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Quick Links:
Eighth Edition
Welcome to the October 2005 Edition of Network News
Network
News is published by the Maine Mountain Heritage Network and it's
filled with updates and articles about what's happening in the Maine
Mountain Heritage Area.
We welcome your story ideas! Submit your suggestion or press release for consideration. |
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 Call for writers!
The
Network would like to hire you to write about the most interesting and
unique products and producers in your county! Visit our website to learn more. |
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 Call for
"signature" product makers!
The Network may be able to offer your business some free publicity! Check out our website to learn more. |
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Not sure why you received our eNewsletter?
We
send this electronic mailing to people who have an existing
relationship with us and also to those people whom we think will find
the information interesting. We DON'T share your information with
anyone. View our Privacy Policy. |
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To Learn More
Contact the Network's Coordinating Agency
Mountain Counties Heritage
P.O. Box 508
Farmington ME 04938
(207) 778-3885
Web: www.mainemountains.org
Contact Us: online |
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Celebrating Maine's Mountain Heritage
In This Issue...
 Share Your Heritage Workshop Builds New Tourism Product:
Teams from nine communities across the Maine Mountain Heritage Area
gathered in Farmington in June for a workshop designed to help them
develop new heritage tourism itineraries. Trainers from the National
Trust for Historic Preservation worked with local teams to... READ MORE
 NETWORK UPDATE: Mountain Made pilot project wins support from Northern Forest Partnership Small Grants Program.
Dina Jackson, development specialist for the Androscoggin Valley
Council of Governments and steward of the Heritage Network's "Mountain
Made" action team, announced that the team has been awarded... READ MORE
 Fermata, Inc. affirms Heritage Network Programs In Nature-Based Tourism Recommendations for the State of Maine:
Fermata, Inc., a national consulting firm contracted by the Maine
Department of Economic and Community Development to make
recommendations for strengthening nature-based tourism in Maine, has...
READ MORE
 Western Maine Sustainable Development Collaborative Hosts Investors Roundtable:
On September 13, managers of a variety of emerging projects and
businesses from across the Maine Mountains made their "pitch" to
potential investors at a special event at the Kawahnee Inn in Weld.
Projects ranged from... READ MORE
 Help Wanted:
Mountain Counties Heritage, Inc. seeks motivated individual who can
take on program development and outreach for new heritage center.
Qualified candidates will have excellent research and communication
skills... READ MORE
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 Share Your Heritage Workshop
Builds New Tourism Product, Tourism Commission votes funding for SYH promotion.
 Teams
from nine communities across the Maine Mountain Heritage Area gathered
in Farmington in June for a workshop designed to help them develop new
heritage tourism itineraries. Trainers from the National Trust for
Historic Preservation worked with local teams to assess their heritage
resources, build understanding of the heritage tourism market, and then
to create effective three day visitor experiences. Now, the Maine
Tourism Commission will support promotion of the itineraries with grant
funding.
Several teams are already putting their itineraries
into action. The Norway South Paris group has used their SYH itinerary
("Hidden Gems of Oxford Hills") to help structure a tour for travel
writers. The Skowhegan group is creating a new event based on their
itinerary ("A River through Time"). Carolyn Brackett of the National
Trust noted that she was not surprised by the quick action. "This was
by far the best preparation we have seen for a Share Your Heritage
Workshop. You have set the bar pretty high."
The Regional
Assistance Committee of the Maine Tourism Commission has approved
funding for a Share Your Heritage promotion campaign in the spring of
2006. Some of the funding will be used to create a heritage tourism  marketing
platform, with half the funds passing through to support local SYH
marketing efforts. "This is a very exciting project," noted Greg Dugal,
Commission chair. "We were happy to have the opportunity to fund the
program."
Photo Above Right: Susan Crippen of Greenville, and
Guilds Hallowell of Millinocket, touring the Sugarwood Gallery as they
test the Farmington Group's visitor itineray.
Photo Left: (From
left to right) Taffy Davis of the Farmington Historical Society and
also the Farmington SYH Group shows the Titcomb House to Rebecca
Williams of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and three
members of the Bethel SYH Group: Stan Howe, Al Cressy, and Susan
Herlihy. |
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 NETWORK UPDATE:
Mountain Made pilot project wins support from Northern Forest Partnership Small Grants Program
Dina
Jackson, development specialist for the Androscoggin Valley Council of
Governments and steward of the Heritage Network's "Mountain Made"
action team, announced that the team has been awarded a $5,000 grant
from the 2005 Northern Forest Partnership Small Grants Program. The
grant will support a press campaign to promote the "signature products"
of the Maine Mountain Heritage Area. The small grant program is
sponsored by the Northern Forest Center and the North East State
Foresters Association.
"This grant was just what we needed to
leverage the time and resources for our pilot project!" noted Jackson.
The pilot project will employ writers from the Maine Mountains in
creating press releases featuring products (and their makers) that are
traditional to or representative of the region. Potential signature
products include, for example, maple syrup, canoe paddles, wood
furniture, wool sweaters - even canned fiddleheads!
The Mountain Made action team is soliciting nominations for signature products. To nominate a product (product makers and growers are encouraged to nominate themselves!), please go to http://www.mainemountains.org/network/programs/mountain_made/nomination.htm. or send a description of your product and your contact information to Dina Jackson, AVCOG, 125 Manley Ave, Auburn, ME 04210.
Also, if you are a writer
who lives and works in the Maine Mountain Heritage Area and you would
have an interest in writing signature product press releases on a fee
for service basis, please send a letter of interest and a writing
sample to Jennifer Kierstead, Public Service Communications, 76 Main
Street, Suite 300, Waterville, ME 04901. |
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 Help Wanted:
Mountain Counties Heritage Seeks Education Coordinator
Mountain
Counties Heritage, Inc. seeks motivated individual who can take on
program development and outreach for new heritage center. Qualified
candidates will have excellent research and communication skills and
demonstrated experience in project management. Familiarity with history
and natural history of Maine a plus, competency in Windows-based
computing environment required. Up to 30 hours per week, salary
commensurate with experience. Email resume and letter of interest by
5:00pm on September 30th to Bruce Hazard at bhazard@mainemountains.org. |
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Fermata, Inc. affirms Heritage Network Programs In Nature-Based Tourism Recommendations for the State of Maine
 Fermata,
Inc., a national consulting firm contracted by the Maine Department of
Economic and Community Development to make recommendations for
strengthening nature-based tourism in Maine, has rolled out its final
recommendations. Many of the recommendations directly support on-going
initiatives of the Maine Mountain Heritage Network.
Fermata
recommends establishing a "seamless system for visitor information and
education delivery," specifically commenting on the "good work" being
done by the Heritage Network in promoting cooperation and communication
among information center projects across the mountain region (Knowledge
Power Network). Fermata also recommends building one or more centers as
gateways to the " Maine woods experience."
In the area of
marketing nature-based tourism, Fermata notes an opportunity to extend
branding to include products made or grown in a region, an opportunity
already being addressed through the Network's Mountain Made program
(see related article).
Among several future studies being
recommended, Fermata notes the Heritage Network's use of the "heritage
area" model and it's current interest in seeking an opinion from the
U.S. Park Service as to our potential eligibility for national
designation. The recommendation explains that national heritage area
status brings excellent branding potential without the federal
ownership or regulation that is associated with a national park.
Two
of the three pilot areas selected by Fermata for near term action are
included in the Maine Mountain Heritage Area. In the " Highlands" area
(Moosehead/Katahdin), the Piscataquis Tourism Task Force will take the
lead in implementation. For information about the Piscataquis group,
please contact Roger Merchant, University of Maine Cooperative
Extension Service at rogerm@umext.maine.edu.
In the "western mountains" (Franklin County) area, a new group is
forming to support implementation. For information about this new
group, please contact Alison Hagerstrom, Greater Franklin Development
Corp., at ahagerstrom@greaterfranklin.com.
To see an executive summary of the recommendations, please go to http://www.fermatainc.com/maine/documents/0829prioritiesforaction.pdf (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader). |
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Friendly Reminder
Regarding Spam Filters
From
Erika Bohlman, Network News Publisher: To be assured that you continue
to recieve your copy of Network News, please remember to add my email
address (ebohlman@mainemountains.org) to your "Approved Senders" list in your spam filter. |
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 Western Maine Sustainable Development Collaborative
Hosts Investors Roundtable
On
September 13, managers of a variety of emerging projects and businesses
from across the Maine Mountains made their "pitch" to potential
investors at a special event at the Kawahnee Inn in Weld. Projects
ranged from farmland conservation to larger scale recreation
development efforts to a proposal that supports adoption of new
technologies in the wood products industry. Investors included private
individuals, foundations, government agencies, banks, and community
development groups.
Projects presented included:
 Liebert Technology & Business Enterprise, Inc., Williston, VT: Drinking Water From Trees-What A Novel Idea
The Opportunity Center of North Franklin County, Inc., Avon: A catalyst to create sustainable opportunities and networks.
Maine Farmland Trust, Bucksport: Buy-Protect-Sell: Supporting farm viability by protecting farmland.
The Maine Highlands Guild, Dover-Foxcroft: Artisan entrepreneurs
cooperatively growing their businesses while preserving local culture.
Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Waitsfield, VT: Recreation and heritage tourism initiative
Maine Fiberarts, Topsham: To network fiber enterprises via statewide tour maps, exhibitions, events
Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, Dover-Foxcroft: To
assist struggling small wood product manufacturers through business
counseling
Appalachian Mountain Club, Boston, MA: Trail infrastructure for new non-motorized recreation destination in Piscataquis County
Fare Share Farm, Canton, and No View Farm & Greenhouses, Rumford:
Connections: Creating economic and social change via locally produced
foods
Western Maine Community Action, Wilton: Access to reliable transportation for employment and education
The
Western Maine Sustainable Development Collaborative includes Mountain
Counties Heritage, Inc., the Western Mountains Alliance, Coastal
Enterprises, Inc., and the Maine Center for Economic Policy. In the
past, the group has hosted gatherings to exchange views on rural
development policy at the state level, consider best use of shared
assets within the region, and to stimulate philanthropic activity in
support of sustainable development.
For more information about
the Investors Fair, any of the projects presented, or the
Collaborative, please contact Bruce Hazard at Mountain Counties
Heritage at 207-778-3885 or bhazard@mainemountains.org. |
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