Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Maine Highlands Community Economic Development Strategy - Penquis C.A.P., Inc. (Penquis) will use $150,000 in CED Planning funds to build the administrative capacity of the community to develop a fundable CED project in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, Maine. Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, colloquially known as the ‘Maine Highlands region’, have suffered economically from the decline of the manufacturing industry and the closure of paper mills. Piscataquis County is a rural frontier county, and both counties suffer from high rates of poverty and contain multiple areas designated as underserved Justice40 communities. CED Planning funds will be used to develop a comprehensive business plan for creating sustainable business development that creates new, full-time, permanent jobs for individuals with low incomes in the rural Maine Highlands region. Penquis will conduct multiple planning activities, including identifying and applying for additional sources of funding, developing community partnerships, identifying appropriate markets for further business development, and completing a plan to provide wraparound services to future employees. Specifically, the CED Planning award will fund staff salaries, fringe benefits, focus group sessions to gather community input on the CED project, and contractual costs for completing market studies. As a result of these efforts, Penquis will be well-positioned to submit a CED job creation project application, paving the way for sustainable economic development and job creation in Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).