AROOSTOOK COUNTY - May is shaping up to be a busy month for Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) working groups.

    The different working groups, comprised of subject matter experts, were formed to help achieve the goals outlined in the Mobilize Northern Maine initiative.

    "We have built super networks in our five working groups," said APP President Bob Dorsey.

    Mobilize Northern Maine is an asset based strategic planning effort being utilized by APP to help focus economic development efforts.

    The renewable energy working group will meet May 15. On the agenda is an energy trends review as well as wind, solar and biomass updates and next steps.

    The "Education to Industry" working group, made up of educators, human resources and workforce development officials and others, meets May 28. Dorsey said the purpose of the meeting is to discuss approaches to expand school participation in Job Shadow programs, solicit input on the implementation of "Opportunities Aroostook" that looks to grow the 18- to 44-year-old workforce of the region, an update on the Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, and to address the potential for a follow on to last year's Education to Industry Summit.

The "Education to Industry" working group meeting prior to the summit held last August.                                            --File photo

    Dorsey said the forestry working group will meet this month to continue to define actions needed to achieve the objectives outlined in the group's "Guiding Document," but a date and time has yet to be set. He added previous work done by the forestry working group was instrumental in developing an application to the federal government to be designated a "manufacturing community," which may lead to grants and other funds to grow the forest products industry in Aroostook.

    Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) is a federal program designed to accelerate the resurgence of manufacturing and create jobs across the country.

    Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) was awarded funding in the initial phase of the IMCP process last year to explore attracting a biomass boiler manufacturer to the region and now phase two efforts are underway with the filing of the designation application last month.

   According to Dorsey, "these working groups are the essence of the Mobilize Northern Maine effort - these groups with an abundance of expertise from both the private and public sectors, the networking that occurs, and the ideas, objectives and strategies that emerge from them form the basis and logic essential for accessing federal dollars needed to enhance Aroostook's growing economy."

     A partner in the Aroostook Partnership for Progress is among 200 organizations selected in the United States and Canada to compete for a chance to win one of 40 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grants for $25,000. The Aroostook Aspirations Initiative was the only project selected in Maine.

     "We are banking on the commitment and energy of Aroostook," said AAI Executive Director April Flagg.

     Voting opened April 28 to the Facebook community. Each Facebook account has 10 votes per day to allocate to any program in the top 200. Flagg hopes that Aroostook residents, both past and present, and Mainers as a whole will support their cause in record numbers.

     "Liking our page, voting on the State Farm site, learning about who we are and what we are trying to do achieves the goal of this competition," she added. "State Farm wants their top 200 programs to get much needed exposure. The whole process will be an awesome thing to experience."

    Voting will officially close May 16.

    More information is on the AAI Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/AaiGauvinCountyScholarshipFund.

    AAI is a one of more than 20 partners in the Aroostook Partnership for Progress.