"Focus on Northern Maine" piece on the Aroostook Partnership for Progress, a new

Alan Elliott

Source

Mainebiz

Date

4-12-2004

Pages

20-22

Abstract

"Focus on Northern Maine" piece on the Aroostook Partnership for Progress, a new public/private effort to resuscitate the county's economy. The partnership has already received several four-year, $100,000 commitments from large businesses and hopes to raise $3 million. It is groundbreaking in its use of private-sector leadership. Three regions of the county were federally designated as Rural Empowerment Zones in 2002 after years of effort by the Caribou-based Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC). That drew federal funds, tax benefits, and federal assistance. Nicholas Bayne, CEO of Maine & Maritimes Corp. in Presque Isle, had managed NMDC's efforts, and with Robert Clark, executive director of NMDC, approached Barry McCrum, head of government and public affairs in New England for Time Warner, to lead what became the partnership. With details on the structure and successes of the partnership, which is focusing on economic diversity and initiating opportunities rather than taking the traditional economic development approach of waiting for them.

Subjects

Aroostook Partnership for Progress

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