King, Pingree Announce Two Maine Finalists for $100 Million 21st Century Development Grants
Press Release
U.S. Senator Angus King and Representative Chellie Pingree today announced that the University of Maine-Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine (FOR/Maine) Coalition and Northeastern University's Coalition -- which includes the Maine-based Roux Institute and FocusMaine -- are finalists and in the running for the U.S. Economic Development Administration's (EDA) $1 billion "Build Back Better Regional Challenge," an American Rescue Plan program that could ultimately award the coalitions up to $100 millioneach. If selected for final funding, the UMaine-FOR/Maine Coalition would work to revitalize the forest product industry and support rural communities -- adding $4 billion to Maine's economy, while the Northeastern University would partner with Portland's Roux Institute and FocusMaine to spur biomanufacturing jobs and economic growth in Maine.
The selection of two-Maine projects in the competitive grant program comes after letters from Senator King and Representative Pingree, as well as Governor Janet Mills, to the EDA urging selection of both proposals, and after support from both King and Pingree for the American Rescue Plan, which passed the Senate in March by a vote of 50 to 49. Being selected as two of the 60 finalists out of 529 applicants, the UMaine-FOR/Maine Coalition and the Northeastern Coalition will both receive $500,000 to further develop their proposal and help create new partnerships.
"In order to strengthen Maine's competitiveness in the 21st century economy, we must work to both modernize longstanding industries and embrace innovative fresh thinking. These proposals from the University of Maine-Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine Coalition and Northeastern University will do just that, helping to support the economy of tomorrow, and strengthening Maine for generations to come," said Senator King. "As the most-forested state in the nation, the long-term viability of Maine's working forests are inseparably tied to the success of our state and rural communities -- when Maine's forest economy thrives, so do our communities. The University of Maine and Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine Coalition has done extraordinary work to create new, sustainable forest opportunities to boost our economy, conserve our forests, and bring back good-paying jobs of today to areas in need. The Roux Institute and FocusMaine have created a similar impact on an emerging industry, helping to bring new jobs, growth, and innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector to Maine. Congratulations to each of them for impressing the Economic Development Administration, and receiving vital American Rescue Plan funds to boost their efforts."
"Even before the pandemic, Maine's forest products industry faced tremendous challenges brought on by shifting demand, mill closures and disruptions, unfair trade practices, and the worsening climate crisis. I proudly voted for the historic American Rescue Plan, which will support the work the University of Maine and FOR/Maine is doing to sustainably reinvigorate and support green jobs in the forest products sector and rural communities hit hard by the pandemic," said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior & Environment. "I'm thrilled the EDA has recognized this project's potential to not only support the global competitiveness of Maine's innovative forest products industry, but also to enhance this sector as a critical part of the climate solution. It brings me a great sense of pride to know that not one, but two projects with Maine ties were named finalists in this program that's helping us build back better. All of New England will benefit from Northeastern University's project. Their multi-state coalition to support biomanufacturing infrastructure will prime New England's commitment to innovation and science, helping to ensure a brighter future for generations to come."
"This is great news and a testament to the outstanding work of FOR/Maine and the Roux Institute," said Governor Janet Mills. "Both of these proposals offer Maine the opportunity to build a stronger, more diverse, and more sustainable economy that builds on our prized forest products industry and our growing bioeconomy in new and innovative ways. I am so pleased to see their proposals advance and look forward to continuing to support their important work on behalf of Maine."
If selected for final funding, the University of Maine (UMaine) and the Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine (FOR/Maine) Coalition will work to revitalize Maine's forest economy, and provide an opportunity for rural areas in the Northeast to build stronger, cleaner, and greener communities through strategic investment -- building on Maine's oldest resource and transforming the heritage industry. The project will help pivot away from petroleum-based feedstocks and chemicals to bio-based, renewable products and in so doing address our most critical regional crises -- affordable housing, climate change, income inequality, rural decay, and lost manufacturing jobs. Coalition members include leaders from industry, education, workforce and community development, and state government as well as community-based organizations serving historically excluded populations. You can find the UMaine-FOR/Maine Coalition's proposal for an EDA grant here.
The UMaine-FOR/Maine Coalition project is estimated to add nearly $4 billion in total economic impact to the Maine economy, and build workforce pathways to fill an estimated 5,000 direct job openings over the next 15 years. In 2019, $8.1 billion in economic impact and 31,822 jobs were tied to Maine's forest products sector -- approximately 1 out of every 25 dollars of Maine's GDP and 1 out of 25 Maine jobs respectively.
The Northeastern University Coalition, which includes Portland's Roux Institute and FocusMaine, would work to connect hubs throughout New England to support a stronger biomanufacturing economy. The coalition would support existing and new biomanufacturing infrastructure as a pathway to the good jobs of tomorrow for underserved and distressed regions throughout the Northeast. To ensure a new generation of workers can benefit from the region's biomanufacturing cluster, the coalition proposes a number of interventions to provide an on-ramp into the biotechnology sector for individuals without a four-year college degree to secure a stable, high-quality biomanufacturing job. You can find the Northeastern University Coalition proposal for an EDA grant here.
The organizations will now compete in Phase 2 of the Challenge, which will award 20-30 regional coalitions up to $100 million to implement 3-8 projects that support an industry sector. The deadline for Phase 2 is March 15, 2022.
Senator King and Representative Pingree have been strong supporters of creating Maine jobs for the 21st century -- working to revitalize the forest products industry, and creating new opportunities in sectors like biomanufacturing. They both joined letters earlier this year urging the Economic Development Administration to select both the University of Maine (UMaine) and the Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine (FOR/Maine) Coalition and the Northeastern Coalition for of their Build Back Better Grants. In 2016, Senator King worked to establish the Forest Opportunity Roadmap (FOR/Maine) Initiative, requesting funding that made the coalition possible in order to diversify the Maine's wood products businesses, attract investments, support research and development, and develop greater economic prosperity for rural communities impacted by mill closures.
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