News from APP/NMDC

Volume 1, Issue 2

June 15, 2012

In This Issue

APP Selects Officers

Jobs Projection Project

Entrepreneur Program

Houlton Manufacturing Exec. Hired

APP board of directors select officers

PRESQUE ISLE - The CEO of Cary Medical Center will once again serve as the chairperson of the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) board of directors.

Kris Doody, on the left, and Syliva Getman will serve as chairperson and vice chair of the Aroostook Partnership for Progress board of directors.

Kris Doody enters her second year as chairperson of the economic development organization. TAMC CEO Syliva Getman will serve as vice-chairperson. Calvin Deschene, senior vice president and agency manager for United Insurance, is secretary and Larry Shaw, CEO of MMG Insurance Company, is treasurer.

The appointments were made at the monthly board of directors meeting held at TAMC June 8.

"The APP Executive Committee plays a very important role in determining APP's mission, direction and priorities," said APP President Bob Dorsey. "They not only lead the APP board of directors but more importantly engage with me with the business leaders in The County to champion positive economic change for our region."

Dorsey added the leadership encompasses many roles from promoting job producing legislation in Augusta, like mining in Maine to networking with other business leaders and investors for promoting vital efforts in the region. He cited saving DFAS and the railroad as examples.

"Ultimately, they [the executive committee] are a source of strength and leadership who care for the betterment of Aroostook County, as well as running their own companies," Dorsey said. "They are the private sector unsung heroes and deserve a great deal of credit for their significant time and effort to consider strategies to better the economic situation here in The County."

Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) is a regional public-private organization that works with its partners to market Aroostook County nationally and internationally, conduct regional research, and coordinate efforts to influence business and government issues that impact economic growth and development.

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NMDC

APP

Jobs projection project nearing completion

The Aroostook Partnership for Progress project entitled "Aroostook County Jobs Projection" is currently underway.

The purpose of this effort is to help stem student outmigration (a 5 decade-old problem), to inform Junior High and High School students of upcoming job opportunities in Aroostook County, and to aid Aroostook businesses with aging workforces by providing them with potential prospects to help them maintain or grow their businesses.

Officials with the 50 largest businesses/employers were asked to let us know about workforce needs and skills over the next five years. Once the largest 50 companies' data have been collected, APP will continue to contact smaller businesses as well as municipalities to collect their anticipated employment needs in order to get a more complete picture of the total upcoming Aroostook County job opportunities.

The data will be posted on the APP website for reference.

Caribou Entrepreneur Pilot Program is unveiled

CARIBOU - An exciting opportunity is now available to someone with a good idea for a business and wants to set up shop in Caribou.

The Northern Maine Development Commission has secured grant funding to offer an 11 session training program for selected entrepreneurs. After the sessions, private investors in Caribou may select the most promising plan or plans and provide backing for the ventures.

"In the selection process we will pick those that show the greatest interest in being an entrepreneur, with entrepreneurial spirit, and wanting to come to Caribou," said Duane Walton, director of business finance at NMDC. "At the end they [the participants selected] will have a business model for a business type they have researched and then present that to the investors."

This program is a result of a request of local investors that would like to find acceptable entrepreneurs to make investment into businesses to be run by them that the business community and the public leaders feel would be good for their community. Each entrepreneur will negotiate a buy out of the investor over or at an agreed time so that the entrepreneurs will own their own business.

Caribou City Manager Steven Buck said this initiative provides a new and unique approach toward business investment for persons with ideas to create and grow businesses within the community.

"Caribou is known for its regional partnerships that allows for its exceptional service level provisions," said Buck. "We approach business development in the same manner seeking to partner with persons seeking to start a business or grow an existing business."

"There are numerous business opportunities within our region," added Buck. "There are opportunities in information technology using our existing and recently enhanced infrastructure, light industrial and commercial enterprises to utilize our existing capacities, and any number of niche markets that are yet to be tapped. The best business opportunities are those that the entrepreneur has invested the time to fully develop the business model for success."

Walton said manufacturing makes money and that would be very nice if someone was to come in with an idea like that, but retail services are also not out of the question.

"The key to the whole thing is to find out what's needed in Caribou and that's part of the process," Walton said.

Walton is hopeful this program may convince some, who long to return home, to do so.

"In addition to being open to anyone, I really hope this will also entice some people to take a second look at their hometown and invest their time and come back and have a good life which we offer here," said Walton.

This program serves as a pilot program from which best practices will be documented and used in other areas of Aroostook and Washington counties to improve local communities and promote economic development.

NMDC applied to USDA Rural Development for $50,000 and the money was granted. The funds used to match the USDA program come from Northern Maine Finance Corporation in the form of a $50,000 cash donation obtained from the Northern Border Regional Commission.

Applications and a brochure, which outlines the program, are available on the Northern Maine Development Commission website www.nmdc.org. The application deadline is July 31. Selection of the eligible participants will be completed by Aug. 15 and the entrepreneur/business plan training sessions will begin the week after Labor Day. The plan is to complete all phases of the program by Dec. 1.

For more information, contact Walton at the NMDC Business Finance Department at (207) 498-8736.

Economic development organizations select Houlton manufacturing executive to spearhead MEP program in Aroostook & Washington counties

CARIBOU - The Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) and the Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Maine MEP) announced that Dana Delano of Houlton has been selected to serve as the MEP Project Manager for NMDC's Economic and Workforce Development division.

DANA DELANO

Photo courtesy Gloria Austin/Houlton Pioneer Times

In his role as MEP Manager, Delano will work with small and mid-size manufacturers in Aroostook and Washington counties to enhance their productivity, innovation capacity, technological performance and global competitiveness.

Delano previously was employed as Director of Sales and Marketing at Ward Cedar Log Homes in Houlton. A University of Maine graduate, Delano brings nearly 30 years of experience in Maine's wood products manufacturing industry.

"Dana brings a wealth of manufacturing, sales and marketing experience and will do an outstanding job serving the region's business community," said Ryan Pelletier, the Director of Economic and Workforce Development at NMDC. "As the MEP Program Manager, he will work directly with companies to help them identify conditions that may be impeding the ability to become more efficient, competitive and prosperous."

Part of a nationwide network of centers under the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Maine MEP's mission is to create and retain manufacturing jobs by helping firms improve their productivity and profitability. The nonprofit organization provides a variety of services - from innovation strategies to process improvements to supply chain solutions to green manufacturing - all designed to help manufacturers create new products, develop new customers and expand into new markets.

"Maine MEP is pleased to welcome Dana to our statewide team of project managers," said Bruce Pulkinnen, chair of the MEP board of directors. "Our project managers serve as trusted business advisers who can help manufacturers solve challenges and identify opportunities for growth. Dana's extensive experience analyzing markets and developing successful sales strategies in a core Maine industry will strengthen the collective expertise of our organization and serve as a valuable resource to manufacturers in Washington and Aroostook counties."

"I am very excited to serve as the MEP Project Manager and join the NMDC team," said Delano. "My experience as an executive in the log home manufacturing and construction industry directly correlates to this position."

Delano is active in the Houlton Rotary Club and the Church of the Good Shepherd, and has served on various municipal boards and industry committees.

His first day of work, which is primarily based out of Houlton, was June 14.