Project Description
Creating a regional system of integrated information centers that provide coherent messaging and consistent audience experience across the region, contributing to a sense of regional identity. Read Information Center report.

Centers and Project Status

• Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum
  
  Broke ground this past September and a winterized structure now occupies the site. The museum has raised $500,000 of the $700,000 needed for the building construction from private and public sources and will open once the goal is reached.
  
• Maine Mountain Heritage Center in Farmington
  Welcomed new partners to make their space more sustainable and has found an additional revenue stream by charging for use of the meeting space. MMHC plans an expansion of programming in the space during 2009.
  
• The Natural Resources Education Center in Greenville
  Already owns land for the center and is currently fundraising to develop the site and put up a building. NREC offers a variety of nature-based educational program and outdoor recreation activities throughout the year but needs a permanent facility. 
• Skowhegan Renaissance Center
  
  Recruiting tenants and will offer visitor information, a conference space with seasonal interpretive information, and a restroom for downtown shoppers in addition to retail and office space.
• Bethel Visitor Center
  The closing of the White Mountain National Forest Visitor Center caused a new sense of urgency amongst stakeholders but work is still needed gathering local support and formulating a sustainable business plan.
  
• Old Canada Road Visitor Center
  At Robbins Hill in Solon, the Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway is putting in new trails to bring people to the site. Bob Haynes, Coordinator for OCR, is developing interpretive signage for the view shed and ecological signage for the trails.

Workgroup Members
Robin Zinchuk, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce; Rebecca Kurtz, Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway; Don Palmer, Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum; Bruce Hazard and Shaunacy Cobb, Maine Mountain Heritage Center, Farmington; Carolann Ouellette, Jackman Chamber; Bob Haynes, Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway; Jeff Hewett, Town of Skowhegan; Eric Ward, Natural Resource Education Center, Greenville; Marc Edwards, Franklin County Cooperative Extension; and Guilds Hollowell, Katahdin Cultural Center, Millinocket.

Project Funding
The Maine Department of Economic and Community Development has provided $25,000 to support creation of business plans for individual information centers and regional system.