CARIBOU, Maine — For the 15th consecutive year Northern Maine Development Commission has elected not to increase dues assessments to member communities.
Meeting on Sept. 21 in Caribou, the NMDC Executive Board approved the dues assessments for 2018-19. The dues formula is based on 50 percent valuation and 50 percent population. The Unorganized Territories had the largest decrease in dues, dropping by more than $155. Nashville Plantation had the largest increase of $389.
In general, member communities receive a 20 percent reduction on costs for contracted services, preferred status when requesting assistance, representation on the board and committees and eligibility to participate in NMDC’s regional Cooperative Purchase Program.
As an example, Caribou, in 2015-16, received direct services and savings of $54,253 compared to NMDC dues of a little more than $13,000.
Also at the meeting, the board ratified a service contract for $9,000 with the town of Baileyville for assistance with its Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) grant award.
The Town of Baileyville is one of three grant recipients in NMDC’s Economic Development District that received financial support from NBRC. The $1,122,000 project will be supported by NBRC’s economic infrastructure grant in the amount of $500,000. This project will replace 3,500 linear feet of leaking sewer system piping along Broadway Street and increase the capacity of the town’s system.
The NBRC federal-state partnership is aided by a group of regional organizations called Local Development Districts (LDDs), which assist the NBRC in its outreach activities and administer NBRC investments for grantees.
“LDDs are knowledgeable about other federal and state programs that help fund economic and community development projects and are aware of local concerns as most engage in regional economic development planning of varying degrees,” said Alain Ouellette, planning and development division director.
NMDC serves in such a capacity for the Aroostook-Washington Economic Development District of Maine.
“NMDC’s role is to ensure that the grantee file reports on time and with sufficient information to provide a meaningful outline of the project status, provide guidance on filing reimbursement requests, ensure that the grantee has filed their final report and financial report in a timely manner after the project is complete,” Ouellette added.
The other two grant recipients are Caribou and Fort Kent.
Following formal business, the board participated in an NMDC strategic planning session with Jim Haguewood of OneGroup Consulting and his associate Sheila Jans. The purpose of the discussion was to look at the functions of the organization, determine what NMDC is doing well, what it could be doing better and what services may be required in the future.
NMDC has been working to develop a strategic plan update since this summer. Haguewood and Jans have conducted staff and stakeholder interviews, developed a strategic review of the organization and researched business models which may be appropriate for the organization. The project should be complete by mid-November.
