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Notes from APP and NMDC
Volume 1, Issue 13
Aug. 31, 2012
In This Issue
MTI Agenda Set
ACT Committee
Brownfield Survey

MTI agenda set 

 

   CARIBOU - The agenda has been set for an upcoming workshop for Aroostook County companies to learn more about the funding and resources available to them to bring technologies to market.

   The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) is holding statewide sessions and one, being held in partnership with the Northern Maine Development Commission, is scheduled for the Caribou Inn and Convention Center Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

   The agenda for the workshop has been finalized and is as follows:

  • 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Introduction of presenters and partners
  • 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. University of Maine: Innovation Engineering

That session will focus on how to test your ideas quickly and efficiently; tips on how to better communicate; ways to accelerate your business; and resources available from U-Maine.

  • 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m. Maine Technology Institute: Helping to Grow Your Business

The hour will focus on MTI and its mission; funding opportunities; coaching and networking; and success stories of MTI-funded companies.

  • 12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.Lunch
  • 12:45 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.  Overview of Federal SBIR/STTR Funding Program

The session will include an introduction to the SBIR/STTR funding program; understanding how the 11 federal agencies participate in the program; how to research topics and access up to $1.15 million; and ideas and tips on how to prepare a highly competitive proposal.

  • 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Maine Technology Institute: Support to Maximize Federal Programs

The final session gives an overview of support from technical assistance program and information on the MTI TechStart and Business Accelerator Grants.

 

   To register for the upcoming workshop, visit the MTI website at www.mainetechnology.org and refer to the calendar section or contact Linda Adams, program assistant at [email protected] or call (207) 588-1015. Reservations are strongly encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome, space permitting. Lunch will be provided.

   The Maine Technology Institute is an industry-led, publicly-funded, nonprofit corporation that offers early-stage capital and commercialization assistance in the form of competitive grants, loans and equity investment for the research, development and application of technologies that create new products, processes and services, generating high-quality jobs across Maine.  


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ACT meeting at Aroostook State Park
Members of the Aroostook County Tourism committee gather at the Aroostook State Park Thursday to discuss several issues related to the industry in the region.
ACT committee adds two trade shows thanks to local business support 

 

 

   CARIBOU - The success of ad sales in the upcoming edition of the Aroostook County Regional Visitor's Guide is allowing the Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) committee to add two more snowmobile shows to its promotional schedule.

   Meeting Thursday at the Aroostook State Park committee members agreed to staff booths at the Maine Snowmobile Show in Augusta and the Pennsylvania Powersports Show in Lebanon, Pa. Both shows are in October.

   Earlier this year trade show subcommittee members decided to forego these events due to budget constraints, but additional revenues from ad sales in the visitor's guide will more than cover the cost.

   "It's the local businesses, which purchased the advertising, that are making the added promotional events possible," said Jim Bennett, chairperson of the ACT committee. "Hopefully by getting more tourists to the area through these shows the advertisers will get an additional return on their investment."

   Leslie Jackson, regional tourism developer for the Northern Maine Development Commission, said the advertiser support for the Visitor's Guide shows the importance of tourism for The County.

Jim Bennett and Leslie Jackson
Northern Maine Development Commission's Regional Tourism Developer Leslie Jackson and Aroostook County Tourism committee chairperson Jim Bennett lead the discussion at the most recent ACT meeting held Thursday at the Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle.

   "It is so important to get out there and let people know about the great things available to do in Aroostook County," Jackson said.

   ACT member Kathy Mazzuchelli initiated the conversation of attending the two shows after more than a dozen phone calls over the past few weeks. She said with the decline in the number of instate snowmobile registrations, out of state registrations are up and it is important not to neglect those customers.

   "When they come up they are here for a week at a time and they are significant spenders," said Mazzuchelli. "They are very dedicated to Aroostook County and believe additional exposure in Pennsylvania will attract even more people to northern Maine."

   Mazzuchelli also advocated for a continued presence at the Maine Snowmobile Show in Augusta.

   "One of the things that we can't forget is snowmobiling is still one of the major winter industries in Aroostook County," she added. "We are competing against some regions in the state which are doing a bang up job in promoting snowmobiling and we can't assume since we have a segment of the market we always will, so it's important we continue to educate people about what the region has to offer."

   The Visitor's guide, which will contain information on what 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, will be out in late October.

Brownfield survey sent out

   CARIBOU-Northern Maine Development planners are looking for help in how to best utilize $400,000 in Brownfield assessment funds by asking municipal officials to take a few minutes to fill out a survey which should be arriving in their mailboxes in the next few days.

   "We are asking town managers, community development directors, the tribes and Loring officials to provide a list of brownfields in their community," said Jay Kamm, senior planner at Northern Maine Development Commission. "This is pretty basic survey, consisting of six questions. Our goal is to follow up with town officials and/or the property owners to determine their interest in NMDC's program and to get a good handle on what is out there."

   A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which, may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

   The purpose of the survey also serves in pairing a recently awarded $400,000 grant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist in the revitalization of the Brownfield sites and a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant, which resulted in the GROWashington-Aroostook planning imitative.

   "I think what will really link the two grants together is if a municipality does have a potential brownfield site, does the municipality have any ideas for redevelopment, said Connie Akerson, NMDC environmental planner. "Ultimately what we would like to see at the former brownfield site is housing or a senior center for the community. Hopefully we can identify and work on that through this survey."

   Kamm and Akerson are hoping the surveys are returned by the first week in October. As for the carrot to get people to participate in the survey Akerson summed it up in one line.

   "NMDC has $400,000 to assist in the revitalization of brownfield sites and would your community by interested in more information about these grant funds"

   She added the two grants work in concert with another.

   "The HUD grant allows us to plan and the EPA grant allows us to do," said Akerson.

   "This is all about closing the loop and getting these brownfields identified, cleaned up and redeveloped," Kamm said."

   Municipalities or landowners who want more information are urged to contact Kamm or Akerson at NMDC at (207) 498-8736 or check out the website www.northernmainebrownfields.org.