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Notes from APP and NMDC
Volume 1, Issue 15
Sept. 14, 2012
In This Issue
NMDC Awarded $400,000 in IRP Funds
Jobs Projection Website
MITC Registration Deadlin
Featured Next Week

USDA awards NMDC $400,000 in IRP funds  

 

   CARIBOU - Job creation and retention efforts in Aroostook and Washington counties received a financial boost this week thanks to the United States Department of Agriculture's Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).

   Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Wednesday announced the selection of recipients in 14 states and one territory to receive loans to create or save jobs and boost local economies.

   Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) has been selected to receive an IRP loan in the amount of $400,000.

   NMDC has received five previous IRP loans totaling $5,065,836.  By utilizing these funds, it has loaned $15,113,777 and leveraged $57,821,313 creating 1,715 jobs and helping to retain an additional 2,115 jobs.

   USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, "I am pleased that USDA Rural Development could build upon the long-standing partnership with Northern Maine Development Commission thought this recent grant. Business development and job creation and retention is essential to supporting a thriving local economy and I am pleased to have NMDC as a valuable partner in this vital role."

   NMDC Director of Business Finance Duane Walton added, "USDA Rural Development's Intermediary Relending Program has been our most successful lending program, helping us to provide vital funds to assist area businesses to grow and succeed."

   Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement.

   USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

   For information on eligibility, terms or general questions contact Walton at (207) 498-8736 or by email at [email protected].


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Jobs projection website goes live

 

   CARIBOU - Revised figures from the Aroostook Jobs Projection project show more than 1,800 jobs vacancies are expected in the next five years at over 30 of the region's largest companies and now all that information can be found on a new website, which went live this week at www.appme.org/jobs/main.html.

   This effort, spearheaded by the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP), 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.

    "I think as an initial step the website is concise and clearly depicts the categories on the left and with one click you can see the companies and their projected needs," said Bob Dorsey, president of APP.

   He added additional content will be added to the web presence, with more company information, cost of living comparisons and in time information to help former residents return to Aroostook County.

   "I see it as a growing tool which we will be using for quite some time," he said. "We've already discovered we would like to add a civil service category and expand out beyond the 50 largest employers."

   Also as part of the project, APP is engaging educators. Dorsey recently spoke to the Aroostook County superintendents about how to disseminate this newly collected information to principals, teachers, guidance counselors and especially students.

   "What we have found is skills like communication and math are extremely important, but employers also want more advanced skills which require training and further education after high school," said Dorsey.

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

   The initial findings show a big need for health care workers over the next five years. Dorsey said he was also pleasantly surprised to see more than 350 anticipated positions in manufacturing. It's important to note the survey of the businesses does not indicate whether these are newly created jobs or vacancies created by retirement or personnel shifts.

   If a business would like to share their projected staffing needs, please contact Dorsey at [email protected] or Pelletier at [email protected] for further information.

Registration deadline near for export seminar

   CARIBOU - Time is running out to register for an exporting seminar coming up on Thursday, Sept. 20 in Caribou.

   A program being offered by the Maine International Trade Center Thursday will demystify the basic business aspects of exporting, look deeper into the specifics of Maine's natural resource products and provide a solid roadmap to follow in developing new customers around the world.

   Topics include how to research international markets, handling international payments and legal issues in international product distribution. Participants, who preregister at www.mitc.com, will learn from industry experts from Eaton Peabody, Maine International Trade Center and TD Bank.

   Breakout sessions for wood/forest products and food/agriculture sectors discuss how to take advantage of available grant and cost-share funding programs that support the promotion of these products in foreign markets.

   The program is an opportunity for companies that are just beginning to export or for new staff at companies that currently export.

   The workshop will be held at the Northern Maine Development Commission office beginning at 9 a.m.

   The registration deadline is Monday, Sept. 17. There is a $20 fee for MITC members and $35 for nonmembers.

Coming up next week
   
The new executive director of the Maine Sports Commission, Kerry Hoey, was in Aroostook County to get a first hand look at some of the outstanding venues in the region. Steve Towle, of the Nordic Heritage Ski Club, points out some of the highlights of the Presque Isle facility. Look for a complete story next week.