Grants will Help Create and Retain Jobs and Benefit Rural Businesses
BANGOR, ME, September 1, 2021 – Acting Maine State Director Tommy R. Higgins announced today that USDA Rural Development is investing a total of $539,053 in seven organizations through the Rural Business Development Grant. These funds will promote economic development activities in rural Maine communities.
Acting Maine State Director Higgins said, “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. These grants will support farms, provide training to Native American businesses, assist with the purchase of trail grooming equipment, and more.”
Seven Maine organizations will receive a total of $539,053 in Rural Business Development Grant funds:
- Eastern Maine Development Corporation, in Bangor, has received a Grant in the amount of $32,388. This Rural Development investment will be used to help Eastern Maine Development Corporation conduct a feasibility study for a meat slaughter and processing facility. This assistance will ultimately benefit the farmers and independent producers that are members of Perseco, LLC.
- Sunrise County Economic Council, in Machias, has received a Grant in the amount of $99,900. This Rural Development investment will be used 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. Sunrise County Economic County will assist seven business and create a total of two full-time equivalent jobs.
- Arnold Trail Snowmobile Network, in Eustice, has received a Grant in the amount of $125,500. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase snowmobile trail grooming equipment which will replace an old and maintenance heavy trail groomer. This equipment is vital to the winter economy and ensures continued access to businesses during the winter months. The project will assist 13 business and save a total of 20 full-time equivalent jobs.
- Black Mountain of Maine, in Rumford, has received a Grant in the amount of $22,212. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase an alpine trail grooming equipment that will replace an old maintenance heavy groomer. Black Mountain of Maine is vital to Rumford’s winter economy and plays a major role in its economic development. The mountain’s historic reputation and skier events are vital to Rumford being able to attract a new Best Western Hotel to the area. Black Mountain of Maine will assist nine businesses.
- City of Caribou has received a Grant in the amount of $95,000. This Rural Development investment will be used to purchase snowmobile trail grooming equipment which will replace an old and maintenance heavy trail groomer. This equipment is vital to the winter economy and ensures continued access to businesses during the winter months. The City of Caribou will assist 21 business and save a total of 15 full-time equivalent jobs.
- Four Directions Development Corporation, in Orono, has received a Grant in the amount of $92,500. This Rural Development investment will be used to help Four Directions Development Corporation provide one-on-one, on-reservation, technical assistance. This assistance will be available to Native American business owners, both existing and start-up, across Maine. Four Directions Development Corporations will assist 12 businesses and help create a total of 15 jobs.
- Catholic Charities Maine, in Portland, has received a Grant in the amount of $71,553. This Rural Development investment will be used by Catholic Charities Maine to purchase a machine to floret broccoli and lease it to W.R. Allen in Orland. This equipment allows W.R. Allen to diversify their current processing abilities and provide an additional revenue stream. Catholic Charities will assist five businesses throughout the state and create a total of 57 jobs.
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Business Development Grant Program provides grants to entities such as towns, communities and nonprofits for economic development. For more information please contact Ivana Hernandez Clukey, Business & Cooperative Services Loan Specialist, at (207) 990-9127 or ivana.hernandezclukey@usda.gov.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/me.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.