Two County entities will receive grant monies totaling more than $87,000 to brighten job markets in Maine’s rural areas.
The Aroostook Aspirations Initiative in Presque Isle will get $25,000, while the Northern Maine Development Commission, Inc., of Caribou will receive $62,050.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the USDA grants, totaling $3.6 million for 67 Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG). Congress established the RBDG program in the 2014 Farm Bill by combining and improving the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program and the Rural Business Opportunity Grant program.
USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel said, “I am pleased that Maine received four of the USDA RBDG grants totaling $275,000. USDA Rural Development partners with organizations such as the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, and the Northern Maine Development Commission, Inc. to provide rural small businesses with the resources necessary to grow their operations and increase jobs in rural Maine.”
AAI’s grant will assist with expanding the Internship Hub of Aroostook program. The project will conduct leadership training for prospective adult, rural entrepreneurs and managers, while establishing and developing rural learning programs that provide job training instructions related to potential employment and job advancement for adult students. The project has the potential over the next three years to create 75 jobs.
The Northern Maine Development Commission’s award of $62,050 will be used to help develop marketing strategies and improve distribution channels throughout the Great Region Diversified Agricultural of Aroostook, Piscataquis, and Washington Counties. The project has the potential to create 38 jobs.
The RBDG program is one of many USDA Rural Development Programs that help create jobs and provide economic opportunities in rural areas. USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has awarded more than 20,000 grants and loans to more than 85,000 businesses since the start of the Obama Administration.
Also given grants in Maine were: the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, $89,000 to assist with expanding the Maine Grains Oat project; and the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, $98,950 to assist with organic grower business consultation services, workshops and training, and third-party loans for non-production purposes from an organic farmers’ revolving loan fund.
Funding for the awardees is contingent upon the recipients meeting the terms of the loan and grant agreements.
