The Maine Woods Consortium encourages collaboration among people and organizations working to bring long term prosperity to Maine Woods. This page will keep you informed of current activities.

Organizational Capacity

Maine Rural Partners Develops Information Management Plan
Using funding from a Northern Forest Partnership grant, Lucas Sanders of Maine Rural Partners has evaluated different information management systems to determine which one will best suite MWC's needs. In June, Lucas presented findings to an ad hoc planning group. The group decided that using Expression Engine would allow greatest flexibility for customization. The group is currently seeking $6,000 to fund building the system which is designed to track initiatives across a number of interest areas (Landscape, Community, Economy). 

Tourism Investment

Betterment Fund Selects MWC to Channel Tourism Investment Funds
Also in June, the Betterment Fund notified the Maine Woods Consortium that the group will receive an annual grant of $50,000 for each of the next three years. This money will be passed through MWC to tourism related projects that lead to living wage jobs. 

MWC Selects Projects for Betterment Funding
A special committee formed for the purpose has selected three tourism projects to receive funds originating from the Betterment Fund for this year.

• Katahdin “Made by Hand” Maine Woods Discovery Package
  This project involves developing a tourism package to introduce visitors to the rich variety of craft traditions and artisans in the Maine Woods.  It is sponsored by the Maine Craft Association, which will work with the New England Outdoor Center to create a multi-dimensional visitor experience.
• Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Center Website
  The Four Directions Development Corporation plans to create a high quality interactive website designed to provide an immediate outlet for tribal artists and craftspeople to sell their products, while also serving as an essential part of the planning process for development of a Wabanaki Cultural Tourism Center. 
• Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative
  This is a long-term initiative proposed by Mountain Counties Heritage to organize a network of existing tourism training providers including university, community college, and adult education programs as well as private sector training programs to deliver a comprehensive, multi-modal training program to tourism businesses and their employees. Click here for more information.  

Community Revitalization

Amenity-Based Investment Study Underway
This summer, the Maine Center for Economic Policy is sponsoring a study intended to identify amenities that contribute to the economic vitality of communities in rural Maine. The study is headed by Bowdoin economist David Vail and focuses on communities in three Maine Woods Counties - Franklin, Piscataquis, and Washington. Findings will be used to guide investments being coordinated by the Consortium and will inform many other community planning and development initiatives as well.

Networked Economies

Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative Receives USDA Funding
A United States Department of Agriculture RBEG request for $50,000 to develop the Maine Woods Tourism Training Initiative has been funded. Training will be accomplished through networks of individuals, organizations, and institutions organized around specific needs identified by local tourism businesses as high priority. The three pilot areas are Franklin, Piscataquis, and Washington Counties. Current planning team members represent Greater Franklin Development Corporation, Piscataquis County Economic Development, Sunrise County Economic Development, Maine Center for Tourism Research and Outreach, Maine Office of Tourism, and a tourism training consultant. Click here for more information.  

Maine Woods Discovery Launched
On June 18, a group of Maine tourism businesses that typically compete for customers announced a collaborative effort to create a set of nature-based vacation packages for travelers visiting the Maine Woods. Summer and fall Maine Woods Discovery packages – with activities ranging from geo-caching, to fly fishing, hiking, and touring a mineral mine or submerged village – will offer visitors consistently high quality opportunities to experience the natural destinations of the Maine Woods while learning about authentic cultural traditions and distinctive local products.