PORTLAND (AP) — A commission that’s charged with spurring economic development and job creation has awarded grants to two remote towns in Maine.
The Northern Border Regional Commission has awarded a $200,000 grant to the town of Dover-Foxcroft and a $68,000 grant to the town of Jackman.
“This funding will have a positive impact on job growth in Maine and help spur additional economic development and investment in these communities,” U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud of Maine said in announcing the grants.
The Dover-Foxcroft grant will be applied toward a nearly $600,000 project to refurbish a hydroelectric plant at a former downtown woolen mill that’s being redeveloped into commercial space, rental apartments, a restaurant and an information technology data center. The project already has commitments from eight businesses that intend to employ 82 people
The Jackman grant is being applied toward a nearly $1.4 million project to expand the apron and hangar at its Newton Field Airport. The plan calls for creating paved taxi lanes to a new six-unit hangar, providing a prepared site for a future hangar, and installing electrical and storm water infrastructure.
The Northern Border Regional commission was formed in 2009 to stimulate economic development in economically distressed areas of northern Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.
The region covers 14 counties in New York, six counties in Vermont, four counties in New Hampshire and 12 counties in Maine.
In New York, the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is getting $100,000 and the Port of Oswego is receiving $192,000. The Vermont Center for Geographic Information has been awarded $169,100, while the Vermont Global Trade Partnership’s getting $186,000.
The commission awarded a $200,000 grant to New Hampshire’s Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital Association and $145,000 to the Grafton County Economic Development Council.
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