness of managing land use in the unorganized and
deorganized areas of Maine have focused in part on the need for more locally guided and proactive planning for these areas. More information about the new subdstrict can be found at www.nmdc.org. Also at the board meeting, the NMDC Finance /Audit committee detailed the annual audit. “For fiscal year ending June 30, NMDC had total assets of $13,252,402, total liabilities of $7,340,718 and net assets of $5,911,684,” said NMDC Finance Director Mary Dahlgren. “There were no findings or questioned costs noted and NMDC is classified as a low risk auditee.” The Executive Board meets again Thursday, Jan. 14, 2015 in Caribou at the NMDC boardroom.
Northern Maine Development Commission completed a regional transportation priorities survey in August 2015. The purpose of this survey was to obtain information from municipalities, businesses, and other interested stakeholders on Aroostook County’s transportation infrastructure and to determine what the region’s priorities for this infrastructure are. Our goal is to ensure that MaineDOT is well aware of the region’s priorities when they develop projects for their Capital Work Plan. Sixty (60) detailed responses were received and provide an overview of the region’s priorities as they relate to Aroostook County’s transportation systems.
Roads ranked as the highest priority mode of transportation in the region. Overall 58 of the 60 respondents ranked roads as their highest priority followed by bridges. That was followed by rail, airports/air services, and trails. US Route 1 was listed as the top priority in the region by nearly 42 percent of those responding, followed by Route
Finance/Audit Committee Chairman Jon Frederick updates the Executive Board about the results from the annual NMDC audit.
www.nmdc.org 2
11 and Route 161. When asked what MaineDOT’s priority for these corridors should be, the top three responses included: Improve north-south connections; improve condition of rural roads; and improve connections to rail and marine facilities such as Searsport and Eastport.
Survey participants were also asked to identify their most regionally significant bridge. Bridges over the Aroostook River received the most responses (28). Specifically the Aroostook River Bridge in Presque Isle received the highest number of responses (10) followed by Aroostook River Bridge in Caribou (7), and Ashland (7). Fourteen individual bridges were identified as being regionally important, including international bridges, Fish River Bridge, Mattawamkeag River Bridge and North Street Bridge in Houlton.
Overwhelmingly, Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle was identified as the region’s top airport. Followed by Houlton International and Bangor International.
Participants were asked to identify projects they would like to see completed. There were a wide range of responses, some very specific while others were corridor wide. There was also a mixture of project specific and policy.
Complete survey results can be found on the NMDC webpage.
The Business Finance Division of NMDC closed multiple loans in October.
Plourde & Plourde, Inc – This is a $30,000 SBA Micro Loan. This is an existing client located in Caribou who has been in business for 40 years and continues to be the largest dealer of recreational vehicles in Aroostook County. They handle a complete line of Harley Davidson products and accessories, as well as Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat lines. They also offer a complete service department with certified technicians. The funds allowed this client to purchase additional inventory to prepare for the busy winter season.
Twisted Knickers, LLC – This is a $7,000 loan. Twisted Knickers is a direct retailer of lingerie, marital aids and jewelry located in Presque Isle. They have been in business for two years and have recently moved to a new location that is providing them with additional walk in traffic and visibility. The funds allowed the client to purchase additional inventory for the busy Christmas season as well as necessary working capital.
FSF, Inc - This is a $10,000 SBA Micro Loan. FSF, Inc, also known as Fort Kent Motor Sports, is a power sports dealership carrying Skidoo, Seadoo, Can-am, Spyder, Yamaha, and Polaris lines that has been in operation since 1974. The client has undertaken a project to remodel a portion of the Rt 161 location to be an expanded service area, including a floor lift, two heat pumps, and a new overhead door. The company has already invested $15,000 and the additional $10,000 will help them complete this project before the
snow flies.
Sloat’s Machining & Fabrication - This is a $10,000 SBA Micro Loan. This client has been in business since 1995 and is using the funds to purchase equipment that is expected to improve efficiency in the fabrication process.
Virtual Managed Solutions - This is a $644,395.60 project that is being funded in three parts. DECD is funding one half, NMDC one quarter and Caribou Economic Growth Council one quarter. The goal of the project is to expand its current workforce by 100 at its Sweden St location in Caribou based on recent opportunities to take on work from a company. Virtual Managed Solutions was incorporated in 2007 and has worked hard to secure a variety of different contracts over multiple industries.
Michelle Hanson - This is a $50,000 SBA Micro loan. Michelle is the owner of Frederick’s Southside in Caribou. She will be using the funds to purchase a new dough mixer, a motor for the hood system, and as working capital to cover the installation and needed repairs. Fredrick’s is a landmark business in Caribou.
Northeastern Supply Company - This is a $25,000 SBA Micro Loan. This company was formed in 1957 and the current owner, Elvin Thomas, is the third generation in the propane industry. Due to continued demand from customers the company will be increasing their number of residential tanks and replacing some of their older tanks. Their new loan funds will assist with this as well as provide some necessary working capital.
Business Finance News
ROADS Continued from pg. 1
Agriculture Survey CARIBOU — The deadline for agricultural producers to complete a marketing survey to better connect with markets downstate has been extended. The Great Region Growers’ Survey for Aroostook, Washington and Piscataquis counties is a project of Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC) and Piscataquis County Economic Development Council (PCEDC). The survey can be found at www.nmdc.org.
3 www.nmdc.org
Nearly 60 people attended the annual APP/LEAD meeting, which formally kicked off the new merged organization called the Aroostook Partnership.
AROOSTOOK COUNTY — The Aroostook Partnership for Progress and LEADers Encouraging Aroostook Development joined together to better serve the economic development needs of Aroostook County. For the past six months, the executive boards of the organizations have been meeting to work out the details of how the merged organization would operate. “One team, one private sector segment, one expanded board of directors, greater collaboration among economic development organizations, inclusion of the Loring Development Authority and Southern Aroostook Development Corporation – these are some of the attributes that will make the Partnership a better focused effort,” Dorsey explained. “Most of the comments I am hearing from investors indicate they are happy with this direction and wish this had happened earlier.” Dorsey added another driving factor is the need to engage younger people in the leadership of the organization. “It is their future and it only makes sense to advocate greater involvement of young professionals,” he added. The combined organization, which was officially unveiled Wednesday, Nov. 4 at the annual APP/LEAD meeting, is named the Aroostook Partnership. Chris Anderson has served on the executive boards of both APP and LEAD and has a unique perspective on the merger. “Both organizations have done tremendous work over the years in the effort to enhance our economy,” he said. “The slate of current activities is impressive. The leadership of both organizations does not want to lose those specific things until the time comes that an activity is seen as unnecessary or ineffective to reaching our goals. As budgets tighten and most importantly, as our volunteers become tired from the
continuous, arduous task of economic development, we seek fresh ideas and new energy to keep the vision alive and mission on task. Expanding leadership to give voice to all those interested in a better tomorrow for Aroostook is a key element to combining forces. In addition, the business investor/member need not be confused by having too many organizations with multiple or redundant missions pushing a seemingly uncoordinated approach to economic development. One voice, one vision, one mission will streamline all efforts.” Events such as Entrepreneur of the Year, Aroostook Day at the Legislature and advocacy are still priorities for the new organization, along with the APP focus on “Education to Industry”, the forest products industry, diversified agriculture, renewable energy and manufacturing. Jim Davis served as President of LEAD this past year and he is confident the legacy of the organization will live on. “Whether it is legislative advocacy regarding railroads and the North/South Highway, weekly update calls to our representatives in Augusta,
Aroostook Day at the Legislature, the Entrepreneur of the Year program, our Opportunities Aroostook web site to showcase employment opportunities, all of these activities bring people together for the purpose of building on our strengths and growing the Aroostook economy,” he said. “Not only will these activities remain a part of the Aroostook Partnership, they’ll be positioned within the new organization in such a way that they’ll be highlighted and take on even greater prominence in the community.” “This merger makes sense for the LEAD membership as well as the APP Investors,” said former LEAD Executive Director and current Madawaska Town Manager Ryan Pelletier. “The new organization will be focused and responsive to the needs of the private sector in Aroostook County.” “This allows us to work as one team and approach economic development punching with a fist instead of five fingers,” said Dorsey. The first board meeting of the Aroostook Partnership will be Friday, Dec. 11 in Caribou in the Northern Maine Development Commission boardroom.
New Partnership forms afterAPP and LEAD merge
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Water assistance grant awarded to NMDCNorthern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) is pleased to announce it has received funding from the United States Department of Agriculture-Rural Development (USDA-RD) Technical Assistance and Training Grants Program. The objectives of this grant program are to identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas, assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste grants made at the State level offices, and to improve operation and maintenance of existing water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas.
NMDC is grateful to receive this funding. In order to provide meaningful training and technical assistance to the region’s water and wastewater departments and districts, NMDC will be completing three (3) tasks including:
• Developing a pilot Source Water Protection and Emergency Management Planning with the Van Buren Light and Power District and Town of Van Buren. Once completed, these materials will be presented at a regional workshop for all water and wastewater districts, public works directors, and first responders.
• Developing a Regional Capital Investment
Plan with projects. This plan will be used to help water and wastewater districts and departments plan for future investments and provide ideas for potential funding for those investments. This long range plan can be used by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP), Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), or other funding sources to identify regional needs.
• On-going technical assistance to water and wastewater departments to include, but not limited to, grant application reviews, ordinance development and review, and other needed technical assistance.
The above mentioned services have been approved for this new grant, which are available to any community within NMDC’s service area, from October 1, 2015 until September 30, 2016. If you have any questions, or would like assistance for your community, please do not hesitate to call or email Jay Kamm (207) 498-8736 or [email protected].
