AROOSTOOK COUNTY, Maine — The Aroostook County Committee of the Maine Community Foundation has awarded $71,855 in grants to 12 nonprofits serving the area.
Grant recipients include organizations who serve the area with educational programs, mental health services, public safety and professional development, among others.
Recipients include the following.
Aroostook Aspirations Initiative, located in Presque Isle, received $3,315 for a volunteer program.
The Aroostook Band of Micmacs in Presque Isle received $1,000 to expand youth programming to increase the strength and resiliency of native and non-native youth.
Northern Light AR Gould Hospital in Presque Isle received $3,730 to support workforce development
Big Rock of Mars Hill received $5,000 to expand an after-school program to reach more young people.
SAD 20, Fort Fairfield, received $9,927 to create a Career Learning Lab at Fort Fairfield High School.
Northern Maine Fair Association, Presque Isle, received $5,000 to create interactive educational activities for children to learn about forestry.
The Presque Isle Historical Society received $7,202 to build a handicapped ramp at the Maysville Museum.
The town of Ashland received $10,000 to expand a workforce development program.
The town of Eagle Lake received $10,000 to improve communications for the Eagle Lake Fire Department.
The town of Easton received $10,000 to install lighting on the community athletic field.
The town of Grand Isle received $4,416 to upgrade the Grand Isle Community Center.
The United Way of Aroostook in Presque Isle received $2,995 to address the stigma around mental health and decrease teenage depression and suicide.
Well of Mars Hill received $3,000 to help initiate an after-school program.
MaineCF recognizes that many nonprofits are facing new challenges and making important changes to their work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of this, all Community Building grant recipients are able to use these grants at their discretion. They may use the grants to fund the work that they proposed in their application or to address other important and emerging organizational expenses.
The Aroostook County Fund is a permanent endowment that supports projects and nonprofits that strengthen communities in the county. Applications go through the foundation’s Community Building Grant Program and are reviewed by a committee of local leaders.
The next proposal deadline is February 15, 2021. Application, guidelines and a complete list of recent grants can be found at www.mainecf.org.
The Aroostook County Fund is built through donations from the community. For more information, contact Erica McCrum, MaineCF foundation officer, at (207) 227-7678 or emccrum@mainecf.org.
