$593K in federal grants will support businesses and jobs across rural Maine
Courtesy / Four Directions Development Corp.
Four Directions Development Corp., one of seven USDA rural business development grantees, will expand small business training and the development and implementation of Native Entrepreneur Centers on two Wabanaki tribal reservations.
A meat processing facility, assistance for indigenous business owners and replacement of outdated trail-grooming equipment are among the projects receiving a federal investment of $539,053 in rural Maine communities.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Rural Development Program grants to seven organizations to promote economic development activities, according to a news release.
The grants are expected to ultimately help over 60 businesses and create or save more than 100 jobs.
“This USDA Rural Development investment helps fund a wide variety of economic development projects and benefits Maine businesses, while creating and retaining jobs in communities across the state,” Acting Maine State Director Tommy Higgins said in the release.
• Eastern Maine Development Corp., in Bangor, received $32,388 to be used toward a feasibility study for a meat slaughter and processing facility. The assistance will ultimately benefit farmers and independent producers that are members of Perseco LLC.
• Sunrise County Economic Council, in Machias, received $99,900 to purchase furniture and other equipment for the Machias Valley Center for Entrepreneurship. The center will have shared working space, open co-working stations, shared office equipment, a kitchen area and offer training and programming activities for small businesses. The council will assist seven businesses and create two full-time-equivalent jobs.
• Arnold Trail Snowmobile Network, in Eustice, received $125,500 to purchase snowmobile trail-grooming equipment that will replace an old, maintenance-heavy trail groomer. The equipment is vital to the winter economy and ensures continued access to businesses during the winter months. The project will assist 13 businesses and save 20 full-time-equivalent jobs.
• Black Mountain of Maine, in Rumford, received $22,212 to purchase alpine trail-grooming equipment that will replace an old, maintenance-heavy groomer. Black Mountain of Maine plays a large role in Rumford's winter economy and economic development, and was instrumental in attracting a new Best Western Hotel to the area. Black Mountain of Maine will assist nine businesses.
• The city of Caribou received $95,000 to purchase snowmobile trail-grooming equipment that will replace an old and maintenance-heavy trail groomer. The equipment is vital to the winter economy and ensures continued access to businesses during the winter months. The city will assist 21 businesses and save 15 full-time-equivalent jobs.
• Four Directions Development Corp., in Orono, received $92,500 to help provide one-on-one, on-reservation technical assistance. The assistance will be available to Native American business owners, both existing and startup, across Maine. Four Directions will assist 12 businesses and help create 15 jobs.
• Catholic Charities Maine, in Portland, received $71,553 to purchase a machine to floret broccoli and lease it to W.R. Allen in Orland. The equipment allows W.R. Allen to diversify its processing abilities and provide an additional revenue stream. Catholic Charities will assist five businesses throughout the state and create 57 jobs.
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