WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) received a 2015 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation for the Northern Maine Forest Products Industry Cluster.
The cluster, organized by the Aroostook Partnership and supported by NMDC through grants from the Maine Technology Institute and USDA Rural Development, explores opportunities and challenges in the industry in order to develop actionable items to maximize the growth potential for this key sector in Aroostook County’s economy.
“The Partnership is very proud of the Forest Cluster effort which was a direct outcome of the Mobilize Northern Maine asset-based process,” said Bob Dorsey, Partnership president. “It is a perfect example of the private sector leadership working in collaboration with education and the public sector who secured grants for the advancement of this critical economic sector in Aroostook County.”
NADO promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The association’s Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of the nation’s regions and local communities. Award-winning projects were honored during NADO’s 2015 Annual Training Conference, held in New Orleans in October.
“For nearly 30 years, NADO’s Innovation Award has provided regional development organizations the opportunity to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to promoting economic development in rural and small metropolitan communities across the country. Building on the unique strengths and challenges of each region and community, award recipients continue to promote sustainable economic growth not only now, but for many years to come. And I am pleased to announce that this year over 100 regional development organizations were selected to receive NADO’s 2015 Innovation Award,” said NADO 2014-2015 Board President Terry Bobrowski, executive director of the East Tennessee Development District.
For more information about the award-winning project, contact Jon Gulliver at Northern Maine Development Commission at (207) 498-8736.
