Notes from APP and NMDC

Volume 2, Issue 90

April 11, 2014

In This Issue

Community Engagement

Alternative Energy Fair

Career Fair

NMDC to be at Southern Aroostook Trade Show this weekend

HOULTON - Spring is trade show time in Aroostook County and Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) is taking advantage of the opportunity to let people know about services available to municipalities and individuals.

This weekend NMDC staff will be at the Southern Aroostook Trade Show at the Millar Arena in Houlton. The booth will highlight two of the varied programs coordinated by NMDC, the medical SHARPS program (which provides for safe disposal of needles) and Aroostook County Tourism activities. In addition, staff will on hand to answer all questions, or at least point a person in the right direction, about the commission.

Besides the Houlton show, NMDC has had or will have a booth at the Agri-Business Trade Fair in Presque Isle and the Top of Maine Trade Show in Presque Isle. This summer NMDC will have a presence at the Northern Maine Fair.

"The trade shows are all part of the organization's community engagement efforts," said Jon Gulliver, director of investor and community relations. "We also produce printed and electronic newsletters, send out grant opportunity alerts to municipalities, schedule advertised community visits and will resurrect community surveys to see what municipalities are working on and what their economic and planning needs are."

For more information on NMDC, contact Gulliver at jgulliver@nmdc.org or by phone at 493-5851.

Quick Links

Non Discrimination Statement

APP energy fair at NMCC highlighted alternatives to save homeowners and businesses on heating costs

PRESQUE ISLE - Although weather kept away some people from the third annual Aroostook Partnership for Progress Alternative Energy and Biomass Fair this past weekend, officials were still pleased to get information out to homeowners and businesses on how to save on heating bills.

About 125 people attended the fair Saturday, April 5, at the Northern Maine Community College Gymnasium. The two previous years, the fair attracted more than 225 participants.

"I think there was value in holding the fair," said APP President Bob Dorsey. "The awareness that we need to continue to build, especially after a cold winter like we had, it is definitely worth it."

Dorsey said the purpose of the fair was to educate people about energy alternatives, which can help them save money, promote Aroostook businesses and resources (wood) and keep money in the local economy.

Randy Richards of Daigle Oil Company talks to visitors at the APP Alternative Energy and Biomass Fair.

The event featured experts and vendors from local energy suppliers, pellet manufacturers, stove/boiler suppliers, heat-pump retailers, banks and others to answer questions and help guide people through the options and process of establishing an updated energy system for a business or home.

Dorsey said going forward he would like to see a few changes in scheduling of the fair, mainly moving it to the early fall, when people are starting to think about their winter heating bills. One change made this year will remain part of the fair according to Dorsey.

"I liked expanding the scope of the fair to more than just biomass, to include heat-pumps, solar and other alternatives," he said. "One size doesn't fit all and one option or a combination of options may be the best solution. That said, using biomass capitalizes on our local resources and provides arguably the greatest total economic benefit to our region."

Vendors and organizations at the fair included: Daigle Oil Company, Emera Maine, Marcar Solar, Kitchen and Bath, NorState Federal Credit Union, County Stove Shop, NMCC, USDA Rural Development, First Wind, County Federal Credit Union, Maine Energy Systems, Northeast Pellets and APP.

APP, through the Mobilize Northern Maine asset based strategic planning effort, has targeted renewable energy, forest products, manufacturing and diversified agriculture as four pillars to grow the economy of northern Maine.

Following the APP fair, Dorsey traveled to Portland to attend the Northeast Biomass Heating Expo and conference. Since it was launched in 2009, more than 1,450 individual attendees and 320 different businesses, agencies and organizations have attended the fast growing biomass energy conferences. Dorsey served on the program committee for the Expo.

Job fair in Presque Isle

Ryan Pelletier, director of economic and workforce development at NMDC, talks to a participant at the job fair at the Northeastland Hotel Wednesday.

PRESQUE ISLE - Job seekers from all over Aroostook County attended a job fair at the Northeastland Hotel in Presque Isle Wednesday.

The fair, sponsored by the Presque Isle CareerCenter, Maine Department of Labor and Northern Maine Development Commission, was one of many scheduled across the state this spring due to an increase in job availabilities in Maine.