Acadian World Congress leader updates Northern Maine Development Commission panel

    CARIBOU, Maine — The executive director of the World Acadian Congress presented an economic impact report to Northern Maine Development Commission executive board members on the 2014 three-nation event.
Léo-Paul Charest gave an explanation of data collected throughout the 17-day World Congress. Data revealed a total of 200,000 tourists and local residents attended activities held throughout the St. John Valley, as well as portions of New Brunswick and Quebec.
The average spending per visitor to the Congress came to $409.86 Canadian. Visitors and participants spent over $28,000,000 throughout the three territories involved in the international event.
A satisfaction survey showed visitors as satisfied with the Congress. Visitors said they would visit the region again, and recommend visiting to family and friends.
In other business, Mark Eves, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, addressed the NMDC board during a legislative tour of northern Maine focused on local businesses/industry and their expectations of state government.
Rep. Eves made it clear his role is to address workforce needs throughout Aroostook County and the entire state. The North Berwick lawmaker said he’s working on a regional “scan” to see what the workforce needs are. He wants to help students and workers who are seeking higher wage jobs.
“We’re doing this in a smart and strategic way. We’re leveraging our assets and by the end of the day students and workers that are being retrained are getting the skills that they need to get high wage jobs and really grow industries regionally,” Eves said.
The NMDC board appointed Sandra Fournier, town manager for Eagle Lake, as an executive of the board. They also appointed Tim Hobbs of the Maine Potato Board, to the Community Guided Planning and Zoning Steering Committee.
NMDC will apply with the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) for an EDA grant, for the IMCP Sustainable Food Project.
As a result of Portland’s Sustainable Food Project, NMDC will have access to funds for food inventory in Aroostook. Food grown in the county will feed distribution markets in southern Maine.