APP Logo Narrow
Notes from APP and NMDC
Volume 1, Issue 20
Oct. 19, 2012
In This Issue
NMAC Explained
PI Economic Summit
Brownfield Consultant Selected
Northern Maine Asset Coalition works to match needs with programs
 

   PRESQUE ISLE - Resources are available for persons with disabilities in Aroostook County and a new organization is helping to match needs to programs.

   The Northern Maine Asset Coalition (NMAC) was one of dozens of exhibitors at Maine CareerCenter Job and Resource Fair at the Crow's Nest in Presque Isle Wednesday, Oct. 17.

   NMAC has a mission to provide people with disabilities ways to achieve financial stability and improve quality of life.

NMAC at CareerCenter Job Fair
   NMAC members Natalie St. Pierre and Kent DeMerchant staff the organization's booth at Maine CareerCenter Job and Resource Fair. 

   "It started with The Asset Summit at Northern Maine Community College last fall, sponsored by a grant secured by the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), and from that event, we formed the Northern Maine Asset Coalition," said Kent DeMerchant, disability resource coordinator at NMDC.

   "I was a panelist at the summit last year and have since continued to support the coalition as a student and entrepreneur sharing my story and the mission more or less to ensure that others are able to learn of the resources that are out there for them," said NMAC member Natalie St. Pierre. "Those resources could be a variety of services offered by any or all of our partners."

   Those partners include: Aroostook Agency on Aging; NMDC; Women, Work and Community; ACAP; Maine Department of Labor, CareerCenter; and Social Envy Image and Event Consulting.

   St. Pierre's involvement with the coalition is personal. As a person with a disability she has used some of the services and understands the value.

   "Often you have a lot of people that get discouraged when it comes to finding help and they give up," she said. "We thought it was important to come together as a team and coordinate our resources so people don't get discouraged and don't fall through the cracks."

   DeMerchant said although the coalition is focused on people with disabilities, many of the programs are available most people that meet certain low income guidelines.

   "The Family Development Account is one program that comes to mind, he said. "A person can put some of their money from work into a savings account and there are matching funds which go into the account. You can use that money to start a business, get an education or buy a home."

   For more information about NMAC contact DeMerchant at (207) 493-5780 or by email at [email protected].

   In addition to the CareerCenter, the Job and Resource Fair was cosponsored by NMDC, MDOL and the Crow's Nest.  

Quick Links


Collaboration stressed at Presque Isle Economic Summit 

   PRESQUE ISLE - Economic development is an often slow process, but with collaboration and team work it is possible. Those were just some of the thoughts presented at the City of Presque Isle-Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce Economic Summit held Thursday, Oct. 18 at the Northeastland Hotel.

Bob Dorsey
   APP President Bob Dorsey addresses the participants at the Presque Isle Economic Summit.

   Summit organizers invited a mix of economic development officials, from the Department of Economic and Community Development, Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP), Northern Maine Community College, Presque Isle municipal staff and the Presque Isle Industrial Council.

   Presque Isle Deputy City Manager Martin Puckett kicked off the event by stating, "This is for anyone who wants to start, grow or move a business."

   NMDC Executive Director Bob Clark presented on what his organization does to promote growth and the numerous services offered, which include community services, workforce development, business and management services, among others.

   "Everyone assumes economic development is pretty simple and for a lot of people they think it is fairly easy, but in reality it is a lot more complicated than people realize," Clark said.

   Navigating those complexities requires people to work together said presenter Bob Dorsey, president of APP.

   "My macro message is whenever an opportunity comes to anywhere in the County we all win, and especially Presque Isle, which is the center of the County, you have the airport, the mall and a lot of activity," said Dorsey.

   Teamwork was also stressed by Nick Archer of the DEP, who said his organization has worked closely with NMDC and municipalities to solve environmental problems, to enable economic development.

   At the end of the afternoon session some of the participants, including Dorsey, gathered for an economic roundtable. When asked how that session went, he responded, "There were some thoughtful questions asked during the roundtable which allowed an informative dialogue to take place- it always helps to have multiple perspectives from experts with various backgrounds."

  During those comments, Dorsey suggested to City Manager Jim Bennett that the excellent information delivered at the summit get distributed and reinforced throughout the County.

Consultant selected for the Northern Maine Brownfield Initiative

 

   CARIBOU - County Environmental Engineering Inc. (CEE) of Cross Lake was recently selected as the consultant for the Northern Maine Brownfield Initiative, which is to conduct communitywide environmental site assessments for properties potentially contaminated by hazardous substances and petroleum products.

   The funding for the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) initiative is through a $400,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant, of which $350,000 was earmarked for consultant work.

   "Their proposal came in significantly lower than what was budgeted and because of that we will be able to increase the total number of sites served," said Jay Kamm, NMDC senior planner.

   Kamm said three environmental firms made it to the final round in the request for proposal (RFP) process and they were all qualified, but County Environmental really "hit it out of ballpark" with their proposal and interview.

   "We feel that our local presence offers common ground and familiarity with residents, landowners, developers, financial institutions and municipalities," said Nate Hersey, an environmental technician for CEE. "All of our employees live in Aroostook County and all but one was raised in Aroostook County, so we have a vested interest in the success of our communities."

   Now that a consultant is on board, the initiative can pick up speed according to Kamm.

   "As of Oct. 1 we were able to go out and spend some money," he said. "We are starting to work with property owners to gauge their interest in the project and hopefully by next month start the site assessments. We have numerous properties in need of assessments throughout the region."

   The initiative will identify and review known contaminated sites located within NMDC's service area that comprises all of Aroostook County, and parts of northern Washington, Penobscot, and Piscataquis counties.       The environmental site assessments conducted by CEE are done in two phases. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a historical and record review of the property and a looks into the history of what the land has been used for in the past to see if any activities at the property could have caused on-site contamination. A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, if needed, involves a more detailed examination of the property, such as ground water and soil sampling, to determine if contamination actually does exists on the property.

   Kamm and Connie Akerson, NMDC environmental planner, are the project managers for the Brownfield grant.

   "Whenever we can get in and perform assessment work on a property it is a benefit all-around - it is a benefit to the community, the property owner, and the environment, it is a win-win for everyone," said Akerson.

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

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

Join Our Mailing List