HOULTON, MAINE — Economic development groups in southern Aroostook met recently to hash out ideas over how businesses in the region could best profit from potential tourists to the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
Robert Dorsey, executive director of Aroostook Partnership, said on Wednesday that officials with Aroostook Partnership and Southern Aroostook Development Corp. held a workshop with monument Manager Tim Hudson and Lucas St. Clair, president of the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. More than 40 municipal, private industry and economic development officials attended the luncheon to learn about possible business opportunities and share ideas about how to collaborate on tourism to benefit The County as well as the new monument.
“We wanted to hear from both men about their strategies and their plans for the area and brainstorm about ways that they could possibly benefit us,” said Dorsey. He noted that St. Clair’s family foundation donated the monument land and provided a $40-million endowment.
Business owners and operators were told to contact Maine Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) counselor Dana Delano about contracting with the government.
“Business owners looking to sell their products and services to government entities need to register with the federal and state government,” said Delano. “With the new Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, there will be new opportunities for area businesses. They have to be registered to become a vendor with the federal government and understand the solicitation and bidding process.”
Dorsey added that once officials decide what to build in the monument area, southern Aroostook businesses and organizations will be able to compete for contracts and other request for proposals.
“Houlton is in a great position, because we anticipate that people from Atlantic Canada are going to want to see the new monument,” said Dorsey. “To do so, they are going to have to pass through Houlton and go right up Interstate 95, which could mean business for that town and all of the little towns in between.”
Monument officials are undertaking a three-year planning process to determine where and what will be part of the park.
According to Tim Hudson, more than 10,000 visitors have entered the monument since the beginning of September.
