Funds to aid bioenergy industry
CARIBOU — The Northern Maine Development Commission will receive federal grant funds through a new program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced recently that the NMDC will receive $200,000, supplemented by a second award of $75,000 from USDA Rural Development, to help the Biomass Clean Tech Manufacturing Cluster Strategic Plan committee create a manufacturing facility for biomass heating appliances in northern Maine. The project will take a two-pronged approach; one aspect will explore in-region design and manufacturing capability, while the other will develop a strategy to attract a European manufacturer of biomass heating appliances to the region.
“We are pleased that our work through Mobilize Northern Maine in the renewable energy sector has the support of two federal agencies to expand our efforts to reduce energy costs in Northern Maine for both residential and commercial customers,” said Bob Clark, NMDC executive director. “We are eager to enter the phase two competition with this financial support and demonstrate that Aroostook and Washington Counties can attract substantial economic development investments and become one of top ‘Manufacturing Communities’ in the nation.”
NMDC is one of 26 award recipients sharing $4.4 million from the Department of Commerce and one of six award recipients sharing $528,000 from the Department of Agriculture in the first round of funding through the federal Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership program. The program, first announced in April, aims to expand investment in manufacturing in the country.
“This funding will build on the focus that NMDC and the Aroostook Partnership for Progress have had on promoting the use of wood pellets and chips as primary heating alternatives for County businesses and homes,” said Mike Eisensmith, NMDC director of regional planning. “It will leverage the expertise and connections that we have developed over the past two years into tangible jobs and new business in the region.”
Grants and investments awarded in 2013 will help communities undertake the strategic planning necessary to compete for the IMCP Challenge being launched in fall 2013 and awarded in the spring of 2014.
In the 2014 Challenge competition, standout Manufacturing Communities will be designated, giving them an advantage in securing grants and investments through programs offered by 10 federal departments and agencies across the government. Moreover, top Manufacturing Communities may receive large IMCP Challenge grants and investments to finance — in partnership with industry and localities — substantial economic development investments such as workforce training, business parks or incubators or infrastructure.
“The IMCP is a program that challenges communities around the country to coordinate their resources for strategies on economic development,” said Secretary of Commerce Pritzker. “These planning grants and investments provide an opportunity for communities to design plans that help revitalize American manufacturing, attract investment and strengthen our economy.”
“There is unlimited potential in the years ahead to create good, new manufacturing jobs in rural America,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Through the work of the White House Rural Council, this Administration has been working hard to magnify economic opportunities in rural areas.”
For more information on the IMCP grant, contact Eisensmith at 498-8736 or by e-mail at meisensmith@nmdc.org.
