Acadia National Park Land Acquisition*

$3,000,000

National Park Service, Acadia National Park
43 Cottage Street, PO Box 45
Bar Harbor, ME 04609

This $3 million appropriation from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund will enable Acadia National Park to purchase a 39-acre property inside park boundaries on the border of Lower Hadlock Pond, a public drinking water supply. This will benefit the local community by permanently protecting water quality and eliminating the need for the water district to raise rates. It will benefit Acadia's 2.4 million visitors by permanently protecting the hiking trails that cross the property and preserving the park's land base for future generations to enjoy.

Advanced Multifunctional Materials for Soldier Support and Protection*

$5,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Current troop deployments require low cost, compact, rapidly deployable ballistic and blast protection to mitigate the threat of insurgents and their weapons. In addition to the previously developed University of Maine Modular Ballistic Protection System (MBPS) sidewall protection, these deployments will require overhead protection to maximize soldiers’ survivability, sustainability, and quality of life. This project will develop advanced protection systems that integrate facilitated logistics, improved sustainability and maximized effectiveness, as well as easily integrated alternative energy solutions.

Agricultural Enterprises Initiative*

$750,000

Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
36 Water Street, PO Box 268
Wiscasset, ME 04578

Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) is requesting $750,000 to launch the Agricultural Enterprises Initiative (AEI), to provide business planning and financial assistance to up to 24 job-generating sustainable agriculture- and food-related enterprises. CEI will match these funds with $750,000 in loan capital. Sustainable agriculture needs an adequate farmland base, agriculture production expertise, and business assistance and finance. CEI’s financing and business development expertise positions it as an essential part of this, coordinating technical assistance to develop business plans and financing to implement them.

Androscoggin River Bicycle Path Extension*

$376,432

Town of Brunswick
28 Federal Street
Brunswick, ME 04011

The project involves extending the Androscoggin River Bicycle Path (ARBP) beginning at its easterly terminus at Grover Lane and constructing an additional 2.6 miles of new paved pathway 14' wide along the US Route 1 corridor continuing east to Peterson Lane in Brunswick. This proposed extension is part of a larger 7.21 mile proposed project recommended in a 2004 MDOT funded feasibility study to connect the ARBP in Brunswick to the Sagadahoc Bridge in Bath. The project alignment is consistent with the proposed East Coast Greenway planned route through Maine.

Augusta Airport Runway Reconstruction and Safety Area Improvements*

$6,000,000

Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0016

Runway 17-35 Runway Safety Areas (RSA's) currently do not meet FAA standards. This project would bring the RSA's into compliance by installing EMAS (Engineered Material Arresting System) at both ends. The reconstruction of the runway entails rehabilitation of 5000' and narrowing the runway to 100'. Due to Western Avenue on one end of the runway and a drop off on the other end, installation of the EMAS will help ensure the safety of the flying public and the public traveling Western Avenue.

Augusta North Connections - Exit 113*

$1,000,000

City of Augusta
16 Cony Street
Augusta, ME 04330

The City of Augusta is one of the largest service centers in the state. It serves as a transportation crossroads for central Maine and is integral to the regional and state economy. The existing infrastructure is over capacity and will limit future growth in north Augusta. Enhancing Exit 113 will allow for expansion in the area, including health care, employment, higher education, government services, and retail facilities.

Bayside Neighborhood Connector (Somerset Street Extension)*

$750,000

City of Portland
389 Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101

The Bayside neighborhood had been a mixture of dilapidated buildings and substandard housing. The City engaged hundreds of citizens to establish a vision for their neighborhood. The result was a master plan for the Bayside neighborhood which provides a blue print for revitalizing this area. The missing element that is hindering Bayside from reaching its potential is sufficient infrastructure. This funding would extend Somerset Street, which stops part-way through Bayside. The extension will provide safe, direct access for the Bayside area, and open up land which isunderutilized to attract private investment to thisarea for housing, new businesses, and jobs.

Bayside Trail Bike/Pedestrian Bridge*

$3,000,000

Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0016

The Bayside Trail Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge is needed to create a safe crossing of Franklin Arterial near where the Bayside Trail intersects the off ramp area of Interstate 295. The project is intended to improve safety for all users of the transportation system, including motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The impact of the project will be of regional and statewide significance, as this area of Portland is the economic and social center of the region. The bridge will create an asset in a downtown setting, helping to create a safer, more vibrant, quality community environment in Portland and region.

Bio-Based Plastics*

$1,250,000

Sustainable Bioplastics Council of Maine
157 Park Street, Suite 33
Bangor, ME 04401

This project aims to boost Maine's green economy through the development of non-toxic and bio-compostable plastic products. After receiving nearly $750,000 from local and private funding over 3 years, they have achieved significant R&D milestones. They have created sustainable potato production standards and established a market potential and economic benefits to Maine. There is an opportunity to collaborate with several leading companies for commercial ready bioplastics to capitalize on today’s demand for greener, more ecologically-friendly products. This effort will directly impact job creation in the state.

Brunswick Multi-Modal*

$420,000

Town of Brunswick
28 Federal Street
Brunswick, ME 04011

Funding will be used for the first phase of the Design and Construction of a Parking Facility for the Brunswick Train Station. The parking facility is currently under construction in downtown Brunswick as part of the Maine Street Station mixed use redevelopment project. In anticipation of the Portland-Brunswick extension of Amtrak’s Downeaster Corridor in 2012, the parking facility will serve as a park-and-ride location, as well as needed parking for employees and customers of the complex.

Cellulose Nanocomposites for Army Infrastructure and Troop Protection*

$5,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

UMaine has demonstrated lightweight, low-cost ballistic panel systems during the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command blast testing and will further enhance protection by using the unique properties of cellulose nanocomposites. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable resource polymer on earth and while nanomaterials have been the subject of large research investments, cellulose nanofibrils have been less studied. Unlike carbon nanotubes, cellulose nanofibrils are renewable, more affordable and can provide the next generation of lightweight high-performance, bio-based materials for a variety of defense and civil applications.

Community-Based Research to Support the Maine Lobster Industry*

$725,000

Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04101

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Maine Lobstering Association, and the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation request funds to purchase equipment and support lobster industry based herring surveys. This community approach will provide critical data necessary for informed management decisions that balance herring conservation and the economic needs of the Maine lobster and herring industries and their positive impact on the Maine economy.

Consolidation of Structural Shops*

$17,400,000

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth, NH 03804

This project modernizes the Structural Shop. The project outfits the existing shops with new equipment, streamlines efficiencies and work flow, and provides better working conditions for the men and women of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Center for Civic Education*

$26,635,625

The Center for Civic Education
5145 Douglas Fir Road
Calabasas, CA 91302

The Education for Democracy Act programs are among the most cost effective programs supported by the federal government. They effectively promote a profound understanding of and commitment to the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy as expressed in such seminal documents as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the Gettysburg Address. They also promote students' capacities to participate competently and responsibly in the political life of their communities and the nation. Civic education/democracy will be critical with globalization of the economy. Students will need to not only understand the American system but international democracies as well.

Council for Economic Education*

$5,018,625

Council for Economic Education
122 East 42 Street, Suite 2600
New York, NY 10168

The Economic Education Exchange Program administered by the Council for Economic Education involves teachers from 47 states and the District of Columbia, and has helped students in more than 40 emerging democracies understand the principles and institutions of a market economy and their relationship to democracy. This is accomplished through intensive professional development programs that bring educators from K-12 schools and institutions of higher education in the US together with educators in these emerging democracies in communities in the United States and eligible countries. Innovative curriculum that has proven highly effective in teaching the principles of market economies has been developed and translated into appropriate languages by teams of writers from the US and participating countries.

Council on Financial Education*

$500,000

Institute for Financial Literacy
449 Forest Avenue, Suite 10
Portland, ME 04101

The Council on Financial Education will provide organizations with a framework to evaluate and improve the quality of their financial literacy efforts. This will provide consumers with a recognizable mark they can use to assess the effectiveness of programs before committing their resources.

Department of Marine Resources Public Health Laboratory Expansion and Red Tide Monitoring*

$2,000,000

Maine Department of Marine Resources
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0021

The Maine Department of Marine Resource's eastern Public Health Laboratory was originally designed to conduct water quality testing. Its use has expanded by necessity to include Red Tide testing due to the intensity of Red Tide outbreaks in recent years. Office and storage space have been converted to a small Red Tide testing laboratory and the space is inadequate to meet the needs of eastern Maine. The outbreak of drastically longer and larger Red Tides since 2005 has resulted in the need for increased laboratory space. The Department of Marine Resources has also been the recipient of Red Tide Disaster Funds that have enabled an increased level of sampling to enhance public health and safety coastwide. Funds will be used to expand the laboratory and sampling coastwide.

Determination of entanglement risk to endangered whales in Maine coastal fishing habitats*

$1,000,000

Maine Department of Marine Resources
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0021

New federal regulations are being created to reduce entanglements of endangered whales in fishing gear. Serious data gaps exist in Maine coastal fishing habitats regarding the distribution and density of both gear and endangered whales. Funding will be used to gather data and inform the regulatory process so that any regulations that impact Maine's important fishing industries are based on sound knowledge of the risk posed to whales in these unique habitats.

Digital Echocardiography*

$398,000

Goodall Hospital
25 June Street
Sanford, ME 04073

Digital echocardiography is capable of producing excellent images of the heart, and critical in aiding in diagnoses and ultimately, in treatment of heart conditions for residents in the Greater Sanford area. Digital echo is important because it improves the clarity of this important diagnostic tool, thereby providing more accurate diagnoses. This funding would be used to purchase a digital echocardiography.

Eastern Trail Bridge and Trail, Scarborough*

$800,000

Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS)
68 Marginal Way
Portland, ME 04101

The Eastern Trail is a regional multi-use trail for pedestrian and bicyclist commuters as well as general recreationalists. The trail is part of the Maine Department of Transportation's vision for a multi-modal route from Portland to Boston. The trail follows the old Eastern Railroad right-of-way where currently there is no bridge over the Nonesuch River. The construction of the bridge and trail segment north of the bridge provides one of the final direct linkages and direct routes for bicyclist and pedestrian commuters and recreational users to and from Portland.

Enhancing the U.S. National Culture Collection for Marine Phytoplankton*

$600,000

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
180 McKown Point Road
West Boothbay Harbor, ME 04575

Funding will provide equipment and operating capability to enhance the new laboratory development in East Boothbay.

Environmental Studies, Monitoring and Public Outreach for the Eastport Tidal Energy Project*

$700,000

Cobscook Bay Resource Center
4 Favor Street
Eastport, ME 04631

A national effort to increase renewable energy development and reduce dependence on fossil fuels requires a long-term public policy commitment. Tidal energy will provide emission free electricity in the first phase of ocean energy development. The funding of this project will support deployment of the first commercial-scale tidal energy project in the U.S. It will also create a comprehensive environmental monitoring program and develop a public information exchange and dissemination capacity with the goal of setting the standard for future ocean energy developments in Maine and the U.S. In the larger picture, this project increases energy independence and security, creates over 250 jobs statewide in five years, spurs investment in Maine of up to $1 billion in the next five to seven years, and creates a model for environmentally sensible ocean energy development.

Excellence in STEM Education through Technology-Enhanced Research and Professional Development*

$650,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

This project will provide a model for improved STEM education through sophisticated teacher professional development and active student participation in research-supported instruction. It will also expand the University’s quality offerings in distance education in STEM, including professional development for technical employees in Maine businesses. In addition, this model for improved STEM education will create an expanded technical workforce and generate jobs through potential spin-off companies related to production and use of quality STEM education materials.

Gateway 1 Corridor Project Implementation*

$3,000,000

Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0016

Gateway 1 is a land use/transportation planning project spanning more than 100 miles of Route 1 and 20 towns in Midcoast Maine. Phase 1 of the study produced a Corridor Action Plan and a Transportation Action Package (TAP). In phase 2, the corridor coalition is developing an inter-local agreement. Funding will be used for implementation of the TAP, which identifies transportation and land use actions municipalities can take to meet the forecasted (year 2030) transportation needs in the Gateway 1 Corridor.

Gateway to Science Equipment Upgrade*

$863,374

University of Southern Maine
9600 Falmouth Street
Portland, ME 04103-4846

USM seeks funding for upgraded, modern science equipment for community science education, K-12 outreach, and incorporation of immersive, visually-enhanced STEM learning experiences into higher education at USM.

GO Maine Commuter Vanpool Vehicles*

$680,000

Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS)
68 Marginal Way
Portland, ME 04101

GO Maine commuter vanpools are driven by volunteer commuter drivers, providing benefits that include reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, conserving energy, recruiting and retaining employees, and saving commuters money on their commute. The funding will be used to purchase 20 13-passenger commuter vans.

Grants to Broadcasting Systems Program*

$2,000,000

Maine Public Broadcasting Network
63 Texas Avenue
Bangor, ME 04401

The Grants to Broadcasting Systems Program makes it possible for MPBN to produce local, Maine programming. The purpose of this authorized program through USDA Rural Development is to demonstrate that rural public television stations can be instrumental in delivering services and specialized programs to audiences in rural areas. This program ensures that the eligible public television stations located in rural areas are able to develop, produce, and broadcast programming which specifically addresses the rural concerns and issues of its audience.

Greenhouse Development Project

$2,000,000

Atlantic Organics, Inc.
107 Pork Point Road
Bowdoinham, ME 04008

Atlantic Organics Inc is the largest organic farm in Maine. The company is seeking $2 million dollars to build and equip 10-15 acres of year round greenhouses to grow and supply local organic produce year round. This project would keep 10 to 15 local employees employed year round and would establish Maine as a leader in year round organic production of vegetables. As the leading organic vegetable producer, Atlantic Organics is well positioned to take on this project.

This project is no longer eligible for funding under House rules and was not submitted by Congresswoman Pingree.

Hallowell Community Center Renovation*

$230,000

Hubbard Free Library
115 Second Street
Hallowell, ME 04347

The Hubbard Free Library is one of Maine’s architectural treasures and was placed on the National Registry of Historic Sites in 1970. It is one of the landmark buildings in Hallowell. First opened in 1888, it is the oldest public library in Maine still operating in its original building. The roof leaks, the walls are bowing and it has to close when it’s too hot or too cold outside. The building is also not handicap accessible. It requires a new slate roof, a new heating system and other structural repairs.

Healthy Bees, Healthy Gardens – A Maine School Garden Education Program

$41,250

Gold Star Honeybees, LLC
150 Whiskeag Road, PO Box 1061
Bath, ME 04530

Expanding upon the successful 2009 LOCAL Garden Program at Bath’s RSU #1, the addition of top bar beehives to school gardens and future farmer education programs will demonstrate the connection between healthy bees and sustainable gardening. While no scientific research clearly explains the recent honey bee crisis, raising bees naturally on their own beeswax, as is done in top bar hives, would educate children in sound environmental stewardship. Each participating school would be provided with a top bar beehive, bees, the required hive management, and two classes for one year.

Homeless Outreach and Mobile Emergency (HOME) Team - Citywide Model*

$307,102

Milestone Foundation
65 India Street
Portland, ME 04101-4209

The funding would be used to finance the Homeless Outreach and Mobile Emergency (HOME) Team Program, a collaboration of city and social service agencies designed to address the needs of chronically homeless individuals in Portland.

Human Response to Infectious Disease*

$486,181

Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609

“Humanized” mice have been successfully engrafted with human tissue and can be studied to determine the mechanisms of infectious disease and how those processes can be interrupted. JAX scientists cannot make full use of these new research tools because space for that purpose lacks the necessary technology. This equipment will allow investigators to use primary human tissues and biological reagents in their research. This request would fund equipment necessary to these studies.

Hybrid Composite-Concrete Bridges*

$2,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Hybrid composite-concrete bridge technology has been demonstrated to be cheaper on up front bid costs than conventional construction. The Maine Department of Transportation is moving to use the technology and materials for more bridges and to promote the technology to neighbor states. This would result in new jobs making associated hybrid composite-concrete components and materials in Maine.Additional funding is needed to develop standard optimized designs, test these designs in a laboratory environment, and obtain national recognition through the AASHTO bridge specifications so they can be specified anywhere in the U.S.

Impact of the Battlefield Environment on Soldiers' and Veterans' Health*

$2,700,000

Jackson Laboratory
600 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Stress during active military duty affects soldiers’ performance with lasting consequences for the reintegration of the veteran into his or her community. This project funds research on response to stressors such as chronic, unpredictable stress and pain. The research depends on high performance computer systems to develop and analyze large volumes of data, phenotyping equipment and personnel to identify mice with differing stress responses, and modified space for behavioral testing. Military applications include battlefield suitability, military recruiting and veterans' health.

Improving Access and Safety to Emergency Medical Services in Rural Maine*

$624,000

The LifeFlight Foundation
PO Box 899, 13 Main Street
Camden, ME 04843

Collaborating with Maine Emergency Management Agency and Maine's interoperability coordinator, LifeFlight will improve accessibility and safety of emergency medical services by building 13 automated weather observing stations (AWOS) and 33 helicopter GPS approaches at designated landing zones in rural communities. This equipment will aid in all disasters and benefit any businesses using aircraft/air travel.

Improving Access to Learning for Students with Autism*

$500,000

Spurwink
899 Riverside Street
Portland, ME 04103

Maine has the second highest percentage of residents with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United States. Spurwink, one of Maine's largest special purpose schools, has seen significant growth in its population of Autism Spectrum Disorders students since 2000. By integrating the research-based SCERTS model into its programs and redesigning its curriculum to address the specific needs of these students, Spurwink will improve their access to learning and their capacity for long-term academic, social and employment success. In year one, 200 students will benefit, and Spurwink will also assist public school districts in adopting the model.

Increasing Student Access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning Experiences*

$1,000,000

Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04101

Both the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Challenger Learning Center offer important opportunities for students from across the state to engage in exciting learning experiences by introducing them to the worlds of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). With the financial pressures of the last few years, both donors and school districts have been forced to cut back on their support for these programs. The ability to secure additional funding will increase student access, driving awareness of the potential of STEM disciplines to contribute to Maine's economic future.

Integrated Primary Care System*

$1,256,872

Martin's Point Health Care
331 Veranda Street
Portland, ME 04104

Funds will support implementation of a team-based integrated primary care system to better coordinate care and demonstrate improved health outcomes, satisfaction and lower long-term costs. It requires initial investments in hiring and training primary care providers, primary care nurses, and mental health providers, and infrastructure to support the model, including advanced tools for data capture, analysis, and outcomes measurement to assess value of care, as well as modification of facilities. Best practices learned could be a model for other Maine and national health systems.

Katahdin Forest Expansion 3-Gulf Hagas*

$3,325,000

Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands
22 State House Station
18 Elkins Lane
Augusta, ME 04333-0022

The Katahdin Forest Expansion 3-Gulf Hagas Project will conserve 32,000 acres of working forestland abutting and providing access to 11 miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and two National Natural Landmarks, Gulf Hagas and The Hermitage. It includes local and interstate snowmobile trails connecting the Moosehead Region to Baxter State Park. Hikes above treeline offer views of over 1.5 million acres of contiguous, conserved forestlands including Baxter State Park. Its forestlands and water provide habitat for Canada Lynx, Bicknell’s Thrush, and native Brook Trout.

Kids Legal: Protecting the rights and improving the lives of Maine's children*

$300,000

Pine Tree Legal Assistance, Inc.
88 Federal Street
PO Box 547
Portland, ME 04112

More than a third of Maine children live in low-income households. Many of the laws designed to protect these children are not familiar to Maine families or within their ability to enforce. With funding from the OJJDP, Kids Legal will provide direct legal assistance to children and youth individually or through their caretakers, provide consultations with attorneys and community providers regarding the rights of youth in Maine, and provide training to groups on legal issues affecting low-income children and youth in Maine.

Kittery Waterfront Improvements*

$410,000

Town of Kittery
200 Rogers Road
Kittery, ME 03904

Potential national security threats put much of the Kittery fishing fleet at risk of losing primary waterfront facilities located adjacent to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Investment in Kittery’s waterfront will provide greater revenue for the State and the region. Maintaining sustainable fisheries in southern Maine is vital to tourism, and the regional economy. Built in 1955, the Pepperrell Cove facility cannot adequately serve current users and has reached the end of its serviceable life.

LGX High Temperature Sensors for Health Monitoring of Aerospace Components*

$3,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

The United States Air Force (USAF) has an immediate need for miniaturized, wireless, sensor arrays capable of sensing properties such as temperature, pressure, corrosion, strain, and vibration on aircraft components in harsh high temperature environments. This will allow the monitoring of the condition of critical parts before failure and to achieve substantial cost savings. This project will leverage prior Congressional and USAF investments to develop sensors that operate at extremely high temperatures and demonstrate functional acoustic wave sensors on turbine engine components under realistic Air Force operating conditions.

Long Creek Restoration Project*

$2,500,000

Long Creek Watershed Management District
PO Box 426
Portland, ME 04112-0426

The Long Creek Management Plan is a locally supported plan developed through a two year stakeholder process. This plan, which addresses stormwater impacts through collaboration with public entities and private businesses, is the first of its kind in the nation. Funding will help municipalities, businesses and state entities that are currently faced with an unfunded mandate to clean up Long Creek. This will safeguard jobs and help preserve economic health of a vital urban area in southern Maine. Implementation of the plan will also serve as a model for dealing with stormwater pollution elsewhere in Maine.

Maine Advanced Technology and Engineering Center*

$1,358,830

Southern Maine Community College
2 Fort Road
South Portland, ME 04106

Southern Maine Community College will establish the Maine Advanced Technology & Engineering Center (MATEC) in partnership with the University of Maine, as a critical component of the redevelopment of Brunswick Naval Air Station. MATEC will expand community college capacity and provide innovative higher education programs in engineering, manufacturing and composites. The Center will create Maine’s first seamless education path that leads from high school to Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. It will also offer Maine’s first Associate degrees in Pre-engineering and Composites to increase educational attainment and spur job creation in Maine.

The University of Maine also submitted a video in support of this project:

Maine Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (MCTEH) Lab Renovation*

$1,750,000

University of Southern Maine
9600 Falmouth Street
Portland, ME 04103-4846

MCTEH serves as the focal point of bioscience research in Maine and provides USM with a distinctive research identity. Funding will complete the Wise Laboratory on the 4th floor of the Bioscience Research Wing, creating new, state-of-the-art toxicology laboratories for these studies. This added space will also free laboratories on the 1st floor for other MCTEH faculty members.

Maine Climate Information Exchange*

$1,300,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Initiatives to address climate change largely come from state and local programs and focus primarily on mitigation. Maine’s leaders recognize a responsibility to move beyond mitigation to adaptation to preserve a strong natural resource based economy and promote new economic opportunities our changing climate brings. To address climate change mitigation, adaptation and opportunity, UMaine will establish the Maine Climate Information Exchange. This will build on the climate change assessment “Maine’s Climate Future” and provide information coordination/planning for climate change in Maine not yet available.

Maine Fisheries Research for Herring, Lobster, Groundfish, and the Inshore Trawl Survey*

$2,300,000

Maine Department of Marine Resources
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0021

Together, these programs are vital to the effective management of coastal Maine’s fisheries. Data from this research is critical to understanding our fisheries resources and contributes directly to stock assessments, leading to economically healthier coastal communities and more sustainable management decisions.These funds will be used to monitor the health of herring stocks, develop a new herring stock assessment model, gather baseline data on river herring for both commercial and non-commercial runs to create sustainable river specific management plans, conduct port and at sea lobster sampling, ventless lobster trap research, determine the juvenile lobster settlement index, assess groundfish species not typically caught in assessment trawls such as halibut and endangered species like cusk and wolfish, aid the development of a directed fishery for redfish, and survey over 10,000 square km of important fishing grounds and 30 fish species left out of federal surveys due to the size of federal research vessels.

Maine Groundfish Permit Banking Program*

$5,000,000

Maine Department of Marine Resources
21 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0021

As stocks and fishing opportunities have declined, Maine has lost much of its historic and valuable groundfishing industry. Associated infrastructure loss has led remaining vessels to relocate to the few ports still offering support services. This program will mitigate the adverse impacts of consolidation by preserving and restoring access to Maine fishermen and their communities. Funds will also be used to upgrade/purchase software to help monitor and track associated fishing opportunities. This software will also benefit the groundfish sectors by helping them track their vessels' activities.

Maine Industry Partnership Initiative (MIPI)*

$350,200

Manufacturers Association of Maine
386 Bridgton Road
Westbrook, ME 04092

The Manufacturers Association of Maine will identify training needs of Maine businesses engaged in high tech manufacturing and advance appropriate education, training, and certification programs to allow companies to grow in the manufacturing sector. MAMe will align curriculums and career paths for employees and identify barriers to engage workers in high tech, high skilled and high wage employment.

Maine Lowbush Blueberry Sustainable Production and Processing Research*

$200,000

University of Maine
5782 Winslow Hall, Room 105
Orono, ME 04468-5782

Maine is the number one producer of Wild Blueberries in the world and the primary U.S. producing state. The management of Wild Lowbush Blueberries is like no other cropping system in that native plants, many of them decades old, are managed for human consumption on a two year cropping cycle. Maine Wild Blueberry growers are dependent on the research and education developed for the unique Wild Blueberry Integrated Crop Management (ICM) System. Much of the research completed to date has developed techniques for environmentally sound, sustainable production, and for value-added food processing.

Maine Natural Biopolymer Research and Development Partnership*

$1,320,000

Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commerical Street
Portland, ME 04101

Resorbable alginate-antibiotic delivery systems in the form of gels or foams can enhance tissue environment for healing. They can be deployed on the battlefield and reduce the frequency of serious infection and amputation. The research conducted would document the antibiotic release and activity, determine the in vivo efficacy, and result in a simple, battlefield ready resorbable antibiotic delivery system that could incorporate one or more antibiotic treatments for polymicrobial infections. In addition, the project will advance the Department of Defense goal to reduce infection of soldiers resulting from trauma.

Maine Mercury Monitoring Network*

$500,000

BioDiversity Research Institute
19 Flaggy Meadow Road
Gorham, ME 04038

Mercury is a toxic element that accumulates in water, fish, wildlife and people. The effects of mercury pollution are widespread in Maine, as demonstrated by the statewide freshwater and coastal fish consumption advisories. The monitoring needed to track the impact of Federal regulations in Maine does not exist. The Maine Mercury Monitoring Network will provide quantitative information on where the problem is greatest, how policy is affecting pollution levels in the state, and how the ecological and human health risks due to mercury are changing over time.

Maine Rural Entrepreneurship Initiative*

$1,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

The primary objective of this project is to explore and develop a method for supporting rural entrepreneurship through development, skill training, and mentoring which creates the necessary entrepreneurial infrastructure for self-sustaining growth.

Maine School Garden Initiative*

$499,900

Rippling Water Farms
55 River Road
Steep Falls, ME 04085

Funding will be used to expand a K-12th grade program into 5 school districts in mid-coast Maine. Education will be based predominately on teaching where food comes from and how to grow it sustainably. The focus will be on K-8th grade students in 18 communities. Food grown by the students will be used in school cafeterias to improve the nutritional quality, making healthy eating and physical activity appealing. Remaining produce will be donated to food pantries allowing students to give back.

Maine Statewide Bus Replacement*

$6,400,000

Maine Department of Transportation
16 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0016

The project will replace 69 buses across the State. Maine’s bus fleet has become more marketable and safer. Unfortunately, the current fleet is completely beyond its useful life.

Maine Tidal Power Initiative*

$3,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Community-level interest in tidal power is surging in Maine but previous research has emphasized the development of commercial scale tidal energy sites. Development of community-based sites will require not only environmental evaluation, but also an energy-resource assessment. The development of an open architecture tidal turbine design with circulation modeling will provide an estimate of the energy available at a site. Field measurements will be combined with laboratory results, model simulations, and ecological analyses to evaluate the cost-benefits of development at tidal sites.

Maine Wind Supply Chain Consortium*

$2,000,000

Maine Composites Alliance
PO Box 129
Portland, ME 04112

The State of Maine, including private industry, government and the University of Maine, is committed to offshore wind for economic and technical development. Maine’s successful participation in the economic benefits associated with the development of the offshore wind resource will require an integrated Maine-based supply chain to supply and deliver components for this effort. This project will greatly enhance the capability of the composite supply chain in Maine. It will enable Maine companies to develop the new technology and the trained workforce to compete in this market. This project will directly support Maine’s offshore energy initiatives.

Marine Law Institute Maritime Security Initiative / Programming and Equipment*

$750,000

University of Southern Maine
9600 Falmouth Street
Portland, ME 04103-4846

The Marine Law Institute at the University of Southern Maine is positioned to establish a Maritime Security Initiative -- a center of excellence in Portland that provides training and research in maritime security law. This program would meet a growing demand for legal training in maritime security issues among existing government personnel and additional legal professionals.

Marine Wind Power Siting Research*

$500,000

BioDiversity Research Institute
19 Flaggy Meadow Road
Gorham, ME 04038

Maine is a leader in offshore wind power, but today there are no funds for avian/bat studies to aid in siting of marine wind turbines. The need for studies was highlighted by the Ocean Energy Task Force and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This project will benefit the community by creating jobs and a graduate student position, expediting wind power development, and reducing the cost to industry of pre-construction studies. The impact of the project will be positing Maine as a leader in well-researched wind power siting.

Medical School Scholarships for Maine Students*

$2,500,000

Maine Medical Center
22 Bramhall Street
Portland, ME 04102

The Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine “Maine Track” program was created to respond to a significant shortage of rural physicians in Maine. Due in a large part to financial barriers, Maine students are forced to leave the state to study medicine. Subjected to high out-of-state tuitions and substantial debt upon graduation, these financial burdens often turn our best and brightest students away from Maine and a career in medicine altogether. This funding will be used for scholarships to encourage students to stay in Maine as students and eventually as much needed physicians.

Merrymeeting Trail*

$1,000,000

Midcoast Council of Governments
7 Park Street
Bath, ME 04530

The Merrymeeting Trail would be a regional rail-with-trail that would connect: Androscoggin River Pedestrian Bike Path, which links Topsham to Brunswick; the historic downtown village area in Bowdoinham; the historic downtown village area in Richmond; and the Kennebec River Rail Trail, which links Gardiner, Farmingdale, Hallowell, and Augusta. The Merrymeeting Trail could serve as an alternate route on the East Coast Greenway, allowing our communities to be part of a national trail that is 3,000 miles long linking Calais, Maine with Key West, Florida.

Midcoast Region Community Food Innovation Center and Culinary Arts Institute for Food Sufficiency & Economic Security*

$300,000

Lincoln County Economic Development Office (LCEDO)
PO Box 249
Wiscasset, ME 04578

The food innovation center grew out of a community-based process. The lack of fresh food as a risk factor for vulnerable citizens and the need for nutrition education and better access to fresh produce instigated local purchasing in schools, requiring foodservice training. Currently, area producers lack value-adding facilities. The historic District Gray School was identified as a community asset. Waldoboro’s beautiful coastal location is ideal for farm-to-table/ocean-to-plate culinary education and cultural tourism. A 2009 feasibility study and partnership with Johnson & Wales University refined the concept.

Milfoil Infestation, Eradication, Research, and Education*

$1,250,000

Saint Joseph's College
278 Whites Bridge Road
Standish, ME 04084-5236

Little Sebago Lake Association (LSLA), Saint Joseph's College in Standish, lake organizations, and lake citizens’ organizations are continuing a 3-year concerted attack on the milfoil infestation threat to Maine's lakes and habitats. Lake advocates and scientists will focus initial efforts on the milfoil infestation threat in 7 lakes in southern, western, and central Maine as a collective "test bed" for the development of action plans for the mitigation and eradication of milfoil that can be applied to other infested lakes throughout Maine.

Mobile Outreach Skills Training Program*

$5,000,000

Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership on behalf of the New England M.O.S.T Initiative
87 Winthrop Street
Augusta, ME 04330

The M.O.S.T. Program is as an immediate job placement solution by which individuals from the underserved population, including the unemployed, returning veterans, welfare recipients and youth, would be trained and placed in existing entry-level manufacturing jobs. M.O.S.T. is a three-phase rapid training and job placement initiative in which nearly 90% of trainees who successfully complete the 2-week Phase I receive job offers from the manufacturers.

MRI machine*

$600,000

Goodall Hospital
25 June Street
Sanford, ME 04073

An MRI machine is capable of producing excellent soft tissue contrast images, and very important in aiding in diagnoses and ultimately, in treatment. Goodall Hospital’s MRI machine is more than 10 years old and, as such, needs to be upgraded to meet present day standards. Software upgrades currently available would bring the equipment up-to-date and improve patient care.

National Center for Deepwater Offshore Wind*

$10,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Maine plans to deploy composite floating wind turbine platforms in the Gulf of Maine in order to reduce dependence on oil. The Maine Offshore Wind Initiative fits under the Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Program and contributes directly to EERE’s and DOE’s mission of improving national, energy and economic security. It also addresses the call set forth by the Advanced Energy Initiative and the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for increasing the diversity of our nation’s energy resources. Funds would be used to develop, test, and demonstrate composite components for offshore wind turbine platforms in the Gulf of Maine.

National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center (NCWMAC)*

$1,500,000

University of Maine
Corbett Hall
Orono, ME 04469

The facility will be a center for excellence as a comprehensive aquatic animal health research facility. The facilities developed by UMaine & ARS will benefit marine aquafarmers in Maine, New England, and U.S. coldwater regions, as well as consumers through the production of nutritious, safe and healthy foods. The growth of the aquaculture industry will generate new jobs, stimulating economic development in Maine.

Video coming soon.

National Writing Project*

$26,200,000

National Writing Project
2105 Bancroft Way, #1042
Berkeley , CA 94720

The National Writing Project provides support for a national infrastructure of more than 200 writing projects sites that serve their local schools and teaching communities with high-quality teacher professional development in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Navigational Maintenance Dredge*

$200,000

Town of Yarmouth
200 Main Street
Yarmouth, ME 04096

Maintenance dredging of the Royal River is needed to protect its recreational, commercial, and navigational benefits capacity. The Army Corps of Engineers surveyed the river and has estimated that 60,000 cubic yards of silting needs to be dredged to support continuation of current navigational and maritime activities. The Royal River was last dredged in 1995 and since then there has been significant filling and shoaling. The river provides a $25.3million/year State/local economic value with over 340 local jobs directly tied to its ability to support navigational depths.

New England Invasive Plant Center*

$2,000,000

University of Maine
5782 Winslow Hall, Room 105
Orono, ME 04468-5782

Invasive plants are an increasing problem for agriculture in the Northeast. Use of pesticides to control invasive plants is often ineffective, undesirable and prohibited because of water quality restrictions. New management control mechanisms need to be developed as well as alternatives to commonly planted invasive ornamentals. Because of the urgent need for new and effective approaches to address the serious problem of invasive plants, UConnecticut and UMaine request funding from the USDA to support research and education through a multi-state, interdisciplinary Center for Invasive Plants.

Northeastern States Research Cooperative (NSRC)*

$4,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

NSRC is a competitive grants program designed to encourage collaborative interdisciplinary research in the four Northern Forest states: NY, VT, NH, and ME. Each state manages a specific research theme critical to the Northern Forest. Maine's theme is Forest Productivity and Products.

Northern Border University Research Consortium*

$1,500,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Canada and the United States form the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world and the northern border is the gateway through which massive flows of people and products must pass. Critical economic competitiveness and security issues are directly affected by the border. Currently, no comprehensive research capability exists to examine and assess how the border is performing and whether border management policies have been successful in facilitating economic prosperity while enhancing security- this project, if funded, would bridge that gap.

Video coming soon.

Northern Forest Canoe Trail Explorers Program (NFCT)*

$500,000

Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Inc.
4403 Main Street, 2nd Floor
PO Box 565
Waitsfield, VT 05673

NFCT's Northern Forest Explorers Program engages rural youth in week-long outdoor experiences that foster healthy choices, cultivate leadership and teamwork skills, and foster meaningful connections with the natural world. Participants spend one week paddling through the Northern Maine water trail, learning camping, paddling, and group skills that will be the basis for a lifetime of recreational involvement, and also learning leave no trace ethics and basic ecosystem studies.

Northern Gulf of Maine Groundfish Sentinel Fishery*

$254,629

Penobscot East Resource Center
PO Box 27
43 School Street
Stonington, ME 04681

The Northern Gulf of Maine Groundfish Sentinel Fishery is an economic development project that combines research and job creation. Fishermen from three Maine counties, including the two most fishery-dependent, will conduct exploratory hook fishing to research the recovery of the region’s depleted groundfish stocks in collaboration with UMaine, and the Maine Department of Marine Resources. Species diversity is essential to sustaining the economic health of the area’s coastal communities. Restoration of the area’s productivity could lead to more fish for the entire New England groundfishery.

Penobscot River Restoration Project*

$4,000,000

Penobscot River Restoration Trust
PO Box 5695
Augusta, ME 04332

The Penobscot is poised to transition to a sustainable balance between native sea-run fisheries and hydropower through the project. By removing three significant barriers to fish migration, reconnecting upriver habitat to Penobscot Bay and the Gulf of Maine, the project aims to restore the full assemblage of 11 native diadromous fish species to the Penobscot River, including Atlantic salmon. The project will also provide culturally significant fish to the Penobscot Indian Nation.

Phase 1 Development of an Offshore Coastal Atlas to Assist in Ocean Energy Development*

$2,500,000

Maine State Planning Office
State House Station 38
187/89 State Street
Augusta, ME 04333-0038

Maine's Ocean Energy Task Force identified several needs to meet the state's goals for ocean wind power. Needs include new data on ocean characteristics, new data about commercial/recreational uses, and an effective way to make information widely accessible. Maine's data needs are estimated at $50 million for baseline studies alone. This project includes the creation of the data integration and public data portal (Atlas) and two data collection/analysis projects. Information will be used by towns, developers, fishermen and managers for energy siting and reduction of user conflicts.

Phoenix House of Maine Substance Abuse Treatment for At-Risk Youth*

$800,000

Phoenix Academy of Maine
Phoenix House
49 Kamich Drive
Augusta, ME 04330

Phoenix House is requesting funding to partner with the Maranacook School District to help vulnerable at-risk teenagers in Maine who have both completed substance abuse treatment at the Phoenix Academy in Maine and shown that a strong recovery support system is essential as is an opportunity to complete their high school education. Rather than returning these teenagers to the school and home environments that may have prompted substance misuse, they would have the opportunity to remain at the Academy in a dedicated, supportive unit, maintaining their treatment gains while continuing their high school education. Additional funds would be dedicated to case management for those who move on to other alternative living arrangements.

Potato Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Late Blight*

$600,000

University of Maine Cooperative Extension
103 Libby Hall
Orono, ME 04469

Potatoes are the top agricultural commodity in Maine with an economic value of $500 million and employing6,000 individuals. The program impacts approximately 56,000 acres of potatoes. The program employs 20 program aides, maintains nearly 150 specialized insect traps, coordinates a statewide network of electronic weather stations, and surveys 125 potato fields weekly for weeds, insects and diseases. The data produced will help IPM scientists track potential pest outbreaks, minimize the number of pesticide applications, and maximize potato yield.

Reading is Fundamental*

$25,000,000

Reading is Fundamental
1825 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20009

Funding will be used for purposes authorized in Section 5451 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Reading Is Fundamental enhances child literacy by providing millions of underserved children with free books for personal ownership and reading encouragement from the more than 18,000 locations throughout all fifty states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Restoration of Monhegan Island Light Station*

$80,000

Monhegan Historical & Cultural Museum Association, Inc.
1 Lighthouse Hill
Monhegan Island, ME 04852

Built in 1824, the Monhegan Light House is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Light House is in serious need of restoration. The allocated funds would repair its wooden frame, replace rotted windows and doors, replace the roof, repair foundation damage caused by water, and improve climate control for the museum’s important collections, with work being done with historically appropriate materials and methods.

The Monhegan Historical & Cultural Museum Association was not available for video recording.

Rural and Island Initiative for Women’s and Family Health*

$675,000

Pen Bay Healthcare
6 Glen Cove Drive
Rockport, ME 04856

Pen Bay Healthcare is seeking federal funding to support the Rural and Island Initiative in Women’s and Family Health in order to remove barriers to the access of health care, support and education. The proposed initiative, part of the larger Pen Bay Healthcare Women and Family Program, will address the particular health needs of rural families, including island families.

Saco Sidewalk Revitalization*

$500,000

City of Saco
300 Main Street
Saco, ME 04072

Construction of the Route 1 sidewalk in Saco will provide connectivity between two focal points within the City: the vibrant Downtown District, and the tourist attractions to the north. Currently, residents and tourists navigate along this 4-lane highway with little refuge from the speeding traffic in close proximity. Funding would be used to construct a sidewalk along this portion of Route 1.

Sanford Site Clean-Up*

$586,624

Town of Sanford
919 Main Street
Sanford, ME 04073

Funding would be used to conduct initial clean up a former industrial processing site in order to make the site eligible for more extensive clean-up under the federal Brownfields program.

School of Professional Studies (SPS)/ Programming and Equipment*

$740,000

University of Southern Maine
9600 Falmouth Street
Portland, ME 04103-4846

SPS is the third phase of online programming at USM. USM established the Center for Tech-Enhanced Learning. Within two years, the number of enrollments increased by 1,600. Next, USM developed five blended (online and on-campus) undergrad programs. The School of Professional Studies programs will be fully online. A degree completion program will serve students who have earned undergrad credits. SPS also will develop online grad degree and grad certificate programs. These programs will prepare students for professional careers that are in demand.

Seals as Sentinels*

$350,000

Maine Environmental Research Institute (MERI)
55 Main Street
PO Box 1652
Blue Hill, ME 04614

MERI's Seals as Sentinels project conducts marine research in the Gulf of Maine for the purpose of protecting ecosystem integrity and human health. The project is generating the first region-wide body of contaminants data in seals and commercially important fish stocks, and yields valuable information about the health of Maine's marine ecosystem, wildlife and fisheries. This research is urgently needed to address concerns about sources of toxic substances in the marine food web and inform policy decisions on the management and protection of valuable marine resources and public health.

Shades of Green: Pen Bay Healthcare Facilities Renewable Energy Initiative*

$650,000

Pen Bay Healthcare
6 Glen Cove Drive
Rockport, ME 04856

Federal and private funds will be used to expand Pen Bay’s efforts to adopt sustainable and environmentally conscious energy system upgrades by investing in renewable energy projects. These projects will result in substantial energy and cost savings, as well as a decreased carbon footprint through lower emissions. The upgrades include a new solar thermal hot water system- reducing emissions by 64 tons and saving 5,750 gallons of oil, new energy efficient boiler upgrades reducing emissions by 202 tons, and energy efficient windows. The solar installation will be among the largest in the state.

South Gorham Water and Sewer Infrastructure*

$6,900,000

Town of Gorham
75 South Street, Suite 1
Gorham, ME 04038

It is essential that a long term approach to wastewater services be implemented that decreases the need for multiple systems, is more easily expandable, requires less maintenance, and is more efficient over a longer period of time. An integrated design will allow for replacement of pump stations with gravity lines, which will result in reduced maintenance expense, reduced costs of utilities for the operation of pumping stations, and fewer interruptions to services related to equipment breakdown.

Stone Wharf Dredging*

$100,000

Town of Chebeague Island
192 North Road
Chebeague Island, ME 04017

This feasibility study is a first step to dredge the channel at the Stone Wharf on Great Chebeague Island and preserve the essential transportation link to the mainland. This channel is the only town-owned, all-tide access point, utilized by the ferries, police, rescue, fire support, schoolchildren, commuters, barging, and lobster boats.

Student Disabilities Awareness Program*

$750,000

The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness
57 Exchange Street, Suite 203
Portland, ME 04101

Funding will be used to offer the Student Disabilities Awareness Program to students with and without disabilities directly in classrooms, at no cost to public schools. The program focuses on changing attitudes towards students with all kinds of disabilities, and creates a classroom climate that accepts disability as another aspect of diversity.

Support for fishing industry sectors along the coast of Maine*

$600,000

Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04101

The Maine groundfishery will enter sector management in May 2010. Sector viability will be challenged by the limited information for many stocks that may restrict fishing quotas, and the need to increase industry profitability. This project will benefit industry by increasing its profitability and NMFS by supporting sector management initiatives.

Thermoplastic Composite Windblade Manufacturing Technologies*

$3,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orono, ME 04468-5703

Currently, the majority of composite windblades are manufactured in Asia and South America. The National Renewable Energy Lab notes that U.S. composite windblade manufacturers can compete if they can increase productivity by 30%. The State of Maine has funded a $5 million expansion at UMaine for a full-scale windblade testing facility to be completed in early 2010. This project will help U.S. manufacturers achieve the 30% productivity improvements necessary to compete successfully for domestic supply of the 5000 windblades that need to be installed in the US each year for the next two decades.

Thomaston Mill River Trail*

$200,000

Town of Thomaston
170 Main Street
Thomaston, ME 04861

This is a 4,000 foot, five foot wide trail overlooking the Mill and St. George Rivers. This project completes a series of trails and recreational attractions that begin in Montville and extend 35 miles to Thomaston.

Town of Frye Island, Park and Ride Facility*

$500,000

Town of Frye Island
1 Sunset Road
Frye Island, ME 04071

After an exhaustive study by the Frye Island Transportation Community, it was determined that a mainland "Park and Ride" facility was needed to accommodate vehicle traffic that has overloaded the Frye Island Ferry system and caused several traffic and safety issues on Raymond Cape Road in Raymond, Maine. Funding would be used to develop Frye Island owned land located in Raymond across from the existing ferry terminal. Construction of 100 vehicle parking spaces and a ferry administration building will allow vehicles to park and passengers walk on the ferry.

Transportation and Heavy Equipment Program*

$623,130

Southern Maine Community College
2 Fort Road
South Portland, ME 04106

Southern Maine Community College will partner with Maine’s construction employers to establish a Transportation and Heavy Equipment Program. The proposed project would create a new Heavy Equipment Maintenance Degree and expanded Heavy Equipment Operations program designed to ease a critical shortage of trained workers. This effort will provide Maine workers with advanced technical skills and prepare them to fill high-demand high-wage jobs. The proposed project will strengthen economic development efforts at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station and serve to create jobs across Maine.

Undergraduate Research Involvement Center (URIC)*

$850,000

University of Southern Maine
9600 Falmouth Street
Portland, ME 04103-4846

Funding will outfit an Undergrad Research Center that engages students in faculty-mentored research as a means to promote science careers. The shortfall in science-educated college graduates is an issue acutely important to the future prosperity of Maine's young citizens.It is also of imminent importance to Maine's overall economy as it transitions into the innovation economy of the 21st century requiring a science-literate workforce. URIC lays the foundation for graduating and creating such a workforce. USM expects to increase undergrad students' involvement in faculty research by another 100 students per year.

University of New England Dental School Equipment*

$2,000,000

University of New England
716 Stevens Avenue
Portland, ME 04103

There is no college of dentistry in Northern New England to educate dental students and support a network of dental professionals. Community clinics struggle to provide care to poor and underserved areas in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. UNE plans to open a College of Dental Medicine in Portland, Maine as early as 2012. Dental students will be taught on high-tech patient simulators proven to increase proficiency and trained in a campus clinic before being placed for their entire fourth year at community health clinics throughout the state and region. The funding will be used to purchase equipment for the Dental School.

USDA ARS Shellfish Breeding Center*

$4,300,000

University of Maine
Corbett Hall
Orono, ME 04469

Shellfish aquaculture is a sustainable industry that provides environmental benefits in coastal waters by improving water quality, removing excess nutrients and providing critical habitat for juvenile fish and invertebrates. However, wide ranging environmental conditions and diseases can wipe out whole crops in months. The proposed Shellfish Breeding Center would enable shellfish geneticists to employ newly developed genetic tools to greatly accelerate selective breeding efforts to develop strains that survive longer, grow faster and have improved production traits.

Vaccines to Prevent Aquatic Animal Diseases*

$500,000

University of Maine
Corbett Hall
Orono, ME 04469

Vaccines and other bioreactor products form a vital part of the U.S. aquaculture industry, yet the U.S. lacks a dedicated cold water vaccine and aquaculture bioreactor center. The majority of aquaculture bioreactor facilities are located in Europe, Asia or the Far East, placing the U.S. at a disadvantage when it comes to producing cold water vaccines. This project would establish a bioreactor facility in Maine to enable development of autologous vaccines specifically designed for Maine and the rest of the U.S., and to lower costs for U.S. aquaculture producers.

Video coming soon.

War Trauma Center for Resilience, Recovery & Reintegration*

$800,000

Community Counseling Center
343 Forest Avenue
Portland, ME 04101

The War Trauma Center for Resilience, Recovery & Reintegration is a place where individuals and families exposed to and affected by war, including veterans and refugees, can receive a multitude of services that help them transition and re-adjust. Low barrier access to mental health services and connection to legal assistance, education, housing and employment are essential. The Center integrates CCC’s existing evidence-based and culturally relevant mental health services to effectively treat depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental health problems caused by exposure to war.

The Waterboro Community Center*

$500,000

Friends of the Waterboro Public Library
PO Box 308
East Waterboro, ME 04030

The Waterboro Community Center is a multigenerational center that will provide a variety of activities, including upgraded library services. It replaces a two room library that has no program space and has health and accessibility issues. The new Center will house adult, young adult and children's rooms, a conference and community room, a business development center, display areas for local artists and enhanced internet capacity. The presence of the new center, with the ability to serve the region, will foster new economic growth and be a cornerstone of an emerging village center.

West Grand Lake Community Forest, Maine*

$6,675,000

Maine Department of Conservation, Bureau of Parks and Lands
22 State House Station
18 Elkins Lane
Augusta, ME 04333-0022

The West Grand Lake Community Forest will protect 21,700 acres of forestland in the Downeast Lakes region of eastern Maine. The property includes over 17 miles of lakeshore, 90 miles of stream frontage, and 3,000 wetland acres. The conservation easement to be held by the Department of Conservation will ensure sustainable forest management and public recreational access. The project will preserve and enhance the Maine timber economy and Grand Lake Stream’s 180 year outdoor recreation heritage. Forest Legacy funding is critical to the success of this community-driven effort.

West Thomaston Stormwater System Upgrade Completion*

$200,000

Town of Thomaston
170 Main Street
Thomaston, ME 04861

This project plans to install 540 Lineal feet of 42” stormwater pipe under a Federal/State and Local Highway Route 1.This piping would complete an engineered stormwater system 2600’ long, designed to handle 25-year storm events for a 224 acre watershed. Currently six of seven crossings have been upgraded; five by the Town costing $82,038 plus labor and equipment and one by the State at the railroad for $1 million +/-.

Women in the New Economy*

$800,000

Maine Centers for Women, Work, and Community
Campus Center, University of Maine at Augusta
46 University Drive
Augusta, ME 04330-9410

This project provides training, mentoring, and hands-on learning to 600 women to succeed in ‘green’ jobs and to start and sustain creative enterprises in food, agriculture, energy, technology, the environment, culture and tourism. The project will include a 4 day-long Symposia (2 in each district: 1 on creative enterprise and 1 on green jobs) providing experiential career exploration and leveraging partnerships with educational institutions, community leaders and the business and public sector. The Symposia will benefit women, families and communities through businesses and jobs created. It will also create an educated workforce prepared for the challenges of ‘greening’ our economy. The project targets high-wage, high demand jobs and encourages the creation of businesses that contribute to vital, local economies.

Wood Utilization Research*

$7,100,000

University of Maine
5782 Winslow Hall, Room 105
Orono, ME 04468-5782

UMaine is one of 13 university centers across the U.S. that generate the new knowledge and technologies necessary to balance the sustainable use of our nation’s forest resources with the need to maintain a vigorous, competitive, domestic forest products industry. Current research topics and their benefits include: producing better wood composites, reinforced wood panels and lumber, improved strand placement in panel products, and improved utilization of biomass for bioproducts including conversion of wood into new fuels and bioplastics to reduce our country’s dependence on foreign energy sources.

Woody Biomass Conversion to Jetfuel*

$3,000,000

University of Maine
5703 Alumni Hall
Orno, ME 04468-5703

The Department of Defense has been directed to explore a wide range of energy alternatives and fuel efficiency efforts to reduce the military's reliance on foreign oil to power its aircraft, vehicles and ships. This project will develop and modify industrial processes for co-production of fuels, chemicals and wood fiber products so that Integrated Forest Products Refinery technology can be applied efficiently and cost effectively to Department of Defense bulk fuel requirements. Pilot scale technology validation will use all key unit operations to convert 100 lbs dry wood into cellulosic jet fuel each day.

York County Community Health Care Building Acquisition

$500,000

York County Community Action Corporation
PO Box 72
Sanford, ME 04073

The funding would be used to purchase the building that York Country Community Health currently occupies. By purchasing the building, and reducing operating costs, they can increase the number of patient visits by approximately 900 per year.