News from APP/NMDC

Volume 1, Issue 7

July 20, 2012

In This Issue

Jobs Projection Project

New Visitor's Guide

Business Loans Approved

Initial results tallied in jobs projection project

CARIBOU - More than 1,300 new jobs are projected to become available in Aroostook County in the next five years. That's according to initial analysis of data collected in the Aroostook County Jobs Projection Project, spearheaded by the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP).

About 35 of the region's larger employers have responded with projected job openings, estimated salaries and required education levels. In health care alone, there is projected to be a minimum of 750 jobs over the next five years.

This effort is still in the early stages, with more data being collected. The purpose of project is to help stem student outmigration, 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.

"APP would like to tackle, head on, the impression that you have to leave the County or the state to get a good job," said Bob Dorsey, president of APP.

Dorsey added now that the 50 largest employers have been contacted other businesses are being encouraged to provide workforce projections as well.

"This is an ongoing process," said Dorsey. "We will continually update the data and make it available on our website. We hope this can also encourage some former County folks to return home."

As a secondary measure, APP will ask Aroostook County high schools how many students are projected to graduate, how many seniors intend to further their education and the direction they intend to focus their studies to provide local companies with information on upcoming graduate potential.

"Part of the information that we are gathering as part of this project will also give us a better sense of the necessary skills and education that our future workforce will need to fill these openings," said Ryan Pelletier, NMDC director of economic and workforce development.

Other highlights from the preliminary look at the data shows 355 projected jobs in manufacturing and more than 150 in large retailers like Wal-Mart and Marden's.

If a business would like to take part, please contact Dorsey at rdorsey@nmdc.org or Pelletier at rpelletier@nmdc.org

for further information.

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Visitor's Guide to debut in October

CARIBOU - Northern Maine Development Commission and Aroostook County Tourism have selected a Maine company, Direct Display Publishing Co. Inc. (DDP), to produce the new Aroostook County Regional Visitor's Guide.

The new guide is being designed over the next few months with expected completion in early October.

"The Aroostook County Tourism Regional Guide Committee is very pleased with the proposal that DDP presented to us and we feel strongly that they will produce a high quality piece that will meet our needs as well as the needs of the visiting tourist," said Leslie Jackson, regional tourism developer for NMDC.

Cover art from the last Visitor's Guide.

Direct Display Publishing, based in Bath, publishes as many as nine magazines a year in Maine and New England. DDP, which has been in business for 16 years, is staffed with five office personnel and seven sales representatives, including one in Caribou, Bonnie Pack. Pack will be handling a majority of advertising sales for the new guide.

"The Visitor's Guide will contain information on all the wonderful things Aroostook County has to offer with topics including, but not limited to, cultural, historical, recreational, hunting, fishing, motorized and non-motorized activities, lodging, dining and events," said Jackson. "As an added feature, the guide will also be produced in a format that is easy to use on smart phones and mobile devices."

The guide will provide free general listings including the name, location, phone number and website of all tourism related businesses. However, the guide will also provide advertising opportunities for businesses who would like to capture the attention of a guide user who just might be flipping through the book.

Tourism related businesses that want to be listed in the guide need to contact Jackson no later than Aug. 15.

"While we maintain a database of tourism businesses, the information we have often becomes outdated as phone numbers change, businesses open and close, etcetera," she added. "It is important to contact me to make sure your business is listed in the guide and the information that we have is correct."

For information on placing an ad in the publication, contact Pack at (207) 769-9406.

"Bonnie is a lifelong resident of Caribou and has been selling advertising in the County for more than 27 years," said Jackson. "She will be traveling extensively around Aroostook County to provide this advertising opportunity to as many tourism businesses as possible. We are offering a wide variety of sizes and prices that we feel will accommodate most everyone."

Spencer Richie, president of DDP, will also be out selling advertising. Richie is owner/founder of DDP and has been selling advertising for over 26 years with a majority of those years in Aroostook.

The advertising spec sheet is available to view on NMDC's website, www.nmdc.org.

Loans granted for existing and new businesses

CARIBOU - The business finance division at the Northern Maine Development Commission is working hard to help entrepreneurs get loans, which in many cases leverages additional funds for startup, working capital and equipment.

This past month the NMDC loan review committee approved a $15,000 Rural Micro Entrepreneur Assistance loan to the Sweet Dreams Candy Company in Caribou. The funding leveraged an additional $45,000 in additional loans provided by the Caribou Economic Growth Fund and private banking funds.

$25,000 in Regional Economic Development Loan Fund money was approved for Aroostook Dental Clinic, DBA St. Appollonia Dental Clinic in Presque Isle, for working capital.

Two different loans were awarded to individuals, who want to purchase and renovate the former Griffin's One Stop in Washburn. An Economic Development Administration loan for $50,000 will be used to purchase the property and a nearly $130,000 State Small Business Credit Initiatives loan will be for renovations and rehabilitation of the facility. These were partnered with a community loan from the town of Washburn for $24,425.

The business finance division at NMDC has earned a reputation for packaging sustainable financing proposals that help area businesses get on the right financial track. The department has assisted more than 600 businesses procure some $160 million in public and private financing since 1977.

For more information on different types of loans or eligibility, contact the department at (207) 498-8736 or email Duane Walton, director of business finance, at dwalton@nmdc.org.