75 New Jobs Coming to Madison
US Functional Foods, based in Carlisle, Massachusetts, announced this week that it intends to build a 24-acre, state-of-the-art greenhouse facility in Madison. The first phase of this project will introduce approximately 75 new jobs to the area and will bring more than $20 million of capital investment in central Maine. The company's goal is to have the facility operational by October 2006.

The greenhouse complex will utilize world class technology to create an environmentally-friendly business producing fully vine-ripened tomatoes year round. The greenhouse will incorporate grow-lights, thermal blanketing for production climate control and a water-recycling runoff system. The tomatoes will be grown without use of chemical pesticides.

US Functional Foods sought to locate the greenhouse in Maine because of a favorable prior experience developing an automated mulching business in Medway. The company was attracted to Madison not only by the same level of cooperation and enthusiastic outreach as it found at the state level, but also by the available labor force, low electric rates provided by Madison Electric Works and hospitality shown by townspeople.

Governor Baldacci praised the greenhouse facility as a project built on the strengths of Maine's natural resource based economy in an innovative industry with a great deal of growth potential and spin-off business opportunities.

“This is especially good economic news for the citizens of Madison and of Somerset County,” said the Governor.

Raft Maine Endorses the Plum Creek Plan
Raft Maine, a trade association of 10 professional whitewater rafting outfitters, has gone on record in support of Plum Creek’s resource plan for their lands in the Moosehead Lake region.

In a recent letter to Plum Creek, Raft Maine stated, “we look forward to working with Plum Creek to develop and protect these lands for the benefit of Maine’s economy and environment.”

Raft Maine is made up of the following outfitters:

• Adventure Bound, Caratunk
• Crab Apple Whitewater, The Forks
• Magic Falls Rafting Co., West Forks
• Moxie Outdoor Adventures, The Forks
• New England Outdoor Center, Millinocket
• North Country Rivers, Bingham
• Northern Outdoors, The Forks
• Professional River Runners, West Forks
• Three Rivers Whitewater, The Forks
• Windfall Outdoor Center, Jackman

LURC Adds Local Site for Burnt Jacket Hearings
The Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) has added a public hearing at the Greenville High School auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7th for the proposed 70-lot Burnt Jacket subdivision in Beaver Cove.

This Greenville session was added to the already scheduled public hearings at the Bangor Motor Inn on February 1st and 2nd in response to complaints from area residents and the Beaver Cove Selectmen that the placement of hearings solely in Bangor – 70 miles from the location of the proposed development – was unfair to local residents.

LURC has indicated that at least three of the seven LURC commissioners will be at the Greenville session. At least three Commissioners need to be present in order to hold a LURC meeting. All testimony given at the hearing, whether in Bangor or Greenville, will be added to the same final record to be used by the LURC Commissioners in their ruling on the proposal.

This controversy has prompted a response from the Governor: “I want to thank the Land Use Regulation Commission for taking this extraordinary step,” said Governor Baldacci. “My administration has always tried to bring everyone to the table, and hear concerns from all sides of these issues. Extending this hearing will enable those from the Beaver Cove community to voice their opinions.”

EDCM 2006 Annual Seminar
Coalition Co-Chair Mark Scarano gave a presentation entitled “Experiences, Practices and Development in Northern Maine” at the Economic Development Council of Maine (EDCM) 2006 Annual Seminar at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Freeport on January 18th.

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.