Letter to the Governor
On December 9th, the Board of Directors of the Somerset Economic Development Corporation wrote to Governor Baldacci to express their support for the re-zoning and resource protection plan submitted by Plum Creek Timber Company. The letter which was sent to the Governor stated:

The economy of Somerset County has been adversely impacted, in recent years, by the closure of many forest products-based manufacturing companies. Those companies that remain in the forest products industry in Maine need to be assured of an adequate supply of wood in order to remain competitive and have any chance of growing their businesses.

With the Maine economy becoming increasingly reliant on tourism jobs to replace lost manufacturing jobs, the need to develop new nature-based lodging and recreation facilities is critical.

Somerset Economic Development Corporation believes that the Plum Creek plan strikes a fair balance between the protection of critical forest resources and the need to develop and grow our tourism industry. The Plum Creek plan also provides for protection of remote ponds and sensitive natural areas within their ownership area.

The Somerset Economic Development Corporation has urged the Governor and his administration to support the Plum Creek resource protection plan and to work with Plum Creek to assure its approval before the Land Use Regulation Commission.

The Honorable John E. Baldacci
Governor, State of Maine
State House Station 1
Augusta, Maine 04333

Recommendations for Tourism
At the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council Annual Meeting on December 5th, the Piscataquis Tourism Task Force provided 8 recommendations as part of its county tourism implementation plan.

The recommendations are based on research from the Fermata Nature Tourism Assessment and Strategy, the 2000 “EMDC-LDR Tourism Study” and the 2004 University of Maine “Piscataquis Tourism Attitudes Research Project.”

The Task Force proposed 8 priority actions for 2006:

1) Secure formal authorization for tourism development activities from the Piscataquis County Commissioners, under the organizational umbrella of the PCEDC.

2) Establish a standing PCEDC Tourism Development Task Force whose purpose is to advise, guide and direct countywide tourism development activities. Engage the Task Force in organizational and leadership development activities around the task force purpose; their role as tourism developers; governance and communications; stakeholder partners; marketing linkages; as well as detailing and directing a plan of work over 2006. The composition of this Task Force should be determined from public and private sectors.

3) Work with county-regional-state partners to secure financial resources for an appropriate level of county staff capacity that adequately supports tourism implementation activities as directed by the PCEDC Tourism Development Task Force.

4) In concert with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, conduct a rapid assessment of issues and opportunities facing tourism-based businesses in Piscataquis County. These findings will inform a revised framework for enhancing their access to appropriate small business information and assistance.

5) Over 2006, with appropriate partners, clarify the scope of specific marketable soft adventure tourism products that can be expanded and provided for from the base of natural resource and tourism business assets in Piscataquis County.

6) In concert with appropriate internal-external partners, implement Fermata Recommended Action #4: “Finalize the thematic itinerary and publish an itinerary guide-map for Piscataquis County-Maine Highlands.”

7) In concert with appropriate internal-external partners, implement Fermata Recommended Action #9: “Develop consistent highway directional signs that support the thematic itinerary for Piscataquis County-Maine Highlands.”

8) The role of the PCEDC Tourism Development Task Force is uniquely “development” focused. Their tourism product development output is complimentary to and needs to be linked with the appropriate marketing entities such as chambers of commerce, the Maine Highlands and the Maine Office of Tourism.

• Information Centers
• Lodging
• Other Product Opportunities (dog mushing, agri-tourism, forestry and forest heritage tourism, outdoor leadership & back country safety)
• Moosehead-Katahdin Trails
• Packaging and Marketing Visitor Experiences

New Coalition Member
Please welcome Charlie Lumbert, President of Moose River Lumber Company and Jeff Desjardins, Vice President of Moose River Lumber. Both are residents of Jackman. For more information about Moose River Lumber, please visit their web site at: www.mooseriverlumber.com.

Your Comments on the Plum Creek Plan
Remember that we are still collecting your ideas and suggestions on the Plum Creek Plan. Since the Plan is currently being revised by Plum Creek, it is the perfect opportunity to let them know what Coalition members think about the Plan, and any suggestions you have for what you’d like seen changed in the Plan.

Please email your ideas to: info@preservegrowme.org, or mail them to:

Coalition to Preserve and Grow Northern Maine
P.O. Box 944
Greenville, Maine 04441

Visit the Coalition Web Site
You can find more information about the Coalition at our web site at www.preservegrowme.org.

Coalition Information Center
Location: Community House · 6 Lakeview Street · Greenville · Maine
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 944 · Greenville · Maine · 04441
Telephone: 207-695-2264 (toll free 888-702-7466)
Web Site: www.preservegrowme.org

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. Please forward this to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and organizations you belong to and help us spread the word. Any questions or comments may be directed to Edie Leary eleary@eatonpeabody.com or Will Gardiner wgardiner@eatonpeabody.com or by calling The Coalition Information Center at 1-888-702-7466 or (207) 695-2264.