Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Jobs and economic growth were the topics of discussion at a USDA forum held Jan. 5 at Northern Maine Community College.
The USDA Community Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth, held in Presque Isle, drew a crowd of about 50 to the Edmunds Conference Center on the NMCC campus, with approximately 15 additional Aroostook County participants taking part through video-teleconference sites in Houlton and Madawaska.
“The forum kicked off with roundtable participants,” from various fields of expertise, said Virginia Manuel, USDA’s rural development state director.
Participants included area economic and community development leaders, business owners, agricultural producers, congressional staff and all three presidents from the region’s major colleges and universities.
“This forum was a follow-up to the Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth held by President Obama on Dec. 3, in Washington,” Manuel said.
Manuel led the conversation, with presentations by USDA Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Donovan Todd III and NMCC President Timothy Crowley. Several prominent guest speakers also participated, including: Maine Public Service Company President and CEO Brent Boyles, of Presque Isle; Northern Maine Development Commission Executive Director Robert Clark, of Caribou; and Aurora Mills owner Matt Williams, of Linneus.
The primary focus of the event was to discuss ideas on ways to accelerate job growth in Aroostook County and rural Maine. Some of the topics discussed were:
• Exploring ways to rejuvenate and promote local businesses;
• Creating jobs by rebuilding Maine’s infrastructure;
• Creating new opportunities from existing ones, such as with value-added agriculture products;
• Supporting job growth among small businesses; and
• Preparing workers for 21st century jobs.
Manuel was pleased with the feedback obtained at the forum.
“The people of Aroostook County take great pride in their communities, and their ideas are essential to increasing jobs and economic opportunities in the region. I am so pleased with the number of people who attended the forum and look forward to sharing their ideas with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and President Obama. Our hope is that the ideas shared may result in some concrete action steps to ultimately promote job growth in Maine,” said Manuel.
Important discussions centered on creating jobs, growing local businesses, opportunities for economic growth, as well as barriers that need to be addressed in order for Aroostook County to recognize its full potential for economic expansion. Other topics brought up at the forum by participants included renewable energy, job creation and retention, potential for growth of the hospitality industry, support for local farmers and rural broadband infrastructure in the region.
“The information provided from the discussion will be summarized and provided to Vilsak and the President for consideration,” said Manuel.
Information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development’s Web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov/me.
FORUM DISCUSSES JOBS — Northern Maine Community College President Timothy Crowley, at left, and USDA Farm Service State Executive Director Donovan Todd, III, center, listen as USDA Rural Development State Director Virginia Manuel welcomes a crowd of 65 at Maine’s Jan. 5 USDA Community Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth, held at the NMCC campus in Presque Isle.
