• Economic Development Assessment Team in Maine
  U.S. Economic Development Administration
  

The goal of this report is to identify federal resources that can help Maine’s forest products industry create and retain jobs, and strengthen the future of Maine’s forest economy. The forest products industry has a long and proud heritage in Maine and remains a significant economic driver in the state’s economy. In the spring of 2016, industry and community leaders came together to develop a set of immediate priorities and strategies to reinvigorate Maine’s forest economy. The priorities are intended to encourage capital investment in the market gaps as soon as possible to minimize the risk of further collapse.

Based on the information gathered during the visit, and the priorities identified by the industry and community partners, the EDAT developed a series of recommended strategies. This report describes the federal resources available to support each of the EDAT recommendations, including next steps and federal agency contacts. It summarizes the challenges and opportunities highlighted during the EDAT site visit and presents the priorities identified by industry and community partners.