CARIBOU, Maine — The Executive Board of Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC) has approved a nearly $100,000 grant application to conduct a pilot project in Van Buren to protect valuable water resources.
Meeting Jan. 8, in Caribou, the board approved a $99,951 application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a source water protection mapping and emergency planning pilot project to inventory and map potential contamination sites, both inside and outside of the district boundary. This would provide information to first-responders concerning potential resources that could be impacted by a spill.
“For example, should a tanker truck roll over and spill petroleum products into a road ditch, district personnel and emergency responders would be instantly able to know that the ditch flows into a stream that is upstream from a public water source intake or impacts a critical natural resource such as endangered species habitat,” said NMDC Senior Planner Jay Kamm.
In addition to the pilot project, NMDC would work with the 15 water management districts in the region to develop an asset management plan for water districts and departments. The objective is to develop a 10-year plan that identifies infrastructure needs, costs, and potential funding sources for communities with water and wastewater departments.
Kamm estimates the USDA will decide on this application by May.
The board also ratified a service contract for $2,500 for administration of a 2014 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) economic development project in Wallagrass. A $120,000 CDBG was awarded to purchase a florist/greenhouse business, provide working capital and purchase inventory. Hilltop Florists will create four full-time jobs.
The board also received several informational briefings. Kamm presented on changes to the community guided planning and zoning process, and Bob Dorsey, president of Aroostook Partnership for Progress, discussed potential jobs and recent investment in Aroostook County.
“In 2014, more than $184 million was invested in new construction, expansions, maintenance, renovations and more in Aroostook County,” said Dorsey. “That investment resulted in more than 165 jobs. We’ve seen a lot of progress in 2014, but I’m even more excited about our future. There is truly the potential for more than 1000 new jobs and in excess of $100 millon of economic activity with a new industry at Loring, mining activity at Bald Mountain, increased manufacturing activity and more profitably small and medium sized farm activities over the next four years.”
The board also welcomed Matt Tompkins of Fort Fairfield to the NMDC staff as accountant.
The next NMDC Executive Board meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 12:30 p.m. in the agency’s boardroom in Caribou.
