|
|
In this issue...
Upcoming Conferences & Events, Spring 2004
Don't miss out on these exciting opportunities! Visit our website to learn more.
*New England Products Trade Show, March 7-9
*Governor's Conference on Tourism, March 9
*Promise of Place Educational Conference, March 25-27
*Maine's Creative Economy:
A Blaine House Conference,
May 6-7 |
|
To Learn More,
Contact Us Today!
Mountain Counties Heritage
P.O. Box 508
Farmington ME 04938
(207)778-3885
(207)778-5095 Fax
info@mainemountains.org
Mountain Counties Heritage serves as the coordinating agency for the Maine Mountain Heritage Network. |
|
Not sure why you received our e-Newsletter?
We
sent this electronic mailing to people who have an existing
relationship with us and also to people whom we think the information
will be of interest. We DON'T share your information with anyone - view our Privacy Policy. |
|
|
|
|
|
Celebrating Maine's Mountain Heritage
Welcome to the February Edition of Network News
Network
News is the official e-Newsletter of the Maine Mountain Heritage
Network. Published once a month, it is filled with updates and articles
about what is happening in the Maine Mountain Heritage Area. If you
want to learn more about the Network visit our website at www.mainemountains.org, or call the Network's coordinating agency, Mountain Counties Heritage, at (207) 778-3885.
We welcome your story ideas! E-mail us at info@mainemountains.org.
|
|
So What Exactly Is a Heritage Area?
By Jennifer Kierstead, Public Service Communications
 To
borrow from a definition created by the National Trust for Historic
Preservation, the Maine Mountain Heritage Network defines a Heritage
Area as a place with a distinct identity and a process which residents
make more creative and sustainable use of their natural, cultural and
historical assets.
The Network has identified over 200
Heritage Area projects across the United States and in other parts of
the world. These projects vary in size and shape, focus and operation,
but they also hold many elements in common. All heritage areas stress
cultural and natural resource conservation as fundamental. They
emphasize building knowledge of history and natural history as a basis
for enriching the experience of residents and visitors. They also, in
most cases, include appropriate and relevant business development in
their programs, seeking to generate economic benefits through their
wide-ranging activities. Bringing mre revenues to our region is this
Network’s primary interest.
 Some
heritage areas in the United States have achieved national designation
through acts of Congress. (To check these out, visit the National Heritage Area Program web site.) Most heritage areas are state or locally designated. Maryland
has a particularly strong program. These initiatives are supported in a
number of ways, through government programs, grants from private
foundations, and through individual and business contributions and
participation. Wherever the support comes from, heritage areas are, for
the most part, governed by representative, locally-based associations,
so that decision making power is held within the regions themselves.
For those who would like to learn more about heritage areas, they will be featured at this year's Governor's Conference on Tourism, on March 9th in Portland.
 The
proposed Maine Mountain Heritage Area (see map to right) incorporates
the counties of Oxford, Franklin, Somerset and Pisacataquis. This
mostly forested 11,000 square mile area (roughly 1.5 times the size of
Massachusetts) includes all of Maine’s peaks over 4,000 feet, as well
as the origins of most of the state’s major river systems. Nearly three
hundred miles of the Appalachian Trail wind through this area en route
to the Trail’s northeastern terminus at Mt.Katahdin.
Our natural
resources - mountains, lakes, rivers, and forests - are world class.
Moreover, we have strong cultural traditions, community institutions,
and local economies deeply rooted in the land. The Network believes
that the proposed Maine Mountain Heritage Area can rank among the
nation’s most significant and successful.
We hope you will join our initiative! |
|
 STATE YOUR OPINION! Land For Maine's Future Proposal
Polling Question:
A
coalition of more than 175 organizations has formed to promote the
passage of a significant land bond in 2004. The bond would fund the 16
year old Land for Maine's Future Program. For information about this
proposal go to http://www.mainelandbond.org/index.htm.
To let us know what you think of this proposal, go to the Maine Mountain Heritage Network Forum. State your position and vote in our poll today! |
|
 February Network Update
By Bruce Hazard, Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc.
Network receives letter of support from Congressman Michael Michaud.
Thanks to the advocacy work of steering committee member Toni Seger,
Congressman Michael Michaud learned of our efforts and wrote to express
his support. "Your branding proposal is innovative and clearly
demonstrates the creative thinking that is necessary to revitalize the
region. I am also pleased that your plan is so careful to preserve both
the rich heritage of the area as well as the natural systems and land."
Thank you, Congressman Michaud, and thanks to Toni, too!
Economic Development District representatives meet to create Community Investment Program.
On January 9, representatives from the Androscoggin Valley Council of
Governments, the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments, and Eastern
Maine Development Corporation met with Bruce Hazard of Mountain
Counties Heritage to begin to design the Network’s Community Investment
Program. After reviewing notes from meetings conducted in eight gateway
and destination communities, the group has focused on two program areas
which were mentioned in multiple communities – trail and green space
planning and downtown revitalization.
Maine Mountain Heritage Area marketing plan underway.
Jennifer Kierstead of Public Service Communications and Erika Bohlman
of Mountain Counties Heritage have begun work on a marketing plan for
the proposed Maine Mountain Heritage Area. The plan looks at resources
and marketing objectives and will focus on opportunities for cross
sector marketing (sectors include tourism, wood products, agriculture,
small manufacturing and handcraft, and the creative sector). Members of
the Network are invited to view the plan on our web site and comment on
it on the Forum. (It’s easy to become a member of the Network. Go to www.mainemountains.org and sign up!)
Network Steering Committee meets to discuss recommendations to state agencies, review governance structure.
The state agencies that make up the Maine Arts and Heritage Tourism
Partnership (includes the Maine Arts Commission, Humanities Council,
Historic Preservation Commission, Department of Agriculture, Department
of Conservation, Department of Transportation, and State Planning
Office) have requested recommendations as to how these agencies might
better work together to support the kind of heritage-based development
being proposed by the Network. On January 20, the Network steering
committee voted acceptance in principle of a set of recommendations
that will soon be delivered to the agencies for their consideration.
The steering committee also decided to review its own decision-making
process with an eye toward establishing a more formal process and
organization to guide development of the Maine Mountain Heritage Area. |
|
Hot Grant Opportunity: The Community Planning Grant Program
By Erika Bohlman, Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc.
 The Maine Office of Community Development has designated $220,000 for the Community Planning Grant Program (CPG).
This
little-known program provides funding to Maine communities or community
partnerships that have clearly identified a local community or economic
development problem and lack the resources to develop a strategy for
solving the problem. According to Mike Baran, Program Coordinator, "CPG
offers a unique opportunity for partnering with communities and regions
for developing tourism and initiatives." CPG funds may be used for
planning activities that include studies, analysis, data gathering,
preparation of plans and maps, and identification of actions that will
implement plans.
For the first time funding will be granted
through two rounds of applications which Baran feels will give more
communities the opportunity to apply for the program. Each round of
applications has $110,000 of funds earmarked for distribution and the
maximum CGP award amount for each community project is $10,000. To
download an application visit: http://www.meocd.org/html/library/2004%20Applications/2004CPGApplication.pdf. Application deadlines for 2004 are on March 5th, and August 6th.
For
more information about the Community Planning Grant Program contact
Mike Baran at the Office of Community Development at 207-624-7484 or by
e-mail mike.baran@maine.gov.
Visit our website at http://www.mainemountains.org/resources/hot_grants.htm to discover more grant opportunities for projects located in the Maine Mountain Heritage Area. |
|
 Project Spotlight: Two MMHA Ski Areas Shift Focus To Families
By Bruce Hazard, Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc.
 Long
known for its destination resorts (Sugarloaf U.S.A. and Sunday River),
alpine skiing in the Maine Mountain Heritage Area took on a different
look as new owners brought a more family and community oriented
approach to the business.
Last spring, Maine Winter Sports, a
non-profit organization already actively reviving the skiing tradition
of Aroostook County, announced that it would purchase Black Mountain in
Rumford. In addition to a number of improvements to the facilities
(including doubling the vertical drop serviced by lifts), Maine Winter
Sports hopes to re-engage residents of all ages in "skiing as a
lifestyle." Noting that Rumford’s Black Mountain has produced more
Olympians than any other town in Maine (six of them), Andy Shepard, CEO
of the organization, is excited to work with a facility and a town that
represent such an important part of the nation’s skiing heritage.
For more information about this project, go to http://www.skiblackmtnofme.org/index.html.
 Not
far to the north of Rumford, a second change in ownership suggested a
possible trend as the Berry family of Farmington purchased Saddleback
Mountain, reduced lift ticket prices and proclaimed Saddleback "your
family mountain." Residents of Franklin County, who had feared the
mountain might not open at all this winter, were delighted at this
news, and the Berrys’ commitment to building on the traditional
character of the area was most welcome.
Teri Thompson has
worked on the mountain for many years and is excited about the
mountain's improvements. "The Berry’s have already undertaken
significant improvements to lifts, snow-making and grooming equipment.
So far all of the changes have been very positive and the reduction in
lift ticket prices has been well received" she said. Also, a new hotel
is part of the plan to make the area more viable economically.
For more information on new developments at Saddleback, go to http://www.saddlebackskiarea.com/index.shtml
The
Maine Mountain Heritage Network offers congratulations to the new
owners and looks forward to working with them in bringing new
prosperity – and lots of winter fun - to the region. |
|
Coming in March 2004...
- March Network Update
- Understanding Relationships Between the MMHN, MMHA and MCH
- Upcoming Conference Opportunities
- plus more!
|
|
|
|
|
|