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Advancing Clean Energy Businesses
Earlier this month, the Mills Administration announced $1.3 million in grants to promote innovation of clean energy businesses through the Clean Energy Partnership and the Governor's Energy Office.
This is part of the administration's goal of creating 30,000 clean energy jobs by 2030. The three awardees include the Roux Institute at Northeastern University in Portland (Roux Institute) which received $975,000, Coastal Enterprises, Inc. in Brunswick (CEI) which received $300,000, and the Central Maine Growth Council in Waterville (CMGC) which received $111,774.
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Breaking Ground on Rural Affordable Housing
On October 20, Governor Mills joined community leaders in Madison, Maine to break ground on a new housing development supported by the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan. The project, 55 Weston Avenue, is designed to expand the availability of rental homes for workers and families in central Maine and support economic growth in the region.
All of this was made possible by initial funding of $2.9 million from the Rural Affordable Rental Housing Program, a $20 million initiative of the Governor’s Jobs Plan.
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Strengthening Sales of Maine Products Nationally
In October, Governor Mills announced $6 Million in funding to help Maine businesses develop new market opportunities and increase sales of Maine-made products across the United States.
The initiative, called the Domestic Trade Program, is a key recommendation of the State’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy to support Maine’s long-term economic growth.
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Veronica Stubbs runs Scone Goddess in Northport, which received a $18,875 Domestic Trade Award to expand their products across the country.
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“Thus far, we have utilized the funds to strengthen our brand presence at wholesale trade shows, on all digital platforms and to generate publicity for the brand,” said founder Veronica Stubbs. “Sales shot up over 50% in August 2023 compared to July, with the trend continuing into September. Of the 141 online orders, 90 of them were first-time customers from outside of Maine.”
-Veronica Stubbs
President & Founder
Scone Goddess
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Expanding Opportunities for Welding Certification
In November, Governor Mills celebrated the expansion of the welding program in Lincoln, made possible by a $570,000 investment from the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan. The funding allows Northern Penobscot Tech Region III to expand its opportunities for certification in welding, adding nearly 600 square feet of space, 10 new welding booths, 10 new welders, and 5 ventilators.
The additional space and equipment will give more area high school students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in welding, earn nationally recognized welding certification, and graduate prepared to fill critical job openings in Maine’s economy.
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Two Years of Workforce and Economic Investments by the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan
Since it went into law on October 18, 2021, the Jobs Plan has delivered $175 million to thousands of Maine businesses, created workforce opportunities for 25,000 people, and invested in more than 400 infrastructure projects statewide to bolster childcare, broadband, energy efficiency and weatherization, housing, and more.
To date, about 75 percent of Jobs Plan funding – nearly $743 million – has been spent or committed to deliver results on behalf of Maine people. All recovery funds must be spent, per Federal law, by December 31, 2026.
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As always, thank you for your partnership in this important work. If you were forwarded this message, please consider signing up for our newsletter at maine.gov/jobsplan/ (link).
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